How to tell if derailleur is bent Look for your tools at Wiggle through our link:Wiggle: https://www. It keeps the rear derailleur perfectly aligned with the cassette cogs. Do this by shifting through all the gears. Have a look at your rear derailleur from behind your bicycle , it should hang down straight from your rear dropout; if it is tilted to either side; something is bent and your best bet is to take it to your local shop. How to check the alignment of and if necessary adjust your rear derailleur hanger. It's important to notice however, because once the derailleur is bent, bad things can happen such as shifting into the spokes, which may ruin the derailleur and might seriously damage the rear wheel and frame. It absorb Feb 24, 2025 · From what I can tell from bench testing, the override clutch doesn’t seem to do anything in that direction, which is also substantiated by the number of outwardly bent derailleur cages I’ve personally experienced, in addition to the growing number of similarly bent cages I’ve seen and heard about. When simple adjustments don’t fix your shifting woes, it’s time to check and see if your derailleur hanger is properly aligned. May 31, 2024 · I am pretty tolerant of bad shifting, so I've run mine with a broken off barrel adjuster at the shifter, a kink in the cable, a kink in the housing, bent hanger, and bent derailleur. 2 ︎ • How to Align a Derailleur Hanger We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. It looks like the derailleur hanger is bent. The derailleur hanger is the piece of metal that the rear derailleur attaches to near the rear axle. Usually, this takes the form of poor shifting, but with a severely bent hanger, the rear derailleur could potentially jam into the rear wheel, resulting in catastrophic damage and likely a crash. A bent or broken derailleur will never shift properly. To identify a bent derailleur hanger, visually inspect it for any signs of Replacing a broken derailleur can be an intimidating project, but it’s really not that difficult. Hope this helps. 1 My rear derailleur took a knock from a fall, and the entire shifting range moved inwards by about one sprocket width. Often when I can’t get a bike to shift quite right I throw the alightment fixture on even though the hanger looks quite good, I’m often amazed at how bent or twisted they are. First, loosen the pinch bolt and let the derailleur run on the smallest cog. I put on a new hanger, and threw on my cage from my old X01 derailleur. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. The process is different for different generations of SRAM mechs. . If not, the derailleur or the hanger got bent and will need to be fixed. Luckily, Doddy has some tips on how to straighten a bent mech, get your gears working again, and avoid a long walk home. Jan 11, 2024 · It is more likely that the hanger is bent. The rear shifting will be out of whack if the hanger got bent. I noticed the derailleur seemed to be sitting at different angle than the cogs on the cassette. It’s the first thing I use when the rear isn’t shifting correctly. If the shifting is good then you have nothing to worry about. Ensuring Smooth Gear Shifting: The derailleur mech hanger holds the rear derailleur in place, allowing it to move the chain between gears smoothly. May 20, 2010 · If you find that you cannot find a balance between perfect upshifting and perfect downshifting through cable tension then your derailleur hanger may be bent. The hanger is a sacrificial component that connects your rear derailleur to the frame. That makes me think the derailleur is bent rather than the derailleur hanger. Feb 6, 2011 · What I'm curious to know is whether anyone is aware of other parts on the derailleur that can get bent and be responsible for an out of alignment derailleur? I've checked it over and nothing seems obvious. The derailleur hanger connects the rear derailleur to the bike frame and is designed to bend or break under impact, acting as a sacrificial part. No matter what brand, model or style of rear derailleur you have the axes around which the pulleys rotate should be parallel to each other. You click the shifter but the chain doesn't quite engage the next gear the way it used to. tree branch) Going into the spokes (badly set low limit screw or the derailleur was wobbling enough for some reason to get caught in the spokes) Chain too short. If a hanger is straight, the rear derailleur pulleys and cage will be vertically aligned with the cassette cogs. The derailleur hanger is specific to the frame. After I installed everything, I tried out my shifting, and it's garbage. Replacing springs on derailleurs can be difficult and sometimes the springs are attached to rivets on the derailleur, so it’s impossible to remove the broken/bent ones or fix new ones. Is it possible that I switched out my severely bent cage with a slightly less bent If you’ve tried adjusting your rear derailleur but still can’t get your bike to shift right, the