[Nikhil42]

My bike came with Juicy 3s, and I was wondering when you're supposed to bleed them?

 

[Joel.]

When they need doing. Which is very rarely unless you got air in the system. Maybe once a year otherwise?

 

[highdelll]

every 3000 miles

 

[AlexJK]

i bleed mine once a month because i'm a big guy running juicy 5s on a freeride hardtail, they get used a lot. once you get the process down, it's a trivial matter.

Get the avid bleed kit and toss out the DOT 5.1 (or sell it) and use Motul RBF-600, it's a DOT 4. It has a higher boiling point than Avid 5.1 and gives a firmer lever feel.

When the bleed syringes wear out (they will, fairly quickly too) go down to the farm supply store and pick up a similar syringe, they cost like a dollar a piece

 

[tihsepa]

i bleed mine once a month because i'm a big guy running juicy 5s on a freeride hardtail, they get used a lot. once you get the process down, it's a trivial matter.

Get the avid bleed kit and toss out the DOT 5.1 (or sell it) and use Motul RBF-600, it's a DOT 4. It has a higher boiling point than Avid 5.1 and gives a firmer lever feel.

When the bleed syringes wear out (they will, fairly quickly too) go down to the farm supply store and pick up a similar syringe, they cost like a dollar a piece

You are kidding right? 5.1 has a 70 degree higher boiling point than any of the other grades. Except 5.0. If you are experiencing that that much heat in the brake system you have an issue anyway.

BTW, it dosent matter the brand as much as the grade. Most of the brands all come from the same place anyway. The do change when you get into the "boutique" brands like Motul, Silkoline, Royal Purple and the such. But not very much.

The bottom line, dont try to re-engineer what you have and just maintain it and you will be fine. Remember two things.
1- the smartest people you will ever meet are on the web.
2- You will never know how hard you can push your equipment until you let someone else use it.

 

[AlexJK]

You are kidding right? 5.1 has a 70 degree higher boiling point than any of the other grades. Except 5.0. If you are experiencing that that much heat in the brake system you have an issue anyway.

BTW, it dosent matter the brand as much as the grade. Most of the brands all come from the same place anyway. The do change when you get into the "boutique" brands like Motul, Silkoline, Royal Purple and the such. But not very much.

The bottom line, dont try to re-engineer what you have and just maintain it and you will be fine. Remember two things.
1- the smartest people you will ever meet are on the web.
2- You will never know how hard you can push your equipment until you let someone else use it.

Nope, i'm not kidding, the one thats even better than Motul RBF600 is Castrol SRF ($70 a liter)

And i must be one of those people

http://www.shotimes.com/SHO3brakefluid.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT_5.1

 

[Ken in KC]

Really?

i bleed mine once a month because i'm a big guy running juicy 5s on a freeride hardtail, they get used a lot. once you get the process down, it's a trivial matter.

Get the avid bleed kit and toss out the DOT 5.1 (or sell it) and use Motul RBF-600, it's a DOT 4. It has a higher boiling point than Avid 5.1 and gives a firmer lever feel.

When the bleed syringes wear out (they will, fairly quickly too) go down to the farm supply store and pick up a similar syringe, they cost like a dollar a piece

Your brakes fade and require bleeding every month? I'd return them. They're faulty.

How often to do you bleed the brakes in your car?

Use doesn't equal the need to bleed brakes. If your brakes are soft, meaning that the when you squeeze the levers they pull down to the handlebar and don't stop you effectively, it likely means that you have air in the system and require bleeding.

 

[ataylor]

I am new to bikes but you should really never have to bleed the brakes unless something went wrong causing air to enter the system. Now you can do a fluid change as a maintenance which I think once a year would be more than enough. As Ken said, think about your car. As for a firmer feel from one type over another are you suggesting that one liquid compresses more than another? Sounds more like a case of getting a proper adjustment in the mix while bleeding.

 

[CHUM]

damn.....i was gonna respond 'i bleed every time i crash in a rock garden'

i don't fiddle with my hydraulics until they get soft.....and that's generally a looooong time.

 

[louisssss]

the lbs told me bleeding wasn't necessary unless they felt "weaker" then when i first got my bike with them.

 

[JPark]

If you need to bleed your brakes, you need to determine the defect in your brakes that caused air to be introduced into the system.

 

[AlexJK]

they don't fade, but it's good preventative maintainance

 

[gmcttr]

they don't fade, but it's good preventative maintainance

Once a month is way beyond preventative maintenance. It is just unnecessary wear and tear.

 

[JPark]

Once a month is way beyond preventative maintenance. It is just unnecessary wear and tear.

Not getting how it is PM at all. The only time you should have to bleed, is if the system is opened.

 

[ataylor]

The chance of inserting a problem is WAY higher than any you would prevent. But as always if it makes you sleep better have at it..

 

[mbmb65]

As others have said, once a year is plenty unless you have a problem. Once a month is silly and obsessive. I think I bled my Hopes a couple of years ago. No need to get all crazy 'bout it.

 

[AlexJK]

i am obsessive, i need better brakes for the crap i ride, my juicys aren't enough... it keeps them running just fine. i've NEVER had an issue with them

 

[siwilliams]

i am obsessive, i need better brakes for the crap i ride, my juicys aren't enough... it keeps them running just fine. i've NEVER had an issue with them

Can I ask, what is it that you are preventing? While the system is closed everything should be just fine. One a year is plenty, most people don't do their car that often yet the risks are much higher.

 

[JPark]

Can I ask, what is it that you are preventing? While the system is closed everything should be just fine. One a year is plenty, most people don't do their car that often yet the risks are much higher.

Why even once a year, or ever(unless system has been open) Seriously

 

[mbmb65]

i am obsessive, i need better brakes for the crap i ride, my juicys aren't enough... it keeps them running just fine. i've NEVER had an issue with them

If you've never had an issue with them, why do you insist on opening them up and wasting fluid every month? Doing so does not make your brakes "better" or more powerful. It just makes them the most opened up brakes ever. Maybe you should try a larger rotor.