Bol Maaaaaaing Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 When I got my CZAR, It had both Juicy 3's, And the rear brake piston leaked. So I got it replaced,The new one was good for a while, But has started to get bad, And when I took the pads out of it I found that that piston leaked too! I was just wondering if anyone else has problems with their Juicy 3's?And are they worth having?Or am I just not doing something wrong?Thanks,Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psycholist Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Hopefully you've just been unlucky. Only thing I've seen go wrong with Juicy's so far is one lever in the 3 or 4 pairs people I know use has got a bit slow to return after it has been pulled. If it's new get it sorted under warranty, if not the leak may be a bad caliper or piston rather than bad seals. I had the first (and last) Formula brake I'll ever buy leak at the pistons too come to think of it - Shimano brakes have given me no trouble in the 7 years since I bought my first set of XT 4 pots (Which are still running perfectly on my hardtail - the disks are worn quite thin though)... I wouldn't have thought Juicy 3's were a good trials brake though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bol Maaaaaaing Posted January 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Hopefully you've just been unlucky. Only thing I've seen go wrong with Juicy's so far is one lever in the 3 or 4 pairs people I know use has got a bit slow to return after it has been pulled. If it's new get it sorted under warranty, if not the leak may be a bad caliper or piston rather than bad seals. I had the first (and last) Formula brake I'll ever buy leak at the pistons too come to think of it - Shimano brakes have given me no trouble in the 7 years since I bought my first set of XT 4 pots (Which are still running perfectly on my hardtail - the disks are worn quite thin though)... I wouldn't have thought Juicy 3's were a good trials brake though.Ok. Yeah, I got the whole thing replaced (Levers, Cables and Calipers) And thats still packed up. The oil leaks from behind the pistons onto the pads and disk.I got the bike only about 3-4 months ago, So it will still be under warranty.I know that the newest model CZAR's have Magura Louise's brakes.Does turpentine work the same as Methylated Spirits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobek Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 ive never had any problems with them.had them for my old stock bike and they lasted a good year.better than dengura thats for sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolver Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 I had them on my MTB and they progressively lost power until a few months later, squeezing the lever did nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sstein Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Do Juicy 3's Suck?YES!!!Shimano will never give you problems but they are a bit under powerfull for trials. Try a hope or alternatively (and I do reccomend this) try using an avid mechanical as they are so much better than their hydros. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psycholist Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Does turpentine work the same as Methylated Spirits?If you're planning on drinking them probably... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex@Flawless Bikes Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 YESThey do suck ever juicy 3 I have ever used felt horrible and didn't hold very well. I say just get a BB7! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Vandart Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 (edited) I had them on my MTB and they progressively lost power until a few months later, squeezing the lever did nothing.If you're planning on drinking them probably...No thats really wrong.............it's really hard to keep Turps down I had them on my MTB and they progressively lost power until a few months later, squeezing the lever did nothing.Change your pads kook Edited January 28, 2009 by Themechanicalbear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ogre Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 bb7s where its at Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bol Maaaaaaing Posted January 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 If you're planning on drinking them probably...I mean for cleaning off oils from the pads and disk... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ogre Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 I mean for cleaning off oils from the pads and disk...burn it off get your pads over the gas ring, hold them with pliers, and cook them till they're glowing. then douse (sp?) them in cold water. used to make my brakes work better... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bol Maaaaaaing Posted January 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 burn it off get your pads over the gas ring, hold them with pliers, and cook them till they're glowing. then douse (sp?) them in cold water. used to make my brakes work better...Will that not wreak the pads?What about the disks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NVWOCI WVS Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 Will that not wreak the pads?What about the disks?Fairy liquid and hot water on the rotor and blow torch/heat to a high enough temperature to burn the oil off the pads. Then dip the pads straight into cold water. Doesn't do tehm any harm.That will sort them out. Juicy threes are fine for what they wer intended for, i can't imagine them being any good on a trials bike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psycholist Posted January 29, 2009 Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 The sudden temperature change from dropping the pads in cold water is not a stress the pads are likely to have been designed for - the mismatch between thermal expansion coefficients between the pad material and backing as well as the temperature gradients within the pad may lead to them cracking. To clean disks I use Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) as it leaves no residue. With Pads if they're not badly contaminated I just run a file over the braking surface and it seems to do the job. Baking them in an oven or heating with a blow torch and allowing to cool in air should both be effective too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bol Maaaaaaing Posted January 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2009 I cleaned them two days ago with Octane Booster and then yesterday they were leaking like crazy, The whole part that the piston pushes on was covered in oil! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bol Maaaaaaing Posted January 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 So really my options are:-Fix the pistons-Get Avid mechanicals-Get a BB7-Keep cleaning the pads and disks a lot, And keep putting more brake fluid in-Get a Hope brake-Get a Shimano-Or lastly, H.T.F.UWhat is the best one to do you reckon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew62 Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 If its under warrenty just send them back and as its the second time its happened tell them you don't want Juicy 3's again and ask for Magura Louise's - they're around the same price so i can't see it being a problem. My friend ordered Juicy 3's as he4 wanted some cheap discs for his hardtail and the shop he ordered from just gave him 180 Magura Louise's and said 'they're better' so its a fair trade.No point messing around with something that caused you problems before - dont bother clenaing them either - not your fault, just send them back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonMack Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 -Get a Hope brake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psycholist Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 (edited) Magura Louise's cost a lot more than Juicy 3's. Julies are more comparable in price. I've never had trouble with Magura brakes (That I didn't get second hand for half nothing, with loads of miles or a known fault and a previous owner who adjusted them with a hammer)... I'd go with Magura or Shimano from a reliability point of view if you want to stay with hydraulic brakes or Hope if you feel like spending 3 times as much as the Juicy 3... Edited January 30, 2009 by psycholist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew62 Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 Magura Louise's cost a lot more than Juicy 3's. Julies are more comparable in price. I've never had trouble with Magura brakes (That I didn't get second hand for half nothing, with loads of miles or a known fault and a previous owner who adjusted them with a hammer)... I'd go with Magura or Shimano from a reliability point of view if you want to stay with hydraulic brakes or Hope if you feel like spending 3 times as much as the Juicy 3...Yeah i meant Julies not Louise's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psycholist Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 I like my Louise a lot ... I also like my dual control XTR levers with XT calipers and my 2002 4 pot XT disks (For which the total servicing consisted of adding a few drops of fluid to the reservoirs since I fitted them in 2002 and feeding them brake pads every 1500miles. The disks are starting to wear noticeably thin on them now, but they're still working perfectly)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liviu Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 yes!juicy 3 really suck indeed!i bought my juicy 3 brand new!at first it worked very well,very powerfull(with 185 rotor),but the piston leaked after just 1 month avoid juicy three! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bol Maaaaaaing Posted January 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 I like my Louise a lot ... I also like my dual control XTR levers with XT calipers and my 2002 4 pot XT disks (For which the total servicing consisted of adding a few drops of fluid to the reservoirs since I fitted them in 2002 and feeding them brake pads every 1500miles. The disks are starting to wear noticeably thin on them now, but they're still working perfectly)...Would I be able to get a Louise as a replacement?Or am I looking at paying extra too?yes!juicy 3 really suck indeed!i bought my juicy 3 brand new!at first it worked very well,very powerfull(with 185 rotor),but the piston leaked after just 1 month avoid juicy three!Thats what happened to me!This morning I looked at them and there was oil all over the disk!There was more oil than disk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psycholist Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 (edited) The Louise is a bit under twice the price of the Juicy 3 IIRC, so you will have to pay extra. I weigh over 90kg and can wheel swap front to back onto things using a 160mm Louise on the front of a 26" bike (When I don't screw it up )... Thinking about going to a 185 disk to make gaps to the front wheel a bit easier alright though... 5 year leakproof warranty is a nice extra detail too - though I did have to put a few extra drops of fluid into the reservoir on mine before it would bite consistently as it was underfilled when I got it from Chainreaction. Edited January 31, 2009 by psycholist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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