A friend has a Shimano 105 rear derailuer (10spd), that after one year one of the pulleys is already rusted and squeaking.

Thinking the best bet is to just replace the pulley and try to use some steel wool and wd40 to get the rust off the back plate that is bolted to the two pulleys.

Anyone know where I can get the pulleys online?.

I see the replacement durace ones out there, would these work?

I believe it is the top pulley, does that make a difference?

I have had durace and ultegra for years and have never had this happen.

All you need to do is to take the bolt out of the dérailleur and remove the jockey wheel. Remove the side plates and you will see that there is a two piece bushing take it apart clean it and oil it then put it back on the the dérailleur. No need to replace it, do them one at a time and it should not be a problem.

Thing was the round plate on the side of the pulley is all rusted. Figured instead of steel wooling the rust away, the easiest thing would be to just swap it out. Something must have been off on the plating to rust in the first place.

I can't find the 105 pulleys online though, only ultegra and durace. Not sure if the better ones will work with the 105 derailluer.

but if you go to a good local bike shop they very likely will have a suitable one in the parts bin (left over from people upgrading to aftermarket pulleys, or replacing a whole derailleur) and will sell it to you real cheap. The things don't really wear out very fast (unless you don't lube 'em after riding in the rain, like your friend did ;-), so a used one is perfectly acceptable most of the time.

I'd still try taking it apart and and cleaning and lubing first. A good soak in solvent might clean things up with very little effort. Assembling and disassembling them is really very simple.

I believe it is the top pulley, does that make a difference?

Shimano thinks it does—their top pulley has a lot of built-in lateral play. The bottom pulley doesn't. You can order Shimano replacement pulleys through an LBS.

http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/EV/bikecomponents/RD/EV-RD-5600-2452_v1_m56577569830609120.pdf

Thanks for all the replies....

It's funny because I have never had problems with my Ultegra or Dura-Ace ones, and her bike with no-name shimano brakes and a 105 derailluer seems to be having these rust issues. She doesn't really ride in the rain. So far it doesn't seem like the 10sp 105 stuff is as good as the Ultegra and dura-ace.

I did found the 105 pulleys pretty cheap, haven't figured out yet if the dura-ace ones are interchangeable with them like the chains and cassettes.

I like to use Tacx cartridge bearing pulleys as they have nothing to rust and the bearings are well sealed preventing dirt and grit contamination. They are also cheap to replace too

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=T4060

BBB pulleys are the same type of stuff too
http://www.bbbparts.com/products/bike_parts/pulleys/bdp01.htm

Thing was the round plate on the side of the pulley is all rusted. Figured instead of steel wooling the rust away, the easiest thing would be to just swap it out. Something must have been off on the plating to rust in the first place.


Interesting - I just noticed the exact same issue with an LX upper pulley. Been on the bike for about 6 months, with not a whole lot of miles on it.

I was wondering if it was a warranty issue - Seems like the may have cheaped out a little too much on the materials.

I opened it up and greased it. Cured the squeak, but still......

I've got a 105 rear derailleur and noticed the slop in the top pulley also. You can easily buy replacement ones online and at your LBS. My question is if the top pulley was designed with so much slop intentionally to compensate for some inaccuracy in the derailleur. If so, will aftermarket pulleys work well?

I've got a 105 rear derailleur and noticed the slop in the top pulley also. You can easily buy replacement ones online and at your LBS. My question is if the top pulley was designed with so much slop intentionally to compensate for some inaccuracy in the derailleur. If so, will aftermarket pulleys work well?

Yes, the slop's in the top pulley so the chain always lines up perfectly under the cog, even if the derailleur adjustment is a little bit off. Opinions are divided on aftermarket pulleys that don't have that play. Some people claim their shifting actually improved, others say their shifting went to hell and they had to put their old Shimano pulley back on. Keep in mind that there are aftermarket pulleys which do have that lateral play built in. Someone will know which do and which don't.

Yes, the slop's in the top pulley so the chain always lines up perfectly under the cog

From what I remember, it's not a defect. It's designed that way to allow easier shifting while the chain isn't moving

Aren't D/A jockey wheels ceramic material? If so, yes, they will last forever, or until the first rock gets caught in you chain.

Even the plastic derailler wheels should last like literally 10 years of riding in the rain. Shimano 105 is still good stuff. Save your money. I think a good cleaning and relubing the pulley bushing is in order.

Even the plastic derailler wheels should last like literally 10 years of riding in the rain. Shimano 105 is still good stuff. Save your money. I think a good cleaning and relubing the pulley bushing is in order.

I found a cheap online source for the 105 pulleys, very reasonable. So reasonable it was worth it to just get new ones and not clean, scrub, and rebuild the old ones.

Still curious to know if the dura-ace ones are interchangeable with the lower models. Or even if their is a difference between the 9speed pulleys and the 10speed pulleys.

So far it doesn't seem like the 10sp 105 stuff is as good as the Ultegra and dura-ace.

I did found the 105 pulleys pretty cheap, haven't figured out yet if the dura-ace ones are interchangeable with them like the chains and cassettes.
If you haven't noticed, 105 is a lesser group than Dura Ace and Ultegra. They had to cheapen it to make their price points somehow. 105 was introduced many years ago as the poor man's alternative to the 600 group (which eventually became Ultegra 600, then they dropped the '600').

The derailleur pulleys should be interchangeable between the different groups. Upgrade yours and give her your old ones.

I found a cheap online source for the 105 pulleys, very reasonable. So reasonable it was worth it to just get new ones and not clean, scrub, and rebuild the old ones.

Still curious to know if the dura-ace ones are interchangeable with the lower models. Or even if their is a difference between the 9speed pulleys and the 10speed pulleys.


Dura-Ace 8 speed pulleys are 10T. The pulley body is thinner than the other Shimano 8 speed pulleys. So, if you have an old Dura-Ace 8 speed rear derailler, you can't use any other Shimano 8 speed pulleys. Those are just too thick and won't fit.

9 speed Shimano pulleys are 11T.

I thought that the 11tooth pulleys came on thier mountain derailleurs? :confused:

The DA 9 & 10 speed pulleys are all 11 tooth plastic. The DA pulleys have very tiny "sealed" (?) ball bearings.