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All these new fangled wheel sizes for MTBs passed me by, especially the hubs. Got a 142mm rear width bike on the way and half a dozen pairs of rear width 135mm wheels. Some can be converted but what is the actual difference? Spacers only or are the flange spaces different?
End caps are the difference, shells are the same
From 135 to 142mm tends to be the same hub shell, with different end caps. Quick Release to 'early type' bolt through 142mm.
From 142 to 148mm Boost, the hubs themselves tend to be fundamentally different (which is hte point of Boost).
Most 135mm wheels are 5mm qr rather than bolt through. Some are convertible with end caps like Tom says, but some aren’t.
Sadly my nicest ones won't convert but other with Novatec hubs will.