Recurrent problems with Cerbera 4.5

[johnmckenzie]

I have a number of problems with my 4.5 that seem to defy all attempts to fix in my 26,000 miles of ownership from new. They are
1) Front brake judder. I'm now on my 5th set of front discs, this last set supplied and fitted courtesy of AP racing after the dealer (Henley)and the factory gave up. These have done best of all but 7,000 miles before warping again is prety miserable. The car is not used on track days and most of the mileage is actually on motorways so they get a pretty easy life. Could that be the problem I wonder.
2) Front top wishbone bushes. Now on my 3rd set.
3) Heavy wear on inside edges of front tyres (may be linked to point 2 but it seems to be happening even with the bushes kept in good shape
4) Rattling side windows. The dealer can usually fix these at a service but within a few hundred miles its back again
5) Top differential mounting bushes - now on 3rd set.

Anyone else suffering from these, especially the brakes, and anyone found permanent cures??

Regards

John McKenzie

[bennno]

the brake disks used to warp regularly on my first cerb, but not on my second at all!!

I would advise that the disks are very thick and therefore can be skimmed effectively, at £25 a corner this is way cheaper than new disks. One tip is find a bentley / Rolls specialist as they warp disks regularly and they therefore have a often have tool which can skim the disks whilst they are still on the car!

Window rattling should be sortable, mine was. Other probs bad luck!

Bennno

[davidy]

I would have the front hubs and wheelbearings throughly checked. A vibration introduced by these could account for your first three problems, though point 3 may be more of an alignment issue

[domster]

I am not a Cerbera owner (Lotus Carlton), but your warped disk problems could be due to incorrectly mounted calipers. If the calipers are squeezing out of alignment, they could warp the disks. It may be worth taking the car to an AP specialist - like BG Developments - and getting them to check the assembly over. There is no way that decent AP disks should warp under such light use.

Just a thought. I sympathise with your brake disk replacement problems - they are 500 quid a front set on the Lotus Carlton, but I have only needed a caliper refurb and new pads in about 15k miles of similar use (motorways, occasional hooning etc.)

Rgds
Domster

[dyb]

Thebrake disks can also be harmed from heavey breaking at high speeds then sitting at lights with the brakes on, it can leave a impression on the disks.