New Brakes

avid89

Hi everyone im looking for some new brakes to replace my juicy 3's. I want to stick with avid as they're pretty easy to find new pads for and they're fairly cheap and reliable. I've found 3 brakes on CRC sale, the code, juicy 7 and elixir cr. All of these are within my price range what i would like to know is the following:

1. Out of the 3 which are more powerful? (i'll be running 185mm front and rear)

2. Is the pad contact adjust any good and what exactly is it supposed to do? ( i don't trust marketing descriptions)

3. Which of the 3 are the biggest pain the arse to maintain?

Thanks

Chaz.Harding

I have some Juicy 7's. They are alrite, actually. I just upgraded from a 185 / 160 to 203 / 185 set up. Haven't tried it yet, but should offer a bit more power (not quite enough on steep descents, and the rear disc did get bloody hot!!).

For me, the pad contact adjust seems to just make the lever bite further inward... But there again, my brakes do need bleeding.

yoohoo999

if the reasons for sticking with Avid is down to the availability of parts, price and reliability, then there are other brands that can compete (cough Hope cough).

Why not try something new? You might be surprised!

bomberesque

Code should proviode the strongest braking power. They are a DH brake. A bit heavier than the other two I expect

I have 7s and they're nice. bite point adjust... well, take it or leave it really. If you do a lot of long descents than adjusting the bitepoint will aid the comfort in your hands and help avoid arm pump, it's nice to have but not essential IMO.

Elixrs I'm less sure on, they were new this year and are supposed to be a step up from J7s iirc

as for maintenance, 7s will be the same as the 3s you have and I *think* the codes and Elixrs will be similar (all coming from the same brand) so I don't suppose there's much to choose between them

avid89

Im assuming 7's will be more powerful than 3's right?

BlackSpur

avid89 wrote:

Im assuming 7's will be more powerful than 3's right?

Not really, they're essentially the same brake - going from 3 to 7 is not much of an upgrade. The Elixirs are a better brake all round.

slimboyjim

I picked up a pair of Elixir CR's a month ago - front and rear pair for £199 from Merlin Cycles with 160mm and 180mm rotors and all the fittings. So far I've been very impressed, although they were an upgrade from V-brakes! Can't really say what they are like in comparison to other brands though - sorry! Only sore spot it that the Avid specific bleed kit is £40 (shop around and you might get it under £35).

Can't really talk about how difficult they are to maintain yet, but they seem pretty simple. There's video's on you-tube showing you how to bleed them so that should give you an idea. Fitting was easy enough...

My pad contact adjust is just wound out all the way at the moment so can't say how good it is - for me it's more of a feature to bring the brake pads in a bit after they've worn some more. MBUK has stated "the bite adjustment doesn't make enough difference to level the levers thoughand it tends to unwind itself" in their Feb 2009 review but I haven't had any issues (as they are currently wound all the way out!). I have heard that you need to make sure you don't twist the tube as you adjust the bite point as this is what winds it off? Not tested yet though...

MBUK recommended Magura Louise BAT above the CR in a trail brake test a while back so you may want to check those out too.