most likely cause is a bent rear derailleur hanger. What to do with a bent derailleur hanger??So I bent my rear derailleur, and I don't have the correct tools to fix it. It’ll pay for itself by avoiding just one visit to the LBS and gets you riding quickly. Tighten the bolt and test the gears. Pro tip: Hold a ruler against the derailleur's pulleys to see if they align vertically; any discrepancy might indicate a bent derailleur or hanger. How to measure and correct alignment of the derailleur hanger, a common source of bicycle shifting issues. Straightening your hangar is easy if you have the tool. By Jim Langley Jim’s Tech Talk This is the second article on repairing bent derailleur hangers. And if your hanger is completely broken, basically your whole bicycle becomes rather useless. How to check if your derailleur hanger is bent We take every step to make sure your Ribble bike arrives safely, but sometimes damage in transit can occur. Jul 9, 2024 · If you’ve ever had to replace a bent or broken rear derailleur hanger, you’ll know how hard it is to find a spare. Typically made from aluminum or other metals, the derailleur hanger is designed to be a sacrificial part that bends or breaks under stress, protecting the more expensive frame When a derailer hanger is bent, it is generally necessary to remove the derailer to straighten it. This video covers the process for Shimano style derailleurs. I've flipped bikes that saw a crash or two with something bent in the rear mech, and if the derailleur is low end I just replace the whole thing for the sake of time and guaranteed smooth shifting. But a typical symptom of a misaligned hanger is the rear derailleur will shift fine for a few gears, only to lose adjustment while shifting further up or down the cassette. Jul 3, 2020 · A bent derailleur hanger can be caused by a bike falling on the drive side. In order for your drivetrain to shift Are you having shifting problems? It’s way more likely your hanger is bent then your derailleur or your frame but if you are having shifting problems I’d take the bike to a quality shop and have them check the hanger and frame alignment to be sure. How To Check For Bent Rear Derailleur Cage / Hanger - What Options You Have | 4K h Jan 11, 2024 · The hanger is weaker than the derailleur, by design, because it's inexpensive and meant to bend in order to protect the much more expensive derailleur. See full list on biketestreviews. Finally, test the shifting and make any further adjustments until it runs smoothly. I have problems shifting from the largest cog to the smallest cog, despite messing with the limit screw. This repair is meant for steel frames with integrated hangers. It's easier to tell by looking at the derailleur cage. As a mobile bicycle mechanic, I’ve seen countless cases where an unnoticed bent hanger leads to poor shifting, premature drivetrain wear, and even costly Aug 14, 2023 · Chain Drops: If your chain frequently drops off the chainrings, there might be an issue with the derailleur’s height adjustment. And it’s made to bend or break on impact. I show how to fix a bent derailleur hanger without expensive tools like Park Tool's DAG-2 Derailleur Hanger Alignment Gauge. It checks that the hole is perpendicular to the plane of the rim. The derailleur hanger is designed to bend in case of an impact. awin1. Best thing to do here is bend it back so it's straight or buy a new one. Find out how to straighten your bent mech hanger with this guide No, your derailler hanger is bent. In part one we covered common ways they’re bent and the shifting problems caused by bent hangers. My hanger was destroyed and my cage was severely bent. Aug 18, 2017 · Consequently, if either the derailleur or derailleur hanger are bent, it’s best to take it into your local shop for a remedy. The derailleur hanger keeps the rear derailleur aligned perfectly Aug 28, 2025 · How to check if your derailleur hanger is bent We take every step to make sure your Ribble bike arrives safely, but sometimes damage in transit can occur. Oct 29, 2021 · A bent hanger is going to affect shifting and put extra strain on the chain, and you risk the cage hitting the spokes when changing to the largest sprocket. The beauty of the Park tools DAG is that it gives you enough leverage to tweak the hanger as well. In most cases, if you find this kind of damage, the rear derailleur will need to be replaced. If this happens, you could be looking at even more problems: like broken spokes or a broken derailleur. It can usually be bent back (with the appropriate tool preferably), or replaced if it breaks Your local LBS should be able to bend it back, as it’s only bent a little bit. This derailleur is jammed or sticking in place. Lastly, inspect the rear derailleur for damages, broken jockey wheels, bent parts, or broken springs. But often, the real culprit is something small but crucial: your derailleur hanger. If the gear hanger gets bent or damaged, you will need to replace it. Determine