How to Change a Shimano Zipp to a Campy

Considering the average cost of a pair of Zipp bicycle wheels, it would be hard to justify ditching one set for another when swapping from a Shimano to a Campy drive train. Fortunately, you don’t have to. Switching from Shimano to Campy (Campagnolo) is simply a matter of replacing the freehub body. Located on the right or drive-side of your rear wheel, the freehub body serves as the attachment point for your cassette. Both Shimano and Campy cassettes feature their own unique design, and each requires an equally unique freehub for compatibility.

Things You'll Need

• 2 mm Allen wrench
• Clean rag
• Grease

Instructions

Shimano Removal

1. Remove the end cap from the left or non-drive side of the axle. The cap is gray and can be removed by using your fingers only.

2. Insert a 2 mm Allen wrench into the left-side axle, and turn the pinch bolt counterclockwise to loosen it. Unthread the accompany pinch nut and seal from the axle.

3. Pull the axle and freehub body from the right side of the wheel.

4. Remove the 0.25 mm shim if it’s stuck to the side of the hub. If it’s not on the side of the hub, it will be stuck to the side of the freehub. In any case, it has no place in the installation of your Campy compatible freehub. Get rid of it for now.

5. Remove the red bearing shield from the axle. This is a small disk which protects the external hub bearings. This will be the last piece of hardware on the axle.

6. Use a rag to wipe the axle clean of old grease.

7. Coat the axle with fresh grease.

Campy Installation

1. Slide the blue bearing shield from your new Campy freehub onto the axle with the raised surface facing toward the bike.

2. Thread the Campy freehub onto the axle so that its outside rests against the bearing shield.

3. Install the two 0.25 mm shims that came with your Campy freehub body onto the axle. The shims will rest against the inside of the freehub body.

4. Pass the entire assembly through the right side of the hub of the wheel, until the freehub body meshes with the ratchet gear on the side of the hub.

5. Install the pinch nut seal (the one you removed in Step 2 of the removal process) onto the left side of the axle with the raised lip facing in toward the bike.

6. Thread the pinch nut onto the left side of the axle until it just contacts the seal. Using your 2 mm Allen wrench, tighten the pinch bolt within the pinch nut to lock the axle.

7. Install the blue end cap into the left side of the axle. No tools are required for this process.

References

• Zipp: Product Manuals