General and Compatibility – SRAM Technical Service FAQ

Will the Force 36t-max derailleur work without a front derailleur?

Yes. All SRAM RED and Force eTap AXS derailleurs are designed to be used in both 1x and 2x drivetrain configurations. See more

What 2x chainring options are compatible with the Force eTap AXS 36t-max rear derailleur?

All SRAM AXS road chainring combinations are compatible with the 36t-max Force AXS rear derailleur. See more

Is there a marking or indication on the rear derailleur to know if it is a 36t-max or 33t-max version?

Yes. Going forward, all Force eTap AXS rear derailleurs are marked with MAX 36T or MAX 33T on the back of the derailleur near the b-bolt. See more

What cassettes are compatible with the Force 36t-max rear derailleur?

10-36, 10-33, and 10-28. See more

Can I use the eTap AXS rear derailleur without the front derailleur to make a 1x drivetrain?

Yes. See more

Is there a different eTap AXS rear derailleur for 2x and 1x drivetrains?

No. Both drivetrain setups use the same rear derailleur unless you are using a 10-50 or 11-50 Eagle™ cassette. These cassettes require the use of an Eagle™ AXS™ rear derailleur. See more

What is the maximum cassette cog size that is compatible with SRAM eTap AXS rear derailleurs?

33t-max: Compatible with 10-26t, 10-28t, 10-30t and 10-33t cassettes 36t-max: Compatible with 10-28t, 10-30t, 10-33t, and 10-36 cassettes XPLR: Compatible with 10-36t and 10-44t cassettes (1x on... See more

Is there a SRAM eTap AXS rear derailleur compatible with a higher max cog size than 33T?

Yes. The SRAM Force eTap AXS rear derailleur is available in a 10-36T max configuration. See more

Why do SRAM RED and Force eTap AXS rear derailleurs use the new Orbit fluid clutch instead of the Roller Bearing Clutch used on SRAM’s mountain bike rear derailleurs?

Road chain management requirements are different than MTB, so they do not need to use the same mechanism. Our Orbit™ fluid damper is speed sensitive so that cage movement resulting from gear change... See more