How to Bleed Juicy 7 Brakes?

Having properly bled brakes is absolutely essential for the safety and performance of your bike. Air trapped in the hydraulic lines can severely reduce braking power, leaving you unable to stop when you need to. Bleeding flushes the old fluid and bubbles out, restoring braking function.

But for many bikers, brake bleeding seems complicated and best left to the pros. While it does take some care, patience, and the right tools, it is a task any mountain biker can learn to do at home. Not only will it save you shop fees, but you’ll have the satisfaction of adding mechanical skills to your toolkit.

In this complete guide, I’ll teach you step-by-step how to safely and effectively bleed Juicy 7 brakes – one of the most popular models from industry leaders SRAM. With the right process, it’s straightforward and rewards you with crisper lever feel and stronger stopping control on the trails.

Why Bleed Your Brakes?

Before we dive into the nitty gritty of the bleed process, it’s important to understand what it achieves in the first place.

Your brake fluid needs changing for two reasons:

1. It absorbs moisture over time which lowers its boiling point. This decreases braking performance and introduces the risk of vapor locks under hard braking when fluid temperature spikes.
2. Trapped air bubbles in the line act like little shock absorbers, compressing instead of transferring pressure directly to the pads. This leads to weak braking, spongy lever feel, and far longer stopping distances.

Replacing a portion of the fluid flush out these bubbles and moisture-contaminated liquid. This maintains the system’s designed hydraulic pressures for strong, consistent braking power.

Tip: Bleed brakes at least annually as preventative maintenance. More often for heavy use or if you notice symptoms like soft levers or weak stopping power.

Now that you know why bleeding is non-negotiable for continued brake function, let’s go through everything involved in doing it yourself.

What You’ll Need to Bleed Juicy 7 Brakes

Bleeding brakes requires some specialized gear, but likely less than you think. Many home mechanics have these in their kits already.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Bleed kit

• Clear plastic bleed hose
• Fluid reservoir
• Syringe

Tools

• 4, 5, 6mm hex wrenches
• T10 & T25 Torx wrenches
• Flat head screwdriver

Supplies

• Shop rags
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Zip ties
• SRAM High-Performance DOT 5.1 brake fluid

Safety gear

• Nitrile gloves
• Eye protection

With the right gear in hand, you’re ready to get bleeding!

Step-By-Step Guide to Bleeding Juicy 7 Brakes

Follow these steps in sequence for a complete brake system flush:

1. Remove Wheels & Brake Pads

Start by getting the wheels and pads out of the way for better caliper access.

Using a 5mm hex wrench, loosen the bolts securing the brake caliper to the frame/fork enough that you can manually slide it off. Remove the mounting bolts, wheels and then brake pads.

Tip: Secure calipers out of the way with zip ties to prevent straining brake hoses.

2. Attach Bleed Kit

Thread the clear plastic bleed hose onto the caliper’s bleed port where the brake hose meets the caliper body. Snug just fingertight.

Have your fluid reservoir with some DOT fluid ready, holding the free end of the bleed hose into it. Fluid in the reservoir will prevent air backflow into the system.

3. Open Bleed Port

Using a T25 Torx wrench, open the Juicy 7 caliper’s bleed screw 1/2 to 1 full rotation counterclockwise. Any more could allow air entry.

Tip: Place a rag beneath the caliper to catch fluid drips.

4. Pump Brake Lever

Ask a friend to pump the brake lever a few times then hold firm pressure. Watch for bubbles coming up the bleed hose into the fluid reservoir.

Tell your partner when to stop pumping and hold pressure, typically on the 5th full pump stroke.

5. Close Bleed Screw

With pressure held firm on the lever, quickly close the bleed screw by gently turning it clockwise.

Then, have your partner release the brake lever slowly.

Tip: Communicate clearly with your bleed buddy so you time perfectly closing the bleed screw with pressure on.

6. Repeat Bleeding Sequence

Bleed port open → pump lever 5x → close bleed screw → release lever.

Repeat this sequence until no more bubbles flow through the bleed hose with each lever stroke. You’ll likely need at least 8-10 repetitions.

Tip: Top off the reservoir with fluid as needed so the hose end stays fully submerged.

7. Repeat Entire Process on Both Brakes

Once the rear brake caliper side is bled bubble-free, repeat the full process on the front brake.

Bleed the front caliper closest to the master cylinder last, as this will purge any remaining air bubbles from the complete system.

8. Remove Kit & Reinstall Components

With a freshly bled brake system, carefully remove the bleed kit, put wheels back on, and slide calipers back into position.

Reinstall mounting bolts to specified torque, throw pads back in, and you’re ready to ride!

Bleeding Tips for Juicy Brakes

Follow these tips for a quick and complete at-home brake bleed:

• Use only DOT 5.1 fluid. Juicy brakes use non-mineral oil fluid. Do NOT substitute with mineral oils or other types.
• Check seals before bleeding. Replace cracked washers or seals to prevent air seeping back in.
• Rinse bleed parts in alcohol post-bleed to dissolve residual oil, preventing contamination next use.
• Store fluid properly. Keep caps and seals tight to avoid moisture absorption when fluid is shelf-stored.
• Prep lever before riding. Pump lever a few times post-bleed to reset pads before hitting the trail.

Troubleshooting Juicy Brake Bleeding Issues

If you follow the instructions but still have problems post-bleed like soft levers or poor braking, here are some troubleshooting tips:

Issue: Lots of bubbles keep flowing through bleed hose
Fix: Lever isn’t being held with enough constant pressure. Partner needs to squeeze solidly and consistently during bleed screws tightening.

Issue: Braking power differs significantly side to side
Fix: One side didn’t fully bleed. Repeat process on weaker side until even power is achieved.

Issue: Lever pressure starts firm but fades with riding
Fix: Air still trapped in system. Do a full re-bleed using more bleed repetitions to fully purge bubbles.

Still struggling with the bleed after troubleshooting? Consider taking your brakes to the shop and having a mechanic inspect for unseen underlying issues.

FAQs on SRAM Juicy Brake Bleeding

Still have some lingering questions about bleeding Juicy style brakes? Here are answers to riders’ most frequently asked questions:

How often should you bleed brakes?

I recommend bleeding brakes at least annually as routine maintenance. Bleed more frequently with heavy use, if braking feels soft, or fluid looks extremely dark.

What brake fluid should you use?

ONLY use SRAM High Performance DOT 5.1 or Shimano mineral oils in Juicy brake systems. No automotive fluids – they’ll damage seals.

Do you need special tools?

A basic bleed kit, torx wrenches, hexes, and mechanics patience will get the job done! No need for anything bike shop fancy.

Should air bubbles come out?

YES! The whole point is purging trapped air, so bubbles flowing through the bleed hose is exactly what you want to see. Keep repeating bleed sequences until bubbles stop.

Can I do it alone?

It’s tricky but possible to solo bleed with the right setup. Easier with a partner to pump the lever while you open/close bleed ports though.

Will I damage my brakes?

If you follow instructions and don’t force things, bleeding won’t harm them at all. Take your time and you’ll do great!

Hopefully this guide has helped demystify the process of bleeding your Juicy 7’s at home. The basics are straightforward once you get the hang of it. Be slow, careful and methodical – rushing is where mistakes happen.

With a freshly serviced brake system, you’ll boost safety with superior stopping power. More importantly, you’ll gain the confidence handling your bike’s mechanical maintenance yourself. Now get out and shred those pristine mountain trails!