Brass or alu nipples

[voodoorider]

Brass all the way, unless like some say there are better quality Al nipples.

I've had several factory sets that 'came with the bike' that the once they started to go it was a lost cause, just ended up getting them rebuilt with brass.

I'll ping my buddy Cy at Cotic and get his 2c...

 

[voodoorider]

So, here's the 2c from a mech engineer, frame builder/bike designer:

Cy: I've never used them. They scare me! They are weaker than brass nips, but can last a long while if you're very careful with them. Basically they're much less tolerant of less than perfect building, and they also corrode like billy-o with a bit of salt on them. Disc forces don't really like 'em either.

 

[tintin40]

alloy every time. ANd if the wheel build don't like then find a better wheel builder

 

[sancho]

Both

(brass on the drive side rear and alloy everywhere else)

 

[retroyetirigid]

Both

(brass on the drive side rear and alloy everywhere else)

+1

 

[gump]

Ali.

Though 5 years of regular road salt did trash some I had. But by that point, rims were worn through sidewalls, bearings shagged, freehub occasionally span and three spokes had been replaced. I consider this end of life, and as such, nips were fine!!

 

[Xesh]

I use brass every time. I did the coloured alu nipple thing bitd with DT nipples and wasn't impressed. The life span of the wheel was noticeably shorter and the weight saving of alu wasn't/isn't worth the hassle. Also brass nipples can take a higher tension than alu thus making a stronger wheel that doesn't need as much attention.

Alu nipples on disc wheels - why? Just to look shiny imo. I've had to re-build quite a few wheels recently that used cheap alu nipples that snapped after a while (and they were on branded bikes whose designers should know better).

 

[Piers]

Boring brass for longevity.

But Spline Drive Al if you can get them and find a wheel builder with iron thumbs - using the supplied spoke key is a killer and the workshop tool was quite expensive.

 

[scottrider]

dont use the silver alloy nipples, these always seem to jam solid, but the coloured ones are good!