Help! Avid Juicy 5. Cant get the rotor between the pads.

setspeed
Posts: 141
I'm a complete noob. I've just bought a bike 2nd hand, and i'm assembling it but can't get the rotors between the pads. How do i open them up a bit?
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Comments
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Ounds like the lever has been pulled while the wheel has been off.
Use a tyre lever or something thin to very gently push the pads/pistons back in.0 -
bigbenj_08 wrote:Ounds like the lever has been pulled while the wheel has been off.
Use a tyre lever or something thin to very gently push the pads/pistons back in.
You are abosultely right. Managed to get the front sorted, but now ive cocked up the rear. Managed to lever the brake pad out. It kind of slots back in place, but i dont understand what holds it there, also the gap between the two pads is not big enough :-(
Any ideas? Thanks btw!0 -
Not too sure with acids myself... Best bet is to check the manual... Can be found o. The avid website0
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Ive got the pad back in but still cant push the pads/pistons back far enough to get the rotor in. My mate who doesnt know about bikes says i should open the reservoir at the levers to release the pressure. Im not sure about that cos i dont know how it works...0
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You really shouldn't need to... It may take a bit of force.
Opening the reservoir and pushing the pistons in could cause you to lose fluid which means your brakes won't work properly!0 -
trick i found with any caliper is:
whilst prising the pads with whatever lever you choos, pull the brake lever gently, it will cause the pads to clamp on the lever in the gap but as you release the brake lever, the pistons will pretty much spring back in.
this will take a few attempts but will definately work.0 -
sheepsteeth wrote:trick i found with any caliper is:
whilst prising the pads with whatever lever you choos, pull the brake lever gently, it will cause the pads to clamp on the lever in the gap but as you release the brake lever, the pistons will pretty much spring back in.
this will take a few attempts but will definately work.
SUCCESS!! Thanks, ive now got the wheels in - but the brakes are all spongy, particularly the rear. Do i now have to bleed them? Do i need any special tools :-S0 -
A bit of research (yes, I know, Google is my friend...!) tells me i need an Avid brake bleed kit.
Im thinking of ordering one up now. Anyone used it before? Can a total beginner like me handle this, or am i better off taking to LBS? If so, how much are they likely to charge me to do this?
Thanks!0 -
How spongy are the levers? Juicys tend to be a bit spongy feeling in my experience, even when they've just been bled. I'd try bedding the pads in (15-20 stops from speed braking as hard as you can without locking the wheels) and see how they are then. They may not need to be bled at all.0
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Well the front one seems to be on or off - nothing on between, perhaps thats how theyre meant to be, i dunno, never used hydro discs before. The rear - well the lever comes all the way to the handlebar and still the brake is not locked. Is there some other adjustments i can make?0
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Ah, my apologies. Sounds like it could do with a bleed alright. The bleed kit is pretty expensive though, your LBS will probably be a cheaper option.0
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OK, nice one, thanks for the advice! :-)0