Avid Juicy 7 maintenance questions...

[onegymrat]

I put a new pair of '08 Juicy 7s on a new build and they were as easy to install as marketed. They have worked flawlessly for about a month now. I am now in love with hydraulics! I found a great deal on Greenfishsports.com and got another pair for my other bike as well. The rear brake went on as expected...awesome, but the front brake was "mushy" from the get-go. They pulled to the handlebar/grip from the beginning. I was hoping that would change when I started riding and breaking in the pads.

I broke in the pads as instructed with a number of hard, flatland stops. As expected again, both brakes got more powerful as I went along, but as the rear brake continued to get stronger, the front brake never really worked well. It is still pulling almost to the bar. After I got back inside, when I would pump the front lever with the bike standing still, it would almost want to work normal. But as I rolled out on the street again, it simply got mushy and lever went down to the bar again.

Is this yet another case of the brake needing a bleeding...even though they are brand new?! Is it not a guarantee that whoever preps the brakes at Avid before packaging simply didn't do it correctly?! It's so frustrating since my other exact pair worked so well right off the bat, and the matching new rear brake is great also, but the front one just won't seem to work! Sucks to have to maintenance and it still has zero miles on it. Any suggestions for this hydraulics newbie would be appreciated! Thanks!

[davidB]

when in doubt, bleed em.

get the kit for $20, and assuming you do it right (big key point here), it'll pay for itself immediately

edit: if by any chance you're at the loop this thursday i'll lend you my kit and we'll bleed them on the spot

[onegymrat]

Hey David! Ordered one already...kinda knew it was that but wanted to confirm from the veterans. So thanks anyway! Just wondered if it was something different...it was so great the first time around! At least now I get a chance to shorten that long housing while I'm at it.

OT, sorry I missed that JPL ride. How's the PO coming along?!

[DHS]

back in the beginning of 2007 Avid let out a press release about how they are changing the width of their rotors, the G2 and G3. and even the little plastic piece that goes inside the caliper when the wheel isn't there.

anyway. they had a cheat/pump method. that still work pretty well. without needing to bleed the brakes. and this is completely approved by avid.

basically, you take out your wheel, then pump the lever, LIGHTLY a couple of times. till the pads get about 1/2mm away from eachother, you then take that spacer, snap it into place. let sit for a few secs. slide out, install wheel. brake feels better.

[onegymrat]

Thanks for the tips! Got my bleed kit last night. All week long read the directions (via Avid website) at least 10 times. Saw the youtube video 3 times. Took a bit of time but it went perfect! Front brake feels so powerful...as a matter of fact, better than the rear. I think their instructions are very clear and concise, and if you follow it along with a bit of common sense, bleeding is a cinch. It took me almost an hour, since I was a bit apprehensive, but I can see this shouldn't take more than 30 minutes.

[tgreathead]

Here's that how-to video direct from Avid if anyone wants it:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6mg6NbIjmOM