Before ordering: three things to establish
Speed count. Count the sprockets. An 8-speed cassette needs an 8-speed chain and shifter.
Tooth range, written as 11-32T. The largest sprocket has to be within the maximum your rear derailleur maker publishes.
The freehub body. Shimano HG takes most 8 to 11-speed cassettes; SRAM XD and Shimano Micro Spline take 12-speed ones; Campagnolo has its own splines. It is invisible with the cassette fitted, so check your wheel or hub before ordering.
The tools
- A lockring tool matching the cassette. Shimano HG and SRAM cassettes use the same one.
- A chain whip to hold the sprockets while the lockring is undone. Without it the cassette just spins on the freehub.
- A wrench with enough leverage, ideally a torque wrench for refitting.
Removing the old one
Take the wheel out and remove the quick-release skewer if it is in the way. Hold the sprockets with the chain whip and turn the lockring tool counterclockwise. Lift the cassette off and note the order of any loose sprockets and spacers.
Fitting the new one
The splines have one wide groove, so the cassette only goes on one way. Slide it on, thread the lockring by hand, then tighten it. Shimano gives 30 to 50 N·m (22 to 37 ft-lb) for its HG lockrings.
The spacer nobody mentions. An 11-speed road freehub is 1.85 mm longer than an 8, 9 or 10-speed one. Fit a 1.85 mm spacer behind the older cassette, or the lockring cannot clamp the stack.
Chain length
A bigger largest sprocket needs a longer chain. The usual check is the chain around the largest chainring and largest sprocket, without going through the derailleur, plus two links. Skipping this when you change tooth range is how rear derailleurs get torn off.
On our shelf
Prices read on Amazon.com on October 26, 2026:
- Shimano CS-HG200, 8-speed 12–32T, $23.44.
- Shimano CS-HG50, 8-speed 11–32T, $30.50, with a steel lockring named in its listing.
- SRAM 6/7/8-speed chain, 114 links, $14.99, with a PowerLink in the box.
Prices quoted in this text are dated readings and can differ from the live price in the buy box.
The questions riders ask
What tools do I need?
A lockring tool that matches your cassette (Shimano HG and SRAM cassettes share the same one), a chain whip to hold the sprockets while the lockring is undone, and a wrench big enough to give leverage. None come with a cassette.
What is a freehub body?
The splined part of the rear hub the cassette slides onto. Shimano HG, SRAM XD, Shimano Micro Spline and Campagnolo bodies differ, and the body is hidden once a cassette is fitted, which is why it is the most common reason a cassette will not go on.
How tight should the lockring be?
Shimano gives 30 to 50 N·m (22 to 37 ft-lb) for its HG lockrings. Too loose and the small sprockets rattle; a torque wrench on the lockring tool settles it.
Do I need a new chain with a new cassette?
Usually yes if the old chain is past its wear limit: a stretched chain skips on new sprockets. Check it with a chain checker before fitting the cassette.
Last reviewed October 26, 2026
