Squealing brakes

[cuzza]

The brakes on my car have started to squeal under light braking (they seem too busy to make noise when under more duress!!).

Can I get a set of squeal plates or similar from anywhere? Couldn't see any on Eliseparts.

[Nightmare]

what on earth are squeal plates?! (well its obvious what they allegedly do but I cant see how they could work?!)

[twit]

Cuzza

Has your got MMCs? if so, go out when the roads are quiet and givethe brakes some abuse that may cure it. If that does not work I guess down to the dealer

If they are not MMCs are the pads low or full of brake dust crap??

Twit

[dragstar]

hi guys, this seems like a really dumb question, but how do i know if i've got mmc discs?

they are drilled..but i'm not sure. i havent read through all the lit, that came with the car (just had it a few days). cheers. its a 1999, 111s by the way.

cheers

[cuzza]

Squeal plates are a couple of shims of thin plate to go between the pad and the caliper and they reduce brake squeal (I know not how!). I'm sure I've seen a reference to them on here somewhere but I can't find it.

I'm not running MMC gear just standard steel discs and the original pads. I checked the pad width last night and there seems to be plenty left (the car has only done 5000 miles).

The discs aren't getting scored so there can't be anything in there and the car is stopping very well when asked it's just turning heads for the wrong reasons

[thub]

IIRC you need to check them with a magnet. (Which will not grip the MMCs)
The drilled discs on the 111S (I have the same) are cast iron.

[cuzza]

If you wheels are getting covered in black brake dust you are on standard steel discs and normal style pads if not you've got MMC.

IIRC they stopped the MMC around 97/98 as the company making them went bust.

[fergusd]

What pads are you running ?

Fd

[cuzza]

fergusd said: What pads are you running ?

Fd

Whatever comes on the car as standard, they're the original ones from the factory - Brembo possibly?

[fergusd]

right . . . that standard pads don't squeal very often, do you ever drive the car hard ? - if not I;'d suggest giving it some abuse on your fave twisty as the pads can glaze and squeal with a lot of light use . . .

You can get anti squeal shims which stick on the back of the pads, I'd check the parts manual to see if you can get them from Lotus . . .

fd

[dragstar]

..talkin of fav twistys any recommendations for the manchester area? im sick of city driving...want some good b-roads.


cheers

[fergusd]

Can't help dude, although I did live in Manchester (well Hale) for 4 years a few years ago . . . loads of good roads out west IIRC . . . mdidn't have a fast car in those days . . .

Fd

[tonykart]

snake pass? but take a mate...