Avid Codes require numerous bleeds a season?

freshwire · 11-04-2009, 11:39 AM

I've got a set of 2008 Codes and like the way the perform a lot...I find that the tiny torx head in the screw that holds the pads tends to strip...but nbd...

What I do find to be kind of irritating, is that although the bleed process is simple and fast...I tend to be bleeding the brakes way more often than I thought...after only a few days of DH at least one of the brakes will need a bleed. Is this normal?? could I possibly have a leak somewhere???

The bike sat in the basement for a week ...and when I went to get it out...the front lever pulled all the way to the grip...although it did engage...a bleed took care of it...but it seems like I'm bleeding them too often???

Anyone else experience this???? Any ideas???

oldfart · 11-04-2009, 02:32 PM

Your probably not bleeding properly. I had a heck of time bleeding my Juicy 7s. Have the proper kit, two sets of instructions which I thought that I had folloed religiously but gave up and took the bike to Lou at the LBS. When I picked it up a few days later I asked Lou how it went, he just swore. I gather that sometimes the Avids are a biatch to bleed.

aj-monkey · 11-04-2009, 07:27 PM

With the Avid bleed kit, Avid brakes are among the simplest system to bleed. If not the simplest! I would check your master cylinder as it is possible you have issues there, which the codes are known for. That or your not quite bleeding them right. Check the Sram site for a step by step of how to bleed them. They also have a video tut on their Youtube account that is super handy!

zebrahum · 11-04-2009, 09:34 PM

Completely disagree, any Avid brake is not simple to bleed. The procedure is simple on paper, but in practice there are just too many places for air to hide. You can get these brakes bled just fine, but it might take some practice and some changes to your procedure. First thing, I would suggest that you make the lever bleed port the highest point in the system. Pulling on the syringes to move the fluid through the system helps rid the system of air more quickly in my experience. After you think you're done bleeding, close the caliper bleed port then pull and press gently on the lever syringe a few times before disconnecting and closing the system.

aj-monkey · 11-05-2009, 09:32 PM

Everything that you just said is on paper or in the video as I do all of it and never was told how other than the sources I stated. We are all entitled to our opinions though and mine is that they are the easiest! Also the cleanest to bleed as my old hayes I bled years ago were just horrible to bleed cleanly with no slip ups!

freshwire · 11-06-2009, 07:50 AM

Thanks for all the tips...I'll try'em!

w00dy · 11-07-2009, 06:46 AM

Are you storing the bike upside-down?

OG4LIFE · 11-07-2009, 04:50 PM

I have a set of 08s and a set of 07s. The 07s seem bulletproof and I haven't bled them all season. The 08s on the other hand require alot more attention. I've heard the same from many guys...08s are a pain in the ass. What the difference is?? I dunno.

sundaydoug · 11-16-2009, 06:51 PM

Having worked in a shop, I've had experiences bleeding Shimano, Avid, Hope, and Hayes. In my opinion, Avids are the easiest to bleed, but you have to be thorough when you do it. I usually bleed my Juicy carbon's once per season, but when I do I usually take a good 1/2 hour to 45 min to do it. As someone wrote earlier, there are lots of places for air to hide. I've found that the most important step is having one end (either one) of the system closed and a syringe on the other. I usually apply vaccum pressure (pulling the syringe out) several times even after I don't see any more bubbles. They have a funny way of hiding in there. In my experience, if you're very thorough with Avids they shouldn't need more than one or 2 bleeds per season.

For reference, I ran Juicy Carbon's on my DH bike for an entire season having only bled them twice and I rode DH multiple times per week all summer long.