How to Install Avid Juicy Five Disk Brakes

Avid Juicy Five disc brakes are hydraulic brakes used on mountain bikes. Made by SRAM, the Avid Juicys use compressed hydraulic fluid to trigger the calipers on the drums, bringing the bicycle to a slow-down or stop. Installing Avid Juicy FIves is a two part process; first mount the brake mechanisms and levers to the bicycle and then fill the hose-cables with the hydraulic fluid. The process takes approximately two to three hours.

Things You'll Need

  • Bicycle work stand
  • T25 Torx Wrench
  • 4 and 5 millimeter Allen wrenches
  • Hydraulic fluid
  • Newspaper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the bicycle into the work stand. Place the front Juicy Five brake rotor onto the wheel hubs -- the small screw attachments at the end of the right hand side the center of the wheel. Tighten the attachments bolts with the T25 Torx Wrench and set the bolts to 40 pounds. Attach the rear rotor to the rear wheel of the bicycle at the right-hand side hub attachments. Again, set the torque to 40 pounds.

    • 2

      Place the right-hand side bicycle brake lever onto the handlebars by sliding it onto the end of the bars. Tighten the lever to the bars with the 4mm Allen wrench. Attach the caliper housing to the rear bicycle brake hangers on the frame. Tighten the calipers to the frame with the bolts and use the 5mm Allen wrench to tighten. Slide the Juicy hose into the rear caliper and tighten the hose into the caliper with the 4mm Allen wrench at the tightening bolt.

    • 3

      Slide the left-hand side brake lever -- the front brake -- to the handlebar. Tighten the lever to the bar with the 4mm Allen wrench. Attach the Juicy caliper for the front brake on the right hand side of the fork, at the screw attachments. Tighten the caliper bolts using the 5mm Allen wrench. Push the brake hose into the housing on the caliper and tighten into position at the attachment bolt with the 4mm Allen wrench.

    • 4

      Thread the brake hoses through the brake fids on the bicycle frame. The fids are small metal protuberances just wide enough to hold the hose. Run the hoses from the calipers to the brake levers but do not attach to the levers yet. Zip tie the hose to the suspension fork on the front of the bicycle.

    • 5

      Insert the tip of the hydraulic fluid bottle into the open end of the brake hose and squirt the fluid into the hose until a small amount of the liquid drips out the end of the hose. Repeat on the other hose. Quickly insert the filled hoses into the brake lever housing -- a cylinder shaped hole on the lever.

    • 6

      Tighten the hose attachments at the lever by tightening the screw at the cylinder with the 4mm Allen wrench. Grip the brake levers several times to prime the hose and fluid.