Shimano (in)compatability, disc brakes

StackenBlocken said:

I often hear people (including shop mechanics) complain about shimano and how their systems are incompatible with other systems and even with shimano's own previous systems. What are some of these problems? The only things I know about are 8/9/10 speed using different cog spacing and chain widths. Other than that, I'd say Shimano was very consumer friendly in having the 8 speed freehub work with 8,9,10 speed cassettes and 6,7 with spacers. Also, the cog spacing from 6,7,8 was the same, so 8 speed shifters will work with any of these. Also, I always thought shimano was good in that road and mountain shifters and derailleurs were basically interchangable.
As for disc brakes, people complain about the centerlock rotors requiring special hubs. Aren't they 160mm, and doesn't shimano make other 160mm rotors in 6 bolt? The calipers will work with regular rotors, right?

So what are people talking/complaining about? I don't have all that much experience, so I'm not seeing the issues that others are running into. Please let me know what you all have come across.

Thanks

First, let's clear up something about Shimano spacing:
6 speed is 5.3 mm
7 speed is 5.0 mm
8 speed is 4.8 mm

Yes, there is some slop that will allow an eight speed shifter to handle 7 speed, but it isn't as precise.
Yes, there are spacers that allow you to mount 6/7 speed HG cassettes on an 8/9 speed cassette body.

There are different rotor mounting methods and different rotor diameters.
Center lock rotors fit hubs with center lock connections on them.

wel lets start

Different hub system vs campy. SO no mixing hubs and casette
different crankset standards 130mm vs 135 mm for the bolts of the front blade.
BB-cranksets different types of connections not interchangable.
8-9 and 10 speed mix bad inbetween eachother.

the newer 10 speed wheels can not be mounted with a 9 or 8 speed cassettte

blades for dura-ace triple use different sizes then other groups.

They even have several different size for brake blocs, Campy had this too.

[quote="daveornee"]First, let's clear up something about Shimano spacing:
6 speed is 5.3 mm
7 speed is 5.0 mm
8 speed is 4.8 mm

Do you know what the spacing for 9 and 10 speed are?
Also, do you know what Campy's 8, 9, and 10 speed spacings are?

Thanks--

[quote="StackenBlocken"]

daveornee said:

First, let's clear up something about Shimano spacing:
6 speed is 5.3 mm
7 speed is 5.0 mm
8 speed is 4.8 mm

Do you know what the spacing for 9 and 10 speed are?
Also, do you know what Campy's 8, 9, and 10 speed spacings are?

Thanks--