Service Tips? Avid Juicy 3s

Cycling is Forever

Hello Peeps,

I've had problems with the pistons sticking and not retracting back enough on my front avid juicy 3 brake.
I've read various threads here and else where online about solutions.
Some advice suggests just bleeding the brakes or to much brake fluild.
Or if the pistons stick badly to strip and rebuild with new seals.

I have not attempted a bleed yet.
I have purchased the pressure foot seal kit [piston & seals] does anyone recomend using red rubber grease on the piston seals?
Would this help much?

Also if I do strip the cailper Id be replacing all the dot brake fliud. Anyone know how much brake fliud I need to refill the whole system?

Any other tips I should know about before I take the leap?
Maybe not what to do also!

Cheers in advance

nicklouse

buy a bleed kit. (it comes with the tools and the spacers and the fluid.

yes lubing the seals is good.

so is some regular cleaning of the pistons as this reduces the chances of sticking pistons.

But to be honest a strip clean lube and bleed should do all you need. replacing the seal only if they are leaking now.

Cycling is Forever

cheers Nick

Should had said I have bleed kit so I am ready with that.

How would you clean the pistons exactly?

I figure that the seals are now a over a year old, never been changed as it was a new bike [oct 10].
However the back brake it fine.
I did lubricate the pistons with dot fliud but it only made it slightly easier to push back the pistons rather than make them retract correctly on their own.

I'm a little fearful of getting dot fluid everywhere except in the brake system! :oops:

Cycling is Forever

Right I've started my strip down of the front caliper.
How do you get the pistons out!!
I'm just about to start swearing if this gets more annoying.
Neighbours will love that

Tips/help please
You're all probably out riding

Cheers

Cycling is Forever

Before I got ham fisted with the stubborn pistons.
I had a thought & remembered reading about using a track stand pump to push the pistons out.
I modified an old valve core to pump up the caliper.
Pumped up, one piston flew out like a rocket about 15ft away!
Answered my own question but thought I'd should share the successful result!

Cheers