New member wants help please.
Discussion
New Elise owner, new PH member, new noise from brakes?
Hello to all, just bought a '96 Elise S1 (first decent car) at bottom of price range so expecting some things to be not quite right. First up is a double click/knock noise from front of car when braking. Am technically so-so but Lotus illiterate. Does anybody have more of a clue than me?
Hello to all, just bought a '96 Elise S1 (first decent car) at bottom of price range so expecting some things to be not quite right. First up is a double click/knock noise from front of car when braking. Am technically so-so but Lotus illiterate. Does anybody have more of a clue than me?
Hi, and welcome. Does the noise occur just at the moment you apply the brakes, and then stop, or is it continuous throughout braking?
It would also help if you could tell us what type of brakes you have, early cars had MMC brakes which you can identify by the fact that they are very smooth and non-magnectic.
It would also help if you could tell us what type of brakes you have, early cars had MMC brakes which you can identify by the fact that they are very smooth and non-magnectic.
Noises are always difficult to diagnose from a distance, but it is just about conceivable that something (ie. a caliper or suspension bolt) is loose and the double click you are hearing is the slack being taken up. On that basis, it is as well to get the car checked out by a specialist ASAP. Wouldn't cost more than an hour's labour to check it, and repairs are likely to be fairly cheap.
Having said that, it's most likely to be a bit of pad knock-off and nothing to worry about in itself.
MMC stands for metal matrix composite. In the case of the Elise, this means a mix of aluminium and ceramic material. Much lighter than cast iron discs, and disperse heat very well (hence the problems in the cold and wet - they disperse heat a bit TOO well!)
As Dragstar says, they can be a bit dodgy in the wet, in that they don't work if flat cold and wet. They are a bit like old drum brakes in this respect - if you drive though deep water, check the brakes by touching them lightly. If they don't respond, a few light applications will dry them out and warm them up. Do the same if the car has been standing in cold/wet weather, or if you have been on a run on a wet motorway - I've been surprised a could of times hitting the breaks for a roundabout at a motorway junction to find that much heavier pedal pressure was required to get a response.
The MMC discs tend to squeal a lot if you drive them lightly, too (drive harder, to get a bit of heat into them!), but work very well once warm (better that the conventional cast iron discs fitted to later cars), so hang onto them if you can.
Where in West Yorks are you? I live in Lancashire and am about to move to a new job in Leicestershire, but am from Leeds originally and return most weekends. I have an early S1 car with MMC discs, too, so you are quite welcome to have a run in my car to compare feel if you want.
>> Edited by Martin_S on Sunday 1st February 20:06
>> Edited by Martin_S on Sunday 1st February 20:07
Having said that, it's most likely to be a bit of pad knock-off and nothing to worry about in itself.
MMC stands for metal matrix composite. In the case of the Elise, this means a mix of aluminium and ceramic material. Much lighter than cast iron discs, and disperse heat very well (hence the problems in the cold and wet - they disperse heat a bit TOO well!)
As Dragstar says, they can be a bit dodgy in the wet, in that they don't work if flat cold and wet. They are a bit like old drum brakes in this respect - if you drive though deep water, check the brakes by touching them lightly. If they don't respond, a few light applications will dry them out and warm them up. Do the same if the car has been standing in cold/wet weather, or if you have been on a run on a wet motorway - I've been surprised a could of times hitting the breaks for a roundabout at a motorway junction to find that much heavier pedal pressure was required to get a response.
The MMC discs tend to squeal a lot if you drive them lightly, too (drive harder, to get a bit of heat into them!), but work very well once warm (better that the conventional cast iron discs fitted to later cars), so hang onto them if you can.
Where in West Yorks are you? I live in Lancashire and am about to move to a new job in Leicestershire, but am from Leeds originally and return most weekends. I have an early S1 car with MMC discs, too, so you are quite welcome to have a run in my car to compare feel if you want.
>> Edited by Martin_S on Sunday 1st February 20:06
>> Edited by Martin_S on Sunday 1st February 20:07
Thanks Martin,
I'm in Morley, we could exchange addresses for a meet up via e-mail if you want. I know what you mean about being suprised by the brakes when cold but then I drive an Astra through the week so get suprised each time I change from one to the other (the radio works in the Astra, but that's another thread).
I'm grateful to everybody who replied as I think I need to increase my knowledge by about 1000% before I stop asking questions and can maybe answer some for change.
Must go and check threads for a local club meet.
I'm in Morley, we could exchange addresses for a meet up via e-mail if you want. I know what you mean about being suprised by the brakes when cold but then I drive an Astra through the week so get suprised each time I change from one to the other (the radio works in the Astra, but that's another thread).
I'm grateful to everybody who replied as I think I need to increase my knowledge by about 1000% before I stop asking questions and can maybe answer some for change.
Must go and check threads for a local club meet.
. You must get to the NYLOC meets at Buckles Inn on A64 approx 4 miles West of York on 4th Tuesday of month. Approx 50 Liz owners (mainly S1 - the best 
)amongst 100+ Lotus owners..........
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