if is the shifter, cable, and housing or th Bent derailleur hangers can cause several issues. Every bike seems to have a unique design. But after I take off the chain, I tried spinning the jockey wheels with my fingers (. Front Derailleur — Advanced Troubleshooting This article will review the common sources of poor front derailleur performance and how to fix them. It’s a sacrificial piece for a good reason. I'm wondering what you do when you bend a derailleur hanger -- do you replace only, bend back only, or bend back to ride while the replacement is on the way? May 12, 2022 · Replacing a derailleur hanger is a crucial bike maintenance task that ensures smooth shifting and protects your frame from damage. You can straighten one without any special tools you just can't know if it's actually straight without a special tool. Jun 6, 2011 · I can't tell you how this has vexed me. Do you have the old derailleur? I've checked the derailleur cage and it seems straight, as you can see in photo 3 (maybe I'm not checking it right) and the pulleys are aligned, so is it possible that the "parallelogram" part of the derailleur is bent ? I couldn't find any technical documentation from sram to check the alignment and tolerances, so do you know how to control it? Cages will always look bent but your upper pulley wheel doesn't look aligned either. You would need a derailleur alignment tool and then likely have to redo your indexing. In this video I explain how to check your bike for a bent rear derailleur. Or you can replace the hanger if you have access to one. Yes. I say check hanger alignment first and go from there. Looking at the derailleur and hanger, it's really hard to tell which it is. Alternatively you can replace the derailleur hanger which is the part that bends. I was wondering if maybe my derailleur was bent, and if so, can I bend it back, or would I have to get a new one. How could the chain have more to do with the shifting to the big ring than the derailleur, but maybe it does. This can happen if your bike is dropped, crashed or bumped, or if it was poorly aligned at the manufacturer. If you would rather buy the tool yourself, you can purchase it from any bike tool supplier. Here's how If you're new to working on bicycles, and want to troubleshoot a shifting issue, you likely will be short a few tools. g. Inspection of the bike afterwards saw relatively minor damage to the handlebar grip, the saddle and the point where the rear derailleur is mounted on the frame. When damaged (usually bent hanger is a as a result of a fall of the bike), it can be bent. For precise assessment, a control gauge or an alignment tool helps. I think the frame derailleur hanger is bent, and needs to be straightened, preferably with a proper alignment gauge for best results. Adjust the limit screws and cable tension as necessary, ensuring the jockey wheel and chain are aligned properly. Crashing or throwing the bike down on the right side can bend this hanger. If it is bent after a fall or hitting a rock, it is often no longer possible to adjust the gears properly. How to tell and/or fix a rear derailleur that's been bent inward I tried something silly the other day and took my bike w/racks and bags and biked a disc golf course using the bike as my caddy. I'd wager this is a derailleur hanger out of alignment and the derailleur adjusted to shift well. Start by examining if your derailleur hanger is bent, as this can cause significant issues. The derailleur pulleys should be in perfect alignment (parallel) to your cassette cogs. Aug 14, 2021 · How can you tell if a hanger is bent? Most of the time, it’s not visible to the eye if a hanger is bent or not. Once bent, the derailleurs and pulleys are not going to align with the sprockets. First, assess the Jun 11, 2013 · No, something's bent, probably the derailleur hanger. Impossible if you don't ( and no We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. tiny misalignments can make for bad shifting. The derailleur cage and jockey wheels should make a straight line with the sprockets at each gear position. I am refurbishing a bike and am deciding how much to clean out the rear derailleur. There is a specific tool found at most bike shops that allows you to diagnose and fix a bent derailleur hanger. Oct 7, 2025 · Know when to seek professional help – If chain skipping persists across multiple gears, you notice bent derailleur hangers, or compatibility issues between components, don’t hesitate to visit a bike mechanic for proper diagnosis and repair. From all that you describe, it seems like you have a bent cage (even ever so slightly). How to Front Derailleur Troubleshooting and diagnosing. You can do that by holding down the button on the junction, but not too long. How To Check For Bent Rear Derailleur Cage / Hanger - What Options You Have | 4Khttps://amzn. The outer plate looks like its lower aft end is bent inwards. Knowing how to identify, remove, and install a new hanger can