[slein]

I bought a slightly used Magura Julie disc brakeset on eBay. Despite some misleading information from the vendor, I have chosen to stick with them for now.

Here's my problem.

Upon receipt, the front caliper was leaking at the piston- most likely due to being in airplane at altitude. Bleeding it seems to have remedied the problem, but the meathead who bled them got some air in the lines. I bled them again, and now the caliper is leaking (again).

I did some slight burnishing with emery paper on the rotors, baked the pads, and sanded away a layer on the pads with some more emery paper.

I can't get either brake to lock up. The actuation on the levers feel great.

The pads look shiny - that's the way they came. Any suggestions?

 

[amateur]

well, it may still be air in the system, but maybe the lines are expanding and thus not transferring the power to the pistons.

i had a number of problems with my julies, so i just said fvck it and got 8" hayes, which were more suited for my riding style(dh oriented freeriding)

 

[slein]

what about glazed pads? oh, and how did you get rid of the julie's?

 

[oldfart]

If there was fluid on the pads they're toast. Get new ones and clean the rotor with alcohol. And make sure you don't have a leak in the caliper. That might be the whole problem right there. Perhaps you need a new piston seal or two? I doubbt very much that the high altitude would have any affect. We're at what around 15psi at sea level. What is it at 35,000 feet? What kind of psi do you get when you brake hard? Way more than 15psi I reckin.

 

[amateur]

i didnt really get rid of them, but they are sitting useless on the kitchen floor. i can send them to you if you want. the rear needs to be bled, but the front is pretty powerful

 

[slein]

i wrote the guy to take them back. he hasn't responded yet.

all of you did give me some good advice. i knew about cleaning the rotor with alcohol. i thought the pads could be salvaged, but its true - they're ruined.

the magura rep is going to replace the caliper because of the five year warranty. he responded to my email the next day, and all i have to do is send him my dead unit when i receive the good one.

as for atmospheric pressure at sea level and at altitude, i don't know. the JULIE is a low pressure system, but how low? it makes sense that the pistons might come out at altitude, although i wouldn't think that the lower pressure at altitude is low enough to cause the leak. there is a little bleed hole on the reservoir which may equalise the pressure.

the brakeset is in used shape - actually really used. i think the dude who owned them really used them a lot, and got his friend to sell them on eBay under a misleading description. both sets of pads are fried and the rotors look shot too. it was advertised as Magura Julie Freeride disc brake set, but the only Freeride that Magura makes is the Louise. i thought I was getting the Louise - my mistake for misreading, but his fault for misleading. the description also indicated that they were in great shape - a lie.

i paid $189 for the auction, and i found a few sites online that sell them for $99 new per set. yep, i think i'm gettin hosed....

 

[amateur]

sucks you got hosed, tell eBay about it and see if they'll do anything, call the guy etc, just bitch at them-you'll feel better.

 

[slein]

he offered to take them back two weeks ago, but i wanted to try them. you said you had some julies on the floor? how much?

 

[amateur]

like i said, the rear needs to be bled, but the front is plenty powerful...comprable to 8" hayes...well, sort of.

not much, just looking to recoupe a little of my investment. 75-100...completely negotiable

 

[KonaDude]

Originally posted by slein
I bought a slightly used Magura Julie disc brakeset on eBay. Despite some misleading information from the vendor, I have chosen to stick with them for now.

Here's my problem.

Upon receipt, the front caliper was leaking at the piston- most likely due to being in airplane at altitude. Bleeding it seems to have remedied the problem, but the meathead who bled them got some air in the lines. I bled them again, and now the caliper is leaking (again).

I did some slight burnishing with emery paper on the rotors, baked the pads, and sanded away a layer on the pads with some more emery paper.

I can't get either brake to lock up. The actuation on the levers feel great.

The pads look shiny - that's the way they came. Any suggestions?

What was the name of the person you bought these brakes from?

 

[slein]

as your pm stated. however, i didn't mention his name here, because that would be just wrong.