Brake upgrades

[wcdeane]

I am sure that there are upgrades out there. Would anyone care to save me some research and summarize my options? I have a '91 SE with OZ 15s on the front and 16s on the back, and I'm thinking rotors and calipers.

Thanks....Walt

[cnh1990]

If you change to larger calipers like Brembo or AP as in the later models you will have to get larger front wheels to clear the calipers. The spare will also need to be changed to 16" also. For improved braking in a simple fashion. Change pads to Mintex or Porterfield light race.
Calvin

[GUY JOHNSON]

This group does alot of mods for the esprit .
www.moto-concept.de/de/autos/lotus/index.php
These Guy 's also sell moto-concept part in your are I hop.
Lotus Import van der Kooi
Kwinkweerd 10
NL 7421 CW Lochem
Fon: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Internet: www.lotuscars.nl
E-Mail:   [e-mail]
This Group also looks promising.
www.sjsportscars.co.uk/
These people should get you going in the wright direction.

[wcdeane]

Darn. I really like my wheels. They are one piece OZ, and they are color keyed (callipso (sp?)red) and polished. I don't know where the hell my previous owner got them, and I have never seen another SE with these wheels. Maybe he just had them polished. Anyway, they are pretty neat, and I really wanted to stay with them if I could.

No other choices??? I probably would gain much stopping power, but how about keeping the calipers and swapping in cross drilled rotors? Anyone ever done that?

[cnh1990]

At the LOG track day I have seen the cryo cross cut and drilled rotors you speak of. Fellow enthusist John Welch has brake kits and rotors that he sells to help offset the costs of his auto racing. New wheels for our cars are so expensive. Even used the wheels go for 1500 or more for the 17" and 18" as they are in demand. The smaller ones like we have go for a paltry 5-6 if we can get that from some unfortunate fellow that has bent his due to an accident. If you like I can get John to email you information about the brake kits.
Calvin

[wcdeane]

That would be great, Calvin. Thanks
[e-mail]

[5150neo]

Try giving the guys at www.lotuspbc.com a call. They offer a Wildwood kit for the front and rear. Rotors are 12.2 inches and will fit inside the standard wheels. They also offer the rotors cross drilled and the kits come with braided brake lines. Phone, 526-865-4439

[cnh1990]

Okay Walt figured a cheaper way for the performance discs. The fronts are from a Toyota Celica. I will confirm the year and cross reference the discs that are used, once we do that we will order the parts as performance replacements for a Celica available thru many outlets. They may even have updated calipers.
Calvin

[wcdeane]

Thanks guys!

[cnh1990]

Brembo cross drilled rotors for our cars. The contact and part number information on these rotors follows: Best Price Automotive Warehouse - 1-800-636-0854 - they fit 85 Toyota Celica, the part numbers on the box are: TO 608, also: 09.5027.70 (I am not 100% sure of the last 7), the other set of numbers is: 43512-14080. People think that because these Brembo rotors only have 4 stud holes, they are incorrect. It's just that the rotors mount to the rear of the hub with 4 bolts. The following was found on Ed Young's web site:
http://lotusracer.home.mchsi.com/lotustipspage2.htm
He is a good resource and Lotus owner. While exploring the site he also has found away to release the hatch when the cable is broken.
Calvin

[sydneyse]

I always thought there had to be a better way to upgrade brakes using toyota parts... there may be some merit in investigating using the 4 pot calipers from the SUPRA (MA70 model in 1985? or the later SZ/RZ models, before the Brembo brakes- not that there's anything wrong with these, but no longer a budget option!)

[cnh1990]

While the Toyota brake upgrade is not exactly the same as 2-3K big brake upgrade. I am forced by the love of the hobby and ecomonics to find the most cost effective way to achieve performance, maintnence, and cosmetic issues to keep the Esprit is top shape without sacrificing quality or doing shoddy work. A lot of the hardcore Lotus owners would not be able to afford the boyhood dream of owning such a car if they did not do their own work. The labor and parts markup portion of the repair bill is just terrible and has ended the dream of many a former owner. So everyone keep your eyes and ears open, if anyone has any type of advice or proceedure that will further enhance our cars please email me or post it. No proceedure is too small or insignificant.
Thanks,
Calvin

[GUY JOHNSON]

If you are only looking at making it stop better then pads or caliper are the way to go or both?
If you want it to look better see if you can't pull the brakes of the new v8.

[wcdeane]

sydneySE:

A couple of questions. Are you just guessing that these calipers might work on the SE, or do you have good reason to believe that they will?

Also, I don't recognize these Toyota models that you are refering to in your reply. I talked to a local Toyota dealer, and he said that he didn’t think any of these Toyota models are imported to the US. Do you have the means to research this a little further on my/our behalf? A 4 pot alternative to Brembo would be excellent. Maybe one of your parts dealer would be kind enough to do a bench top comparison of the Celica and Supra calipers for you?

Walt

[cnh1990]

Just remember we are trying to keep our OEM wheels. There are a few calipers in the US including the AP and Brembo that needs to have larger front wheels to clear the caliper. Just the cross drilled brembo disc mentioned earlier are a direct swap with the OEM.
Calvin

[GUY JOHNSON]

Go for wilwoods. I have a set and they work just fine.
Use the oil they recomended, and use 15E-6096K for a pad.



Guy

[wcdeane]

Guy:

Couple of questions. I have a good line on some cross drilled or slotted rotors, and they are otherwise exact same physical size of the stock rotors. They cost $70 to $85 USD, which I thought was pretty reasonable. Do you know if the Wilwoods will work with standard stock rotors, and do they fit inside the standard Lotus seven-spoke 15" OZ front wheel?

[GUY JOHNSON]

Yes mine are stock rotors. And I have the standard 15' rims.

[wcdeane]

Thanks for the tip, Guy. I will look into it.

Walt

[cnh1990]

Mason this was a past discussion you may find interesting.
Calvin