save you costly repairs and keep your bike performing at First, a little background derailleur adjustment is dependent on three things: Derailleur alignment, this is the derailleur's alignment relative to the frame and drivetrain. It’s a 1x11 drivetrain with a shimano slx derailleur and xt chain Oct 10, 2023 · The Easy How-To Guide for Adjusting & Tuning a Mechanical Rear Derailleur Mechanical rear derailleurs are easy to tune at home, as long as you know what each adjustment screw does. co Sometimes, you can visually confirm that a derailleur hanger is bent by looking at your bike from behind. Alignment tool is a good investment. I’ve straightened a few that are that bent. It is possible to The best way to check if your derailleur hanger is bent is by looking at it to see if it's bent, if it looks bent, your derailleur hanger is bent. Fear, not people, where there is a "whe May 19, 2024 · To fix a bent derailleur on a mountain bike, first shift the bike to the smallest chainring and cog. , Shimano, SRAM, Campagnolo), bike type (road, mountain, gravel, touring), mounting style (standard hanger or direct-mount), and shifting type (mechanical or electronic: wired or wireless), as these distinctions help match derailleurs to the correct drivetrain system, frame Aug 15, 2020 · How do you know you’re going to need to fix bent chainring teeth? A tell-tale sign of bent chainring teeth is the fact that your shifting doesn’t work as it should. Jul 29, 2021 · When your derailleur spring breaks or gets bent, it may be time to replace your derailleur. Feb 17, 2025 · Symptoms of a bent derailleur hanger include difficulty shifting gears smoothly, chain skipping, and noisy operation. There are tons of video's on youtube showing how to adjust derailleurs (assuming you don't already know how). Look for any visible signs of damage, such as fraying or a completely snapped cable. comIf you enjoyed this video, SUBSCRIBE to It's always hard to tell from a photo, but it doesn't look bent. A bent hanger will make your chain jump between gears unpredictably. Once bent, you might not even notice that the shifting isn’t as crisp as it was before and just keep riding as usual. Sep 11, 2023 · A loose or bent hanger can allow the derailleur to shift into the spokes if you don't have a spoke protector. Oct 29, 2021 · If your derailleur takes a hit during the ride, the derailleur hanger (sos hanger) purpose to absorb the impact. That’s the piece between the bike frame and the derailler. When I started moving the bike the rear derailleur was caught in the Jun 6, 2025 · Table Of Contents Key Takeaways You’ll know your derailleur hanger needs alignment when you experience skipping gears, chain noise, and hesitant shifting that cable adjustments can’t fix—these symptoms indicate the small aluminum piece connecting your derailleur to the frame has been bent from crashes or rough handling. Hanger alignment: you can see if your derailleur hanger is misaligned by looking at it from behind the bike. In my case, the brakes on my front wheel locked it, flipping me over the handlebars. They make a special tool for it or you can do it with a wheel (the front wheel of that bike if it is also bolt on). Search Results for: how to tell if rear derailleur is bent Bent Derailleur Hanger A bent derailleur hanger is an extremely common problem which can cause shifting issues and even cause your chain to shift into the spokes. this would better with a dropper post and a touring-bike kickstand as it's a lot of getting on and off and throwing legs over things. Apr 21, 2024 · Did you know that 90% of derailleur issues stem from poor shifting adjustment or worn parts? If your derailleur still isn’t shifting properly after adjustment, common problems include bent hangers and cable tension issues. Steps to diagnose a broken rear derailleur gear cable The derailleur rarely gets bent, it's the hangar that's the problem. Apr 19, 2018 · The derailleur cage appears twisted around a vertical axis (the 'front' of the cage seems to be pointing outwards). Discover essential tools like alignment gauges In this video I explain how to check for bent rear derailleur. It's in pretty good shape. Learn to identify telltale signs such as inconsistent shifting, chain rubbing, frequent derailments, and visible hanger damage. com Feb 23, 2022 · Sometimes, you can visually confirm that a derailleur hanger is bent by looking at your bike from behind. The good ones are a bit pricey. Sometimes, the bend is even visible if it is big enough. Oct 5, 2024 · The issue described Sounds like a bent hanger. Maybe a little. Just remove the derailleur mounting bolt (you can leave the cable attached) and screw the wheel into that hole - then compare how Apr 6, 2025 · This will hopefully show whether the derailleur and derailleur cage are parallel to the main plane, as they should be. Here’s a basic overview for first timers. Bike rear derailleur adjustment is a fundamental part of tuning gears as the rear