Wobbling freehub

[essayer]

Removed my cassette, and noticed that there is quite a bit of play in the freehub itself - few mils. I was able to reduce it by tightening the axle up, but have a feeling this was a bodge.

Should a freehub have any play at all?

(A spoke broke today too, so maybe it's new wheel time instead of messing about with truing and losing eight million bearings if I try to replace the freehub)

[Jimbo.]

Shimano freehubs IME always have a little bit of wobble, although it's only a small amount and nothing in the order of a few mm at the hub...
Hub? Age?

[essayer]

It's part of an AlexRims wheel from a Hardrock, so no idea what the actual hub is - I've done 3,000 miles on it and it was second hand when I got it, so it's probably earnt its keep.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Well I stripped and serviced my 12 year old Specialized Rockhopper a few months back.

A little play in the front hub - removed bearings, all in good nick, if a little lacking in grease. Cleaned everything up, packed out with new Molybdenum grease, adjusted cones, tight as a new wheel.

Bought a new chain and a new cassette for the rear wheel (£30 in total)

Rear wheel's freehub had a similar amount of freeplay as you describe. But, by stripping and doing the same to the bearings as the front and fitting the new cassette, has all but eliminated the free play. I took the wheel to my LBS and was told that the movement was fairly normal and not a problem.

All back together and she rides as good as new.

So IMHO you have nothing to worry about.

[essayer]

It might well be that the hub needs an overhaul, I haven't done it in ages. I have all the bits, I just can't bear all those bd bearings going everywhere.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

essayer said:

It might well be that the hub needs an overhaul, I haven't done it in ages. I have all the bits, I just can't bear all those bd bearings going everywhere.

Heheh, but seriously, it's really easy to do. The bearings will probably still have some grease on them so won't drop out everywhere - you'll probably have to hook them out with a small screwdriver as I did.

Do it on a bench or a flat surface, take your time, have a little tub to put them in, and just count how many came out of each side.
On mine, they were actually different sized balls each side anyway, the cassette side ones being bigger, so I couldn't have mixed them up even if I'd tried.

Honestly matey it's a simple job - and the sense of achievement once it's all back together clean, with lots of new grease, and running smoothly is great!