Giving up on Juicy 5's!

[SDstumpy]

I've done about all I can to my juicy 5's and the levers still feel super mushy! I cleaned and lubed pistons, bled them twice and still the levers would not spring back. I finally got fed up with dealing with them and took them in for professional service. I took them to Black Mtn Bikes in SD. They supposedly replaced the fluid and rebled them. Still nothing. Then they told me they would try rebuilding the levers by replacing seals and springs in the master cylinder. Still nothing. I went to pick up my bike and they almost felt worse! I had to remove some fluid out of the system because I had about 1/8 inch of lever pull before engagement. Does this seem normal or is it possible that the shop didn't do anything? The shop said they called AVID and they were told that the seals in the master cylinder needed to be broken it. So I took the bike home for the weekend and rode it on sunday. Still not much improvement. I called up the shop and the guy was pretty cool about it and says that he would apply the labor and parts towards a new set of brakes. Seems like a decent deal but a part of me thinks he never did anything to the brakes and was planning on selling me a new set of brakes the whole time! I almost have to buy new brakes from them or else pay for 100 bucks worthless service! Oh well...guess I have a good excuse to get those XT's I've been wanting.

[2wheel_lee]

You can bleed brakes 100 times, but it doesn't matter if you don't do it right.

Have to break them in? That applies to pads, but not the brakes. I think they're BSing you. After you get the brake situation dialed, find another shop.

Have you felt other Juicy brakes to compare them to?

[mr.plow]

ive had weird probs with my juicy 7's - pistons sticking, variation in where the brake engages. everyone i ride with says they are good brakes. they are the only hydraulics i have used, so i have nothing to compare them to.

[downhiller91]

did you try replacing the hose mabey you have a weak spot in the hose that expands under the pressure of the oil when you pull the lever.

[new2mtb]

i think there is a bind on your lever. I had seen this problem with the magura sl before where the bushing was too much and would bind the lever so it would take a while to return to normal position. is it a new brake? without the fluid ur lever should be smooth and loose. It shouldn't bind.... might wanna check that.

[SDstumpy]

Originally Posted by new2mtb

i think there is a bind on your lever. I had seen this problem with the magura sl before where the bushing was too much and would bind the lever so it would take a while to return to normal position. is it a new brake? without the fluid ur lever should be smooth and loose. It shouldn't bind.... might wanna check that.

The brakes are original on my 05 stumpy. I did get to try Juicy Ultimates on the demo bike they let me borrow after they couldn't figure out what was going on with my brakes. They felt much better. Much more recoil in the lever. My levers creep back to their normal position.

[new2mtb]

if it kreeps back then id say there''s a bind on your lever. To figure this out unfortunately u have to take all the fluid out and try moving your levers, if its stiff figure out whats causing it and fix the problem. It should be free to move. Maybe bushing or something is binding..

Originally Posted by SDstumpy

The brakes are original on my 05 stumpy. I did get to try Juicy Ultimates on the demo bike they let me borrow after they couldn't figure out what was going on with my brakes. They felt much better. Much more recoil in the lever. My levers creep back to their normal position.

[ghixon]

I had a similar issue with a set of Juicy 7's. It turned out the lever pivot assembly/pin had gone out of alignment. That is that the two sides that the pivot pin go through the lever to the master cylinder somehow got bumped hard enough to cause the pivot assembly to tweek and bind.

I just ended up getting a new set, but I suppose you could have it fixed.

[CPATCRASH]

Feel free to send them to me when your done with them.

[DeeZee]

[_______________________________]

never mind I have nothing to add

[CPATCRASH]

I have a set of Juicy 7 and ultimate and have never had a problem.

[kbteachme]

I heard from a rep that the '08 Juicy 5s are the same as the '08 Juicy 7s except for the adjusters on the levers. Is that information true?

[nouse66]

i've heard that all juicy 5's are juicy 7's without the adjuster...

[SAR_boats]

Originally Posted by kbteachme

I heard from a rep that the '08 Juicy 5s are the same as the '08 Juicy 7s except for the adjusters on the levers. Is that information true?

Yes

[kbteachme]

Don't give up... there are guys here that will trade you in heartbeat for their BB7s.

[DirtymikeTDB]

I used to be Die hard Avid fan, Until I tried a set of Stroker trails. Still, Avids are a good system, they ahve there issues, just like anyone else.

[mfoga]

Anyone have ideas on this one. So my brakes worked fine coming down blackstar the other night. Go to ride this morning first squeeze of back brake works fine next all the way to the bar and no brakes. I don't ride and I bleed the brakes. Ok nice and firm good stopping power. Couple hours later one squeeze and the lever is soft then next squeeze all the way to the bars and no brakes again.

These were used Juicy 5s but worked fine until all of a sudden this morning.

[kbteachme]

Sell them and buy my brand new Juicy '07s (in box) - 185mm front (post mount setup) and 160 rear. I already have a new set on my bike. $220 takes the pair when I come back from my trip to Vegas this coming week. Let me know if you are interested. PM me if you want them!

[DirtymikeTDB]

Originally Posted by mfoga

Anyone have ideas on this one. So my brakes worked fine coming down blackstar the other night. Go to ride this morning first squeeze of back brake works fine next all the way to the bar and no brakes. I don't ride and I bleed the brakes. Ok nice and firm good stopping power. Couple hours later one squeeze and the lever is soft then next squeeze all the way to the bars and no brakes again.

These were used Juicy 5s but worked fine until all of a sudden this morning.

That there sure sounds like you have a bad seal in your lever. just like when a master goes bad in a car, sometimes it will catch and work, others it will just not be there. Friend of mine had the same exact thing happening, Avid hooked him up under warranty. GIve them a call, tell them this last part, get a new set.

[mfoga]

Do you happen to have a number I can't find anything for Avid on the site?