Free Hub Timeline

Correct identification of your free hub body or free hub will save time and frustration. Zipp free hubs have evolved over the years in conformance with the changing industry standards.

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Easy identification - can you spot your free hub?

1999 and earlier

Shimano and Campagnolo bodies looked very similar. The Campy body (left) had a single wider spline, groove depths were the same. This refers to our Balistic and Zipp 217 and 377 models.

Post 1999

Campagnolo changed their design, giving rise to deeper grooves different angles, a stepped spline and variable spline / grove widths, e.g. compare the two free hubs on the left with the two Shimano free hubs on the right, which have shallow evenly spaced splines and groves.

282 models

Champagne color with a solid back ring between the splines and the pawl carrier, Campagnolo on left, Shimano on the right. Bearings = 2 x 6901RS

202P and 202W models 202P

This where we find the largest confusion. 202P has the grooves extending all the way across the main body with a small lip on the splines. 202P Campagnolo on left, 202P Shimano in the center. The 202W (Shimano) has a solid silver ring at the back between the pawl carrier and the main body, the grooves are blocked. The right hand image shows 202P free hubs Campagnolo left and Shimano right.

Free hubs Zipp 182 - 208 hubs 2005-2008

Machined and forged / Shimano red Campagnolo blue

Left, the difference between machined (left) and forged (right) Shimano free hub bodies is a dull, deeper maroon, rougher surface finish and a scribed ring 1/3 towards the seal between the body and the red pawl carrier in the forged body. Since mid year 2005, Shimano free hubs are red and Campagnolo are blue. These bodies have 2 x 61082 bearings and a red seal between the pawl carrier and the main body.

Free hubs Zipp 188 hubs 2009 –

This image shows the correct orientation and placement of pawl springs and pawls in the 188 free hub body.

Major changes in pawl design and shape. Each pawl now has its own leaf spring. Pawl socket ring is scalloped, seal is black. These free hubs are NOT interchangeable with earlier 182 or 208 models and are only sold in a conversion kit with seals, shims and endcaps. Note the 61803 bearings to accommodate the larger 17mm axle.

Bearings commonly used in Zipp hubs

We have collected these bearings together to help you identify what you are dealing with.

Please refer to the hub identification page to see which bearing go with which hubs and to the bearing specification page for dimensional data.

End Caps

82/182/208 End Caps

2004 182/202 2004 - 202 / 2006 - 208 2006 182/208 with curves

End caps have changed to accommodate the plastic ring that holds on the woven carbon cap. Straight pull end caps are longer than traditional hub end caps. The 2006 version has an additional curved shape. There are different end caps for the 182 disc hub.

188/88 End Caps

188 rear and 88 front / 88 front and 188 campy rear

Rear 188 Shimano/SRAM cap on the left. Cap is taller than 88 front cap. thicker flange, sharp outside flange edge, thicker dropout diameter than front cap, dropout edge is flat with scribed circles. Front 88 cap is on the right, beveled outside flange edge, drop out opening is beveled. Rear Campy 188 cap, tallest of the three. blue not smoke color, flange is concave and thicker than 188 Shimano/SRAM. Early end caps tended to fall out before installation in the wheels. This fit was fixed during mid 2009. Note during November 2009 we changed the rear Shimano end cap color from smoke to red.

Flash-Point free hubs

From 2005 to 2008 we used black JoyTech hubs then swapped to KT hubs.

JoyTech Free hubs 2005-2007
KT free hubs 2008-

The red free hub is Shimano 10 speed, bronze is Shimano 9 speed or Campy 9/10 speed.

PowerTap free hubs

 

Note light tan color and striking red seal. Example is a Campy version