Using a clutch rear derailleur with 9 speed (or even 8 speed!)

What is a clutch-type rear derailleur?

A clutch-type rear derailleur has a mechanism at the top of the cage that adds some resistance to the cage moving. This acts to keep better tension on the chain over rough terrain or when suspension movement results in chain growth or shrinkage. The clutch is engaged using a lever at the bottom knuckle. With the lever you can deactivate the clutch mechanism to make wheel removal easier.

Why use a clutch derailleur?

Clutch derailleurs are the way to go if you are running a 1x / single front ring setup and don't want the extra weight, expensive or hassle of a chain guide. A clutch-type derailleur combined with a narrow-wide front chain ring will provide a chain-drop free setup with serious weight and complexity savings over a more traditional front chain guide.

What clutch derailleurs are available?

Shimano was the first to come out with a clutch-type derailleur. They now have no less than 5 different models of clutch-type derailleurs (with the "shadow plus" designation):

SRAM now also make clutch-type rear derailleurs with the "Type 2" designation.

What's the problem?

There's only one problem, Shimano only started making clutch-type derailleurs in their 10 speed group sets. These derailleurs use a different activation ratio to the earlier 2:1 9 speed (and 7/8 speed) derailleurs.

However, all is not lost.  There are two options to getting a newer 10 speed Shimano clutch-type derailleur working with a 9-speed cassette and shifters.

Option 1 - SRAM 9 speed shifter

SRAM rear derailleurs have had a 1:1 activation ratio for a long time.  As a result, you can use any SRAM 9 speed shifter with a Shimano 10 speed rear derailleur and it will work perfectly with a 9 speed rear cassette.

Option 2 - Shimano 9 speed shifter, modified Shimano 10 speed rear derailleur

The other approach is to modify the cable attachment point on your Shimano 10 speed rear derailleur so the activation ratio becomes 2:1. This then means you can use 9 speed Shimano shifters with the modified 10 speed derailleur.  There's a thread on Hucking Kitty that sets out all you need to know about this mod.

Option 3 - Hybrid Shimano 9 speed / 10 speed clutch derailleur

Take the clutch mechanism from an XT Shadow+ rear derailleur and add it to a 9 speed XTR Shadow rear derailleur.

Related articles:

Using 10 speed rear derailleur with 11 speed shifter and cassette

Facts and figures

9 speed clutch rear derailleur mash up

There are several ways to get a 9 speed clutch derailleur.  The most popular is to use a Shimano 10 speed shadow plus rear derailleur like a Zee, Saint, SLX, ...

Using 10 speed chain on 9 speed drivetrain

Can you do it?

SRAM X.0 9 speed rear derailleur

weight: 198g;

Using a road front derailleur on a MTB to save weight

Dura-ace FD7800 front derailleur , plus Speen Umlenker , plus carbon cycles eXotic Carbon Front Derailleur Clamp with a few aluminium bolts thrown in for good measure weighs 82g.

Using Shimano 11 speed shifters with 10 speed derailleurs and 10 speed cassettes

The theory

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