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ZIPP Recalling First Generation 88 Hubs from 2008-2010

Written by Cory Benson Feb 15, 2015 7:25 a.m. ET

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SRAM sent us a communique at the end of the week that we thought we should pass along since it included the phrase “failure that might result in an ejection of all the wheel’s spokes.” Yeah, that would be bad. Obviously this hasn’t happened on the majority of the 88 hubs since they made about 12,000 of them in this version, but with 2 reported failures, the danger is high enough to urge caution and get them replaced ASAP. Affected wheelsets came OEM on several high-end Cannondale, Felt, Giant, Orbea, and Specialized bikes from 2009-2011, as well as just about all of their high-end front wheels sold from October 2008 – December 2010.

The root of this recall is spoke retention, a concern only with first generation front hubs. Specifically, the first generation 88 hubs could incur retaining ring failure that might result in an ejection of all the wheel’s spokes. This may result in wheel failure.

Anyway Zipp parent SRAM has initiated a recall through the CPSC and you can find more info there. SRAM wants to get all affected owners back out on safe wheels quickly, so local SRAM or Zipp dealers should be able to quickly start the warranty process and in most cases rebuild the affected wheel with the newer, redesigned hub. Come past the break for a simple look at how to tell if your wheels are affected.

Affected hubs on the left, unaffected on the right. The simplest way to spot it is whether of not there is a Zipp Z logo etched onto the flange covering the end of the hub, as this was unique to the first generation 88s. If you are unsure, your IBD should be able to help.

From the CPSC website:

The aluminum hub shell is silver. The outside flange ring is gray aluminum in the standard option and blue, gold, gray, pink or red in the ZedTech options. The diameter of the two clinch nuts is approximately 1 inch. The first version of the 88 hub is the only one affected by the recall. The first version has the Z logo on the flange ring. The other versions – not affected by this recall – do not have the Z logo on the flange ring.

Cory Benson

4,155 articles

Cory Benson is the EU Tech Editor of Bikerumor.com.

Cory has been writing about mountain bikes, enduro, cyclocross, all-road, gravel bikes & bikepacking for over 25 years, even before the industry created some of these names. Prior to Bikerumor, Cory was a practicing Architect specializing in environmental sustainability, has designed bike shops & bike components, and worked as a bike shop mechanic.

Based in the Czech Republic for 15+ years, he is a technical mountain biker, adventurous gravel rider, and short & medium-haul bikepacker. Cory travels extensively across Europe riding bikes, meeting with key European product developers, industry experts & tastemakers for an in-depth review of what’s new, and what’s coming next.

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Jdog

9 years ago

I happened to catch a Zipp 101 coming through the shop the other day. They took care of it quickly and without any hassle.

Dave B

9 years ago

SRAM seems to have had more than it’s share of product problems.

MtnBiker831

9 years ago

Yes sram does have some recalls now and then, but the fact that they step up to the plate on them (2 wheels have failed and they issue a recall? Pretty proactive to me) is a pretty big deal. They also have a LOT of brands and products that they are selling, so of course there will be more recalls from a brand that makes more products than any other cycling componets company.

Jowls

9 years ago

Not dogging sram, but you can’t give them credit for instituting a recall after two failures. Two failures is exactly when you have to institute a recall. Hopefully no one was seriously hurt, because ejecting all of your spokes at once…yikes.

andrewS

9 years ago

One of the two failures was actually an employee from my shop in NJ!

gee

9 years ago

To be fair to SRAM, they only bought out Zipp in 2007 or so, this is probably an issue they inherited – and they’re dealing with it in the right way.

E_C

9 years ago

Dave B – SRAM didn’t purchase ZIPP until 2007, without knowledge of design cycles I would venture a guess that this hub was already in process when SRAM purchased ZIPP. And yes, they have had some issues, but they acknowledge them and work with the consumer.

mudrock

9 years ago

So a retaining ring is used to hold all the j-bend spokes on each side? I’m guessing they jettisoned that design PDQ

Dave

9 years ago

So the ejection of all spokes MAY result in wheel failure…

I love the way these things are written.

alistair

9 years ago

@gee is definitely correct. Zipp wasnt a sram subsidiary at the time so you cant really blame them… Just be thankful that they’re dealing with it promptly and appropriately.