derailleur guides the chain from cog to cog on the cassette. You also need to check your high and low limit on that RD. but not necessary. A derailleur hanger, also known as a mech hanger or dropout hanger, is a small, replaceable part of a bicycle’s frame. Bent derailleur or hanger? How to test it with no tools. But i would always have a spare derailleur hanger on hand. Looking closer, it looked like the derailleur hanger was bent. Feb 22, 2024 · Visual inspection: Take a close look at the rear derailleur and examine the cable. Shifting troubles can be extremely frustrating, mostly because the main source of the problem is often overlooked. May 22, 2022 · The front derailleur is the mechanism that shifts the bike chain between the front chainrings, enabling smooth gear changes. One of the most common parts affected is the derailleur hanger. Fiddling with the derailleur without it being aligned is often useless. Park makes a great tool for checking the alignment and adjusting it. This article will help you understand what each part does, how to […] Accidents Happen If you do manage to crash or drop your bike and bend the derailleur, you might not notice. How do you know? Usually, the symptom that tips you off that adjustment is needed is hesitation during shifts. Derailleur hangers are made of soft metal and can bend easily. Checking the highest and lowest gears will probably show you. Jul 29, 2017 · Front Derailleur — Advanced Troubleshooting This article will review the common sources of poor front derailleur performance and how to fix them. Ensure that the derailleur cage is parallel to the chainrings and the derailleur is properly A derailleur hanger alignment tool is about $40-$50 from Amazon. To check your work, eyeball the alignment first and then thread your derailleur back into the hanger and use the policing cage as a guide that you can compare to the cogs above it. However, when checking if it's bent, if you see the hanger looks straight, it likely isn't bent, and the problem is something else. It's a replaceable hanger but for this summer I can't get an original one and I know that the non-original one I can get is made in a harder material and could possibly damage the frame. Apr 30, 2010 · Your bike's drivetrain is really a simple system, and if you know what to look for, you can easily repair your derailleur yourself. Maybe these bikes were transported in the truck of a car, and the derailleur hangers were bent during transport. Then you should replace it or have it repaired. If the derailleur is too damaged, it may need to be replaced. My LBS owner says it's the SRAM chain. It is possible to Jul 9, 2024 · Derailleur Cage Misalignment: If the entire derailleur cage appears to be misaligned, it could be due to the stress placed on the system by a bent jockey wheel. May 22, 2025 · What are the types of bike rear derailleur? The types of bike rear derailleur include classifications based on brand (e. This worked fine, as far as I can tell. Step 2, A man has got to know his limitations Before attempting to adjust the derailleur properly, set its usable range. Something is certainly bent, but it’s probably the derailleur hanger (which by design bends more easily than the derailleur or frame itself). Jul 29, 2017 · 3 Bent Hanger T he rear derailleur is attached to the frame with a hanger. Get to know your Derailleur Yes, it’s fairly straightforward. By identifying these signs, you can confirm if a snapped rear derailleur gear cable is the root cause of your bike’s shifting issues and proceed with the necessary repairs. I would suggest ParkTools. I would just visit my LBS. And… May 16, 2025 · If your derailleur hanger is even slightly bent out of shape, your drivetrain won’t work properly. There are tools to check for that and bike shops have them. Bike shops have a special tool, a bar with a sliding gauge on it, that screws into the hole in the hanger in place of the derailer. That will make it catch the chain and may throw it inside on downshifts. Dec 12, 2017 · I got a stick caught in my derailleur and something is totally bent. Dec 29, 2023 · Adjusting bike gears is essential for maintaining effective and consistent shifting performance and avoiding issues with the drivetrain. If the hanger isn’t bent too badly, you can straighten it out. The derailleur must be taken off for that check. May 30, 2023 · I would bent it a little back and see if it improves. Jun 5, 2025 · I tore into it tonight, and sure 'nuff, my derailleur was bent. Then you don’t have to replace it! Purpose of a Derailleur Hanger The derailleur hanger connects the rear derailleur to the frame. Shifting problems caused by a bent derailleur hanger are quite common. Fix shifting issues, fine-tune performance, and keep your ride smooth and efficient! Apr 18, 2021 · showing you how i bent back my bent shimano xt rear derailleur rd-m750 check my patreon for exclusive videos! / garysprojects if you like, support the channel here! shop: https://garysprojects