Avid Juicy 3 vs Juicy 5?

WipeOut_Dude

My rear Juicy 3 just broke when I was trying to fit new pads..

Since I am replacing it I am wondering if its worth spending the extra and going for Juicy 5..

In the real world is there really any significant difference between the Juicy 3 and Juicy 5 which are nearly double the price?

Tks..

Surf-Matt

Juicy 5 has more adjustability and is lighter.

Got 5s on our Stumpjumper and 3s on our Rockhopper - both work very well.

ExeterSimon

5s offer more stopping power and are slightly lighter and have indexed reach adjustment.

If you're happy with 3s I'd stick with them.

Surf-Matt

Are you sure 5s have more power?
Both our 3s and 5s feel similar to me - and the 3s are stopping a heavier bike too!
Dimensions are the same (same rotor size, lever/reservoir size, caliper size) so not sure why the 5s would have more power?

Anyway probably sound advice - but I do like the ease of tuning of the 5s compared to the 3s.

WipeOut_Dude

I think that's helped a lot.. Will stick with the 3's and if I need more stopping power its cheaper to put on a bigger rotor than change out the calipers..

Thanks..

omegas

Avid 5s has pop out levers , In the event of a crash the lever disengages from the cam so the master cylinder does not get ripped out. the 3s don’t have this.

johnsav

5's have a 2 part clamp so you can remove the lever without the need to take your shifter off as well.

switchback18

Surf-Matt wrote:

Are you sure 5s have more power?
Both our 3s and 5s feel similar to me - and the 3s are stopping a heavier bike too!
Dimensions are the same (same rotor size, lever/reservoir size, caliper size) so not sure why the 5s would have more power?

Anyway probably sound advice - but I do like the ease of tuning of the 5s compared to the 3s.

As far as build goes, the only difference is that the 5s have split clamps, the hose enters the caliper slightly differently, or it does on the ones I've seen and like omegas says, the 5s have the pop out fail-safe thing. Like you say, there's no reason for the power to be any different, although maybe manufacturers change pad suppliers every so often, which could make a difference. Rotor size obviously changes feel & power as well.
However, an identical set up on 2 bikes can sometimes feel different, for no apparent reason - I reckon a lot depends on how well the pads were bedded in from new.

supersonic

As above: performance is the same. Just that the 5 adds more 'fail safe' mecahnisms, and the seven has the adjustable bite point.

ExeterSimon

Are you sure 5s have more power?
Both our 3s and 5s feel similar to me - and the 3s are stopping a heavier bike too!
Dimensions are the same (same rotor size, lever/reservoir size, caliper size) so not sure why the 5s would have more power?

I notice quite a difference between the 3s on the Hopper and the 5s on my Stumpy...then again that's probably got more to do with Stumpy getting more care maintenance wise

Surf-Matt

Actually had a lot less trouble with our 3s - the 5s took ages to bed in properly and have only really started working properly since being bled and pad changed - now they are great. Think thay may have been set up wrongly from the start - managed to do the job better myself!
The 3s bedded in very quickly and have been no trouble at all but the 5s now edge ahead in overall terms.

You have an RH and an SJ too? Good taste!