I hate Avid Juicy 7's
Discussion
Just have to post this.... had the bike for 6 years. Went out this am and bombed down hill only to hear a horrible grinding from the rear as I braked hard on a very steep hill at c35-40mph. Got the bike home to find a rear brake pad had half the friction material come off it and the pad spring thing broken. So tried fitting a new pair of pads. WHY are avid juicy brakes so hard to work on (or is it me)? Had to open up the bleed screw to help me get the caliper open. Eventually got the pads in (took forever!), wheel back on etc only to find I know have a sloppy lever. Suspect I need to bleed it/put more fluid in. Anyway gave up on my ride. Time for some different brakes I think! Or a new bike!
When was the last time you stripped and cleaned the pistons or run a bit of lube round the pistons when fitted? If not for a while, I don't know many brakes that would survive a long time without servicing. Cars have dust seals on the pistons, bikes don't. My 7's are 6 years old and run fine, but just need a bit of tlc every now and then to keep them free of seizure.It is also sensible to bleed them occasionally to keep the fluid clean and moisture out. Bleed kits are only a tenner of ebay.
Justin S said:
When was the last time you stripped and cleaned the pistons or run a bit of lube round the pistons when fitted? If not for a while, I don't know many brakes that would survive a long time without servicing. Cars have dust seals on the pistons, bikes don't. My 7's are 6 years old and run fine, but just need a bit of tlc every now and then to keep them free of seizure.It is also sensible to bleed them occasionally to keep the fluid clean and moisture out. Bleed kits are only a tenner of ebay.
They were rebuilt 2:yrs ago. I've swapped out all Avid brakes I've ever had. Don't like them at all. Had some Juicy 7's on my old Spec Enduro and to be honest they weren't to bad. Low end Avids 3's etc are terrible.
I've got both bikes running XT's now and will never go back. 1 fingered braking no problem. The SLX are just as good and even cheaper as mentioned above.
I've got both bikes running XT's now and will never go back. 1 fingered braking no problem. The SLX are just as good and even cheaper as mentioned above.
Had 7s on my Marin, woeful, but assumed all hydraulics were that high maint as I'd had Hopes before whichw ere not much better. Norco came with SLX and they are simply superb. Perhaps lack the outright power of the 7s when they worked, but I was forever bleeding them, adjusting them, suffering heat pump. Sorry, but they were s
te. Need a new hardtail early next year and will eitehr buy one with slxs of choose something cheap enough to swap to SLX out of the shop
te. Need a new hardtail early next year and will eitehr buy one with slxs of choose something cheap enough to swap to SLX out of the shopThe German store is bike-discount.de
SLX are very similar to XT and Deore M615 are virtually the same brake as SLX, you just need to use an allen key for reach adjust iirc. F+R for £78 + fiver delivery from ze Germans.
Utter bargin. Or the shiny XTs under £150.
(Their SLX are cheap too but been out of stock for yonks)
Secondhand Avids sell quite well on eBay too
SLX are very similar to XT and Deore M615 are virtually the same brake as SLX, you just need to use an allen key for reach adjust iirc. F+R for £78 + fiver delivery from ze Germans.
Utter bargin. Or the shiny XTs under £150.
(Their SLX are cheap too but been out of stock for yonks)
Secondhand Avids sell quite well on eBay too
richardxjr said:
The German store is bike-discount.de
SLX are very similar to XT and Deore M615 are virtually the same brake as SLX, you just need to use an allen key for reach adjust iirc. F+R for £78 + fiver delivery from ze Germans.
Utter bargin. Or the shiny XTs under £150.
(Their SLX are cheap too but been out of stock for yonks)
Secondhand Avids sell quite well on eBay too
Bargain!!!!!
Do you have to swap the levers over? I know some German bikes are set up with the front brake on the left? My Cube Reaction was, nearly went straight over the bars on the test ride after getting it out of the box. A quick dab on what I assume was the back brake came as a it of a surprise!
No drama to swap them over though.
SLX are very similar to XT and Deore M615 are virtually the same brake as SLX, you just need to use an allen key for reach adjust iirc. F+R for £78 + fiver delivery from ze Germans.
Utter bargin. Or the shiny XTs under £150.
(Their SLX are cheap too but been out of stock for yonks)
Secondhand Avids sell quite well on eBay too
Bargain!!!!!
Do you have to swap the levers over? I know some German bikes are set up with the front brake on the left? My Cube Reaction was, nearly went straight over the bars on the test ride after getting it out of the box. A quick dab on what I assume was the back brake came as a it of a surprise!
No drama to swap them over though.
Now that I've managed to work out what was wrong with my Elixirs (too much hydraulic oil - pads binding on the disc) and rectified it, I have to concede that they're actually quite good, although the pads supplied on my Whyte 901 are noisy and "zing" often. Those supplied with the Tektro brakes on my other bike are silent all the time.
On the whole, I prefer the Tektros but the Avids are OK.
On the whole, I prefer the Tektros but the Avids are OK.
You could try some Hope brakes. I have V2's with twin vented 203mm disks on my demo 8 and they are just awesome - they never fade and stop me fast from stupid speeds even on the steepest slopes in the alps. They are also really easy to work on. The hope V4's are supposed to be even better. They are expensive but as they say you get what you pay for. 
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