Need help: Soft /spongy Avid brakes

[ransom]

I have 08' Avid Juicy Ultimate brakes on my 5 month old bike. Lately after my bike sits unused for a four or five day period I noted that the both the front and rear brake lever feels soft with excessive travel. After I pump the brake lever a few times the lever travel returns to normal and soft feeling goes away.

Do I need to bleed the brakes? I still have over half of the brake pad life left and have not had any crashes or damage to the levers or calipers.

Suggestions?

[amor587]

Yup, you need to bleed them. That happened to me a few months back, and after I bled them out it was all good.

[biglimey]

Yup sounds like you need to bleed them. Avid has a killer kit to do the job,

[EBasil]

Bingo: that's air in the line. This doesn't mean you have a leak-- the fluid can outgas if it wasn't done well the first/last time it was changed.

It can also happen when you get to altitude. I showed up in Mammoth with Juicy's I'd degassed the fluid on and, at the top of the mountain more gas came out. I had to double pump in order to get braking. At the end of the day, I pulled out my kit and removed the accumulated bubble of air...done.

[DeeZee]

I do not get the love affair with Avid brakes. I have a set of Juicy's on my SS and HATE them compared to the Hopes on my other bike.

I have the same issue.......mush...mush......mush!!!!

[ransom]

Originally Posted by EBasil

Bingo: that's air in the line. This doesn't mean you have a leak-- the fluid can outgas if it wasn't done well the first/last time it was changed.

It can also happen when you get to altitude. I showed up in Mammoth with Juicy's I'd degassed the fluid on and, at the top of the mountain more gas came out. I had to double pump in order to get braking. At the end of the day, I pulled out my kit and removed the accumulated bubble of air...done.

That could be the issue. I recently rode at 5000 ft. and I noticed the issue shortly after.

Thanks!

[2wheel_lee]

I can't believe no one suggested bleeding the brakes. That will surely solve the problem.

Originally Posted by DeeZee

I do not get the love affair with Avid brakes. I have a set of Juicy's on my SS and HATE them compared to the Hopes on my other bike.

I have the same issue.......mush...mush......mush!!!!

You may have the wrong sized wheels. You may also need to bleed your Avids.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

I can't believe no one suggested bleeding the brakes. That will surely solve the problem.



You may have the wrong sized wheels. You may also need to bleed your Avids.

Did that the last time they felt like crapI just like high performance low maintance parts

Hope Brakes
Time Pedals
Reba Fork
Shimano Cranks
CK Headsets
Hadley Hubs
29" wheels

[2wheel_lee]

If you're not doing it right, you can bleed brakes a dozen times, and still not get all the air out.

BTW, I agree with most of your list! Oh, and if you're insistent on the high performance and low maintenance on a 29 wheel set, loan me a 29er for a Fullerton Loop ride so I can find out. Seriously.

[Rob]

[2wheel_lee]

Rob, all I see is a big blank space...did you post something? If so, it may be blocked here.

[Rob]

That's weird, it works for me. Here is the direct link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mg6NbIjmOM

A sidenote, there are also video demonstrations by the same SRAMtech guy on shortening the cables too and other tech stuff.

[2wheel_lee]

Oh, that's why...youtube stuff is blocked at my work.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

If you're not doing it right, you can bleed brakes a dozen times, and still not get all the air out.

BTW, I agree with most of your list! Oh, and if you're insistent on the high performance and low maintenance on a 29 wheel set, loan me a 29er for a Fullerton Loop ride so I can find out. Seriously.

de-gasing

All I know is that I bleed my Hopes three years ago...they have been to Brianhead twice, been through three or four sets of pads, on the 2nd set of rotors and feel fantistic!

Watched the Avid video and read the instuctions several times and bleed them 5 or more times.

IMO the Hopes are superior

Sorry can't seem to make it to the Fully loop. But if you want to come down South you are more than welcome

[EBasil]

Herbold's on Juicy? Well, that settles it.

They are easy to work on. The turkey-gobble sound drives me nuts though.

[Rob]

Originally Posted by EBasil

They are easy to work on. The turkey-gobble sound drives me nuts though.

Here's how you get rid of it.

Take the pads and rub them against a piece of semi fine grit sandpaper to de-glaze them. Then use some brake cleaner or white lightning clean streak metal prep and spray the rotor.

After you've done that let the rotor dry and take a torch and heat up the rotors really good(both sides of the rotor). Then put it all back together. I just did that process today on a bike with the warbling problem and now they are perfect.

You may also need to clean and lube the pistons.