Aug 30, 2015 · How to measure and correct alignment of the derailleur hanger, a common source of bicycle shifting issues. Jul 13, 2022 · If your derailleur is bent, poorly adjusted, or just a bit old, you will not get precise and accurate shifting when you need it. May 19, 2024 · To fix a rear derailleur on a mountain bike, start by shifting to the smallest gear, loosening the derailleur cable and checking for any chain damage. for the derailleur itself, the outer part of the cage looks off, but the inner part looks fine and the jockey wheels look like they're pretty in line with each other. Some shops will That part of the frame that holds the derailleur is called the derailleur hanger. I'm not completely convinced but getting there. SickBiker 368K subscribers Subscribe Apr 22, 2019 · Took a nice little spill on my Bronson earlier today and bent my derailleur cage. I suspect, but am not sure, that the mech hanger got slightly bent (could be completely wrong, not really sure how to tell). Aug 5, 2019 · A bent derailleur hanger means you’ll likely never get your rear derailleur shifting just right. A shop can check the alignment with a gauge that screws into the hanger. It’s a simple device that easy to use and money well spent. Oct 11, 2015 · Started off trying to tweak straight a slightly bent derailleur cage (after checking the hanger was OK). Mar 13, 2022 · only way to tell for sure regarding hanger alignment is to put a hanger alignment tool on it. Crashing your bike or knocking it while moving can cause your rear derailleur to hang at an angle and wreak havoc on your gearing How To Install a Rear Derailleur How to True a Wheel How to Remove and Install Your Wheels Today we’ll learn how to straighten integrated derailleur hangers. Derailleur Hanger: The derailleur hanger should be exactly straight, and the rear derailleur should be firmly screwed into it. i Find that even a slightly bent hanger can screw up shifting. However, I have just popped the mech back on the frame, and it is now failing to take up any of the chain slack. Bent derailleur hanger If your rear derailleur is shifting poorly, not staying in gear, and appears to be bent or out of alignment, check first whether the derailleur hanger is bent. Take to shop and ask them to check with DAG. The result is poor shifting even after all other When your bike isn’t shifting quite right, or your rear derailleur seems just a little off, you might assume it’s a cable issue or a bent derailleur. A derailleur hanger (or mech hanger) is not a part most people are aware of, but the sacrificial mount for the rear derailleur can cause shifting to go completely wrong if even a little bent out Apr 8, 2021 · Top pic sure seems to show an angle that should not be there. A slightly bent or damaged hanger can lead to misaligned gears, causing problems with shifting or even chain loss. The right way to straighten one is to replace the derailleur with a Park Tools DAG and use that to both measure alignment and provide leverage to bend it back. Inspecting the Derailleur Carefully examine the front derailleur for any visible damage, such as bent or broken parts. The rear should hang parallel to the plane of the bike. Jun 6, 2023 · If your gears aren’t shifting properly and you can’t get them to index, a bent derailleur hanger can often be the culprit. ) if your chain doesnt seem to be damaged, I would move onto the derailleur itself. I know your post isn’t current, but I just got the new T-Type - previously had gen 1 AXS GX and loved it - the bike is new in stand still being assembled and the derailleur looks bent to shit and shifts terribly and micro shift doesn’t do much. Mar 22, 2024 · Derailleur hangers are there to protect your frame from damage, but are prone to bending themselves. A bent derailleur hanger typically rotates the cage around a horizontal axis (kicks the lower jockey wheel inwards). How do I know if my derailleur is damaged? Quote from video: The key is to look at the rear derailleur we can If your derailleur hanger is bent it will be pretty much impossible to get your gears to index properly. Asked by: Dan Aukuso What causes a derailleur to snap? Some common reasons for it breaking are: Hitting an obstacle (e. It always points the chain towards the chainring – in any gear, helping achieve the smooth and quiet operation of Eagle Transmission in all cogs. To check your front derailleur, ensure it is properly aligned about 2mm above the largest chainring teeth, with the cage parallel to the chainring. That derailleur had already been abused, but it looked usable. IEyeballing the hanger from the rear only gives you a part of the picture, if the hangar is twisted at all I've bent (again) my derailleur hanger. You can eyeball the derailleur cage alignment by looking down the chain-line from the back of the bike – see image below from this question. Aug 16, 2023 · A braze-on derailleur is what the front derailleur attaches to. Thought I'd take the derailleur