Avid Juicy 3 Brakes problem

lunartick

Hi,

I bought a Rockrider 8.0 from Decathlon recently. It has Avid Juicy 3 Hydraulic Disk Brakes.

I took the bike home after the store said that it had been setup. I went out on it for half and hour and I was having to pull the front brake lever back to virtually up against the handle bar to get it to work, really spongy otherwise.

Called them and they said they needed the bike back to bleed the front brake. I took the bike back this weekend.

They have called today to say that they have replaced the entire front AND REAR brake system as trying to bleed the front brake didn't work. But the guy still says that if you apply a lot of pressure the brake lever still comes back up against the handle bar. The rear brake seemed fine to me.

Is this normal of the Avid Juicy 3, or should I really be looking to get them to replace the bike? I'm just a little concerned that on a brand new, few day old bike that they are replacing the entire brake systems and it sounds like it might still be the same. I have read reviews of the Juicy 3 and they seem to generally be an 'OK' hydraulic brake system.

Thanks for any advice.

The Rookie

Juicy3 are OK......where is the reach adjust set, set it too close and you will of course be able to pull the lever to the bars, also until the pads are bedded in and settle 'on' the disc you have a lot of travel before they start working, that is normal bedding in process.

lunartick

Hi,

The rear lever seemed fine, about an inch between the lever on full press so to speak and the handle bar, where as the front was right up against the handle bar. I don't know too much about bikes at this stage, so went straight back to them. If it was just a bedding in issue, would they not have just told me this or made the slight adjustments rather than replace the entire brake system on a new bike? It might be fine now, but I just don't have confidence in the bike being brand new and having such a seemingly major part replaced so soon.

estampida

it sounds like there is an issue with the master cylinder

if it was the pistons in the callipers you would see oil leaking some where

new cylinder seal kit and see what happens

or maybe a whole lever assembly if you can find a cheap one

or the hoses were bulging.....

Dirtydog11

But the guy still says that if you apply a lot of pressure the brake lever still comes back up against the handle bar.

Something is still wrong then, it's my bet there's air in the system!

Did he try bleeding the new set, its my bet he didn't, probably faffed around long enough with the old ones so just threw another set on?

Just have a quick check to see that the caliper is centred over the disk as it could also be the cause of the excessive lever travel.

Take it back, levers should not be pulling to bars whether bedded in or not.

The Rookie

No, if the pads aren't yet advanced properly, you WILL get long lever travel until you do......it's a common question on here.....

Look at the calliper and see how far the pads move front and rear, if the front move further, it's the above.