7 speed to 8?

[carrickter]

can anyone advise if a wheel that has a 7speed cassette will accept an 8 speed cassette. the wheel in question is a mid 90's mtb wheel with rim brakes.the hub is not branded. thanks.

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[Nate Woolever]

Probably not.  Is there a spacer behind the 7 speed cassette?  If so, it might work.  If not, no can do.

[carrickter]

i have not disassembled anything yet, but i seem to be discovering that overall width is larger on 8spd and the freehub is not long enough. sound right?

[Nate Woolever]

Yes, you're correct.

If there is a spacer behind the cassette, the freehub body is actually an 8 speeder with a 7 speed cassette in it though.

This is unlikely if everything is a stock set-up on a bike though.  The wheel is most likely 7 speed along with the cassette.