Leaking Juicy 7's

Chris`I

Chaps,

I bought some Avid Juicy 7's off ebay (I know I know :oops: ) and they looked in perfect condition. Getting them on the bike it appears the front works fine, but the rear lever seems to leak. First notice that there was a bit of fluid coming out of the tiny whole on the back plate of the lever, but now appears to be coming out from somewhere else that I cant make out. I will try and get some pics, but it seems to be dribbling down to the cable. Doesnt look like its the bleed screws or where the cable meets the lever, so I'm assuming its something inside.

Does it look like it needs new seals? The chap said they were only 7 months old so I wouldnt have thought they'd be gone yet would they? Anywhere near Basingstoke or Slough (where I live and work respecitvely) to get it done? There is a Stowes in Slough, any good?! Could I do them myself?

Any advice welcome

rob cole

the diaphragm inside the lever assembly can fail, and cause an ongoing leak, its cheap to replace but you need to know how to work on your brakes, and they will need a re-bleed aftewards

sometimes your brake will leak if there is too much fluid within the system (for example if the brake was bled with the pistons out, and then the pistons have been pushed back in for pad fitting - or if the brake was bled in a cold environment and its now hotter as this causes fluid expansion

take your brake to a good bike shop that deals with Avid and it will be sorted easily

Chris`I

Rob: Thanks for the reply. TBH the first time I noticed the leak it was just after they had been sat all day in my car in the baking sun, so it may just be that. Its weird as at the time I could make the fluid come out by squeezing the brakes. Now however it doesnt do it. Tonight it did it again when I was fitting new pads. I guess then perhaps that they'd been bled with the old worn pads which meant there was a bit too much fluid in there and it overflowed when pushed too hard in the heat and when the pistons were wound back.

I have bled some Juicy 3's which was really easy. They are going on the missus bike when I get my 7's working nicely. I got some DOT5.1 from Halfords today and was going to bleed the 7's with it, but I think I will take them to the LBS and get them to give them the once over properly and save the fluid for the next bleed (bottle is still sealed)