Matt

9 years ago

Sram has recalls because they care about consumers and safety. This sort of gives them a bad rap though because it seems like they recall things frequently.

But you should understand they recall stuff because they care. Chances are the Zipp guys designed it, seemed fine.

But when these 2 failures were reported, they took a second look and realized there could be a problem and chose to be on the safer side of things, given how devastating wheel failure can be.

The fact is most companies don’t bother with such recalls in the first place.

Stuart

9 years ago

“jettisoned the design pdq” – um no!

I had the spoke retention ring fail on my 2013 zipp 808 front hub after 4 uses in TT’s. Ie the metal cracked clean through owing to material defect. It was repaired under warranty but the line from Zipp tech centre was exactly this “Our policy is to send the wheel to our service center to ensure the spoke retention ring is properly installed. Unless the ring is correctly press fitted spokes completely de-tensioned then re-tensioned there is a safety risk”

As far as I know the front hub design is still in use…maybe I am no 1 waiting for someone else to have a failure before they recall the newer design as well…

Alex

9 years ago

Any brand can have recalls. That said, SRAM has had its share over the years. That’s why I stick with Shimano when it comes to drivetrain.

Zipp make nice rims, but the hubs (made in Taiwan) have always been sub par, even before SRAM bought Zipp. Not surprised by this recall. That’s why I stick with Rolf Prima wheels, which use hubs made by White Industries, in California.

another greg

9 years ago

Their 88/188 hub shells are made in the US. Their freehubs are outsourced.
the reinforcing ring can (and do) fail on any of their hubs. The other versions won’t allow the spokes to leave the hub if the ring breaks. That’s the reason they went to the redesign shown on the right- the preload cap and matching spacer clamp are tall enough to capture the spokes.
my main issue with al this is that they realized the flaw back in late 2009, redesigned it, but didn’t issue the recall back then.
this also doesn’t address hub shell failures.

James

9 years ago

In reply to Alex above..
I love web forums with misguided information.
ZIPP hubs and carbon rims (including the ZIPP 60 rim) are both made in Indianapolis.
ZIPP pride themselves on being one of the only in-house wheel sets on the market.
These hubs and all hubs that are in full carbon ZIPP wheels (carbon clinchers or Tubs or old 101 wheel sets) are actually made 20 miles down the road from the ZIPP factory in Indianapolis.
This includes the said affected hubs.
The only ‘taiwanese’ ZIPP branded hub is a bulked up version of the 88 / 188 hubs. Which was produced to suit the new ZIPP 30 and ZIPP 60 wheel sets aiding in a ‘better price point wheel set’ for the market.
As mentioned this was a transition period between ZIPP and SRAM.
ZIPP have done a special batch of Silver 88 hubs and are hoping for prompt service to and affected customers.
Regards
James

Will

9 years ago

I was involved in a crash recently while using one of these hubs on a Zipp 202. Didn’t think anything of it at the time, and thought the wreck was just bad luck, but now I’m thinking it could have been cause by this design flaw…. I made a quick turn and next thing I knew I was on the ground. The hub was left attached to the fork, and the spokes were hanging off the wheel rim, completely ripped out of the hub. Any ideas on if I can file a claim or get a refund for the damages it did to the rest of my bike?

8 years ago

Late 2013 My 404 rear hub failed, I crashed and was pretty banged up. Almost got ran over by a car when I hit the deck. Reported the issue to SRAM and asked them to replace the hub and I will pay for parts and labor. They said no. I need to buy a crash replacement set of wheels for $1100. I then asked them to look into the issue and recall the hubs since it failed without any warning whatsoever. I was told Zipp never had a recall and is not about to issue one now. If they can issue one for the older front hub, then they can for the rear hub too since I was the third person that had rear hub failure resulting in crashes.