Classic Shimano XTR derailleurs

[Forgie]

G'day. Hope someone can help: I have been given an old (About 1997) hybrid Pro Flex Mountain Bike with all the good gear from that era, including Shimano XTR gears. It presently is missing the front derailleur, and I would like to re-fit a Shimano derailleur from that era. I believe that I should be using an ST M950 Derailleur but I don't think the M950 came as a top mount. What I'm looking for is a 3x8, 31.8 top mount, bottom pull derailleur. Can someone recommend the right model Shimano XTR front derailleur that will do the job? Many thanks. Forgie.

[Duck!]

M950-series XTR did have a high-clamp front derailleur option.

My product knowledge starts getting a few holes in it prior to 2000, but the '99 tech manual I have in my archive lists M952 low-clamp and M953 high-clamp for XTR 9-sp. If 9-sp. was a mid-model update of the M950 series, going by the numbers it can be deduced that the model you're looking for in an 8-sp. version is FD-M951 (M950 would be the low-clamp type).

[Forgie]

Many thanks Duck!...! I've got a lot to learn, and I appreciate your assistance. Not sure that I've ever seen a 951 for sale, but I'll start looking a bit harder.

[Duck!]

If you draw a blank, M953 (theoretically for the 9-sp. version) will work fine.

[Forgie]

OK Yes. Thanks. I'll start looking.