off to pop the cage in a vice and do it "properly". These are commonly aluminum but may also be steel. Here's how to diagnose most shifting issues on a rear derailleur with just Apr 21, 2019 · It does look bent, the inner and outer plates should present parallel faces to the chain. Shift through all front gears while pedaling to confirm crisp, hesitation-free shifts without chain rub or overshooting May 19, 2023 · What should I do if my derailleur hanger is bent or broken? If the derailleur hanger has taken a knock, it can often be bent back using a specific derailleur hanger alignment tool. The “Inline Cage” is angled by design. The pictured derailleur cage is, without a shadow of a doubt, bent. If the bolt for the derailleur mount gets bent, you won't be able to thread your tderailleur back into the hanger. There are tools to bend it back and align it properly, a bike shop can do it in a few minutes. You can adjust your bike derailleur to fix most problems with shifting gear. I have SRAM force but the problem you describe is exactly what I've experienced. Is your rear D in the same plane/parallel with the back wheel? With 12 speed, if your derailleur is bent you will notice it in the shifting. The most likely cause for this is a shift • Rear Derailleur - Advanced Troubleshooting ︎ • Rear Derailleur - Advanced Troubleshooting • How To Align a Derailleur Hanger Using the DAG-2. It gets the name "braze-on" from the brazing torch that's used to attach the front derailleur to the metal frame. Jan 27, 2025 · Learn how to adjust road bike derailleur gears with this guide. I'd say the derailleur cage does look bent in this photo, but that may be a distortion created by the too-close perspective. May 7, 2021 · (I know its pedantic but the cost of a chain vs replacing a der. Aug 3, 2017 · How to Straighten a bent DerailleurTo see our 2017 E-Bikes and conversion kits Visit us @ https://augustineebikes. In my case I actually heard a noise when I was in a certain gear and felt movement through the crank with each rotation. And… Mar 18, 2022 · Derailleur Hanger Alignment In 10 Easy Steps Nothing will derail your ride more than rear-derailleur problems. It connects the derailleur (the mechanism that moves the chain between gears) to the frame itself. Aug 14, 2025 · There are many crucial parts of a bike, like the derailleur hanger. Then, loosen the derailleur bolt and manipulate the derailleur to straighten it out. My other bike with Shimano 105 (run with shimano and KMC chains) does this Your rear mech is one of the most vulnerable parts of your bike. A spare derailleur hanger probably costs ~15€ and is always good to have because it can take weeks to ship 3 Bent Hanger T he rear derailleur is attached to the frame with a hanger. In the future, build bikes better, know that the bike going out the door is working perfectly, and it will give you the confidence to explain to the customer what happened to their bike, so they are aware of what they did. If this happens you will have broken or damaged spokes. Also, know that on bicycles with aluminum derailleur hangers, which is the most common type today, it doesn’t take much force at all to bend the hanger like this. Sight from behind the bike and see if the hanger looks parallel to the wheel and sprockets. I bent it back, but plan to order a better one off the derailleur website. May 16, 2025 · If your derailleur hanger is even slightly bent out of shape, your drivetrain won’t work properly. The hanger looks like it's still flat (and sits flush on a flat surface), but I guess it only has to be a fraction off to cause the derailleur to sit a Struggling with frustrating shifting issues like gear slippage, chain skipping, or poor derailleur movement? This comprehensive guide explores how a bent or misaligned derailleur hanger could be the culprit. 1. This quick guide explains what your rear derailleur adjustments are, and what they can potentially fix. You can also tell if it’s bent by sighting from behind to see if an imaginary line that passes through both derailleur pulleys also bisects the cassette cog they’re beneath. In this article, we'll guide you through the steps to identify, assess, and fix a bent derailleur hanger, ensuring your bike remains in top condition. BASIC REAR DERAILLEUR ADJUSTMENT ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS about modern derailleur drivetrains is that they're easily fine-tuned should the need arise. If they still do not shift properly, it may be necessary to adjust the limit screws. According to this diagram from SRAM on page 56, it doesn't look Aug 23, 2024 · A bent derailleur hanger can significantly affect the performance of your bike, leading to poor shifting and potential damage to your drivetrain. Jul 18, 2016 · Wow, that looks like a hot mess If you don't own a derailleur alignment tool to straighten your hangar, you need to take it to a shop. ilvqy amfsah kedh aomb gsae pcwd zsg qlonxc gjozz stgi avjuo akdf pcgwn mogrlu boe