Interesting, hadn't thought of it that way round. Was thinking the other way round that the 950 would cover the wider chainring distance slightly better.I think the M952 will have a slightly narrower cage to work with a 9 speed chain. Both will work, one will be a bit better than the other. I've run a mix of M950/M952/M970 on different bikes.
Not sure about top v bottom pull so if anyone can advie that would be appreciated.biggest issue is top pull versus bottom pull front mech surely? - as no option to mix/match when it comes to braze-ons and cable routing. I would also express some caution on chainring compatibility - be careful what you buy on ebay etc as some of the newer XTR chainrings have a peculiar off center inner 4 bolt pattern that isnt interchangeable with earlier XTR but looks the same from a distance ( sorry I dont have the technical dimensions stored in my head like the gurus here) I would say that provided you get the correct fitting ( octalink) the BBs from lower down the shimano range also work aok - if that means you can secure the correct width for your chainline more easily/cheaply though pukka XTR BB weighs a lot less. great info in this thread already though for XTR hoarders ;-0
Not sure about top v bottom pull so if anyone can advie that would be appreciated.
I managed to get hold a genuine 950 bb after i got the chainset. It's been a bit of a journey of ignorance for me, hadn't realised there even was a V1 Octalink as my first one if note was a slightly later LX V2. And to be honest when I got the bag of XTR swag I didn't full appreciate the differences between what I ended up with.
Understood yes its BP, will have to check the FD's and see what they are.Yes, sorry should have been more explicit that bottom pull has gear cable routed underneath the BB and so the cable joins the front mech from below. Top pull routes the gear cable along the top tube down the seat tube and joins the front mech from above.
Newer mechs can be both top and bottom pull and latest are often side pull now. It's easy enough to check your cable routing by the position of cable stops brazed onto the frame and on older frames the cable guides under the BB.
Iirc Xtr octalink isn't the same as the cheaper mtb units.I would say that provided you get the correct fitting ( octalink) the BBs from lower down the shimano range also work aok
Iirc Xtr octalink isn't the same as the cheaper mtb units.
If you mismatch the splines you'll ruin the chainset. It's been done many times, making an xtr m950 chainset a risky buy.
Symptoms? Creaking and falling off, like square taper![]()