Full Lock Clunk
Discussion
Ive noticed lately after the car has been stood for a while, outside (s2), that on full lock i get a clunk, it would seem every rotation of the front wheels, left if im turning left and visa versa. It resembles running over something like a couple of apples and makes the same clunk like its stuck to the wheel. If I run up and down the road its goes?
This is gonna sound daft but wondered because its so cold lately and my car is outside, the the tyres settle and the rubber get hard, it feels like the run up and down the road irons them out, its the best way i can explain it.
Just wondered if anyone has any thoughts, cheers
This is gonna sound daft but wondered because its so cold lately and my car is outside, the the tyres settle and the rubber get hard, it feels like the run up and down the road irons them out, its the best way i can explain it.
Just wondered if anyone has any thoughts, cheers
Nice one thanks for replying, one question, what exactly is binding, does it alter the actual disc where the pad has been locking it, or does it leave a residue on the disk from the pad thus on rotation the residue touches the pad as it turns. (making the clunk noise)
Sorry to sound dumb, ive heard of breaks binding but i just assumed its when they are locked because of being stood for a very long time, mine is just stood over night?
cheers
Sorry to sound dumb, ive heard of breaks binding but i just assumed its when they are locked because of being stood for a very long time, mine is just stood over night?
cheers
Hi there,
Yep, I think it could be the brakes.
They will bind overnight if wet. The surface of the disc is highly machined metal and therefore will rust very easily. This surface rust appears on all cars with disc brakes and is removed when braking.
Around where the disc meets the pad you would expect to see higher levels of surface corrosion since the pad is in contact with the disc at all times (This is due to electrolysis between pad and disc, with water as electrolyte = rust. This is normal and is the same same for all cars with disc brakes)
This more extreme surface corrosion, around the point at which the pads have stood, is clearly visible upon rotating the wheel. This will appear as a raised surface on the disc, imitating the shape of the pad, and hence cause brake judder until cleared.
These are standard, accepted phenomena. The light weight and highly communicative nature of the elise make it obvious to the driver that something is happening. Inside your eurobox the same principles apply, you just don't notice them. In the lotus you would probably drive more responsibly until the discs are clear and functioning to their full potential, in a eurobox you should, but probably won't!
The whole problem is amplified if the car has been parked 'hot' and the handbrake applied. The elise does not have a servo on the brakes, so if you apply your brake when parking then apply the handbrake, the brakes will bind. Try to keep the discs cool approaching the end of a journey, gently coast to a halt and, if possible, don't use the handbrake. I have a garage and use this technique to avoid excessive disc wear.
It is nothing to worry about, but is something to be aware of. Your braking capability will be compromised until the surface of the disc has been cleared (a few braking cycles will do the trick), and you will find that your discs will wear more quickly due to the wasted (rusted) material.
Hope this helps.
Regards, Neil
Yep, I think it could be the brakes.
They will bind overnight if wet. The surface of the disc is highly machined metal and therefore will rust very easily. This surface rust appears on all cars with disc brakes and is removed when braking.
Around where the disc meets the pad you would expect to see higher levels of surface corrosion since the pad is in contact with the disc at all times (This is due to electrolysis between pad and disc, with water as electrolyte = rust. This is normal and is the same same for all cars with disc brakes)
This more extreme surface corrosion, around the point at which the pads have stood, is clearly visible upon rotating the wheel. This will appear as a raised surface on the disc, imitating the shape of the pad, and hence cause brake judder until cleared.
These are standard, accepted phenomena. The light weight and highly communicative nature of the elise make it obvious to the driver that something is happening. Inside your eurobox the same principles apply, you just don't notice them. In the lotus you would probably drive more responsibly until the discs are clear and functioning to their full potential, in a eurobox you should, but probably won't!
The whole problem is amplified if the car has been parked 'hot' and the handbrake applied. The elise does not have a servo on the brakes, so if you apply your brake when parking then apply the handbrake, the brakes will bind. Try to keep the discs cool approaching the end of a journey, gently coast to a halt and, if possible, don't use the handbrake. I have a garage and use this technique to avoid excessive disc wear.
It is nothing to worry about, but is something to be aware of. Your braking capability will be compromised until the surface of the disc has been cleared (a few braking cycles will do the trick), and you will find that your discs will wear more quickly due to the wasted (rusted) material.
Hope this helps.
Regards, Neil
Mine has the same problem. When I'm reversing into my garage, full lock required, the first time it happened I thought I'd run over a few small rocks but nothing on the ground. I've had an S2 prior for three years and the brakes often bound to the discs overnight but it's not the same problem. On that car I also had problems with the J pin and it's not that either. I'm a bit confused and i'll take in to have it looked at in the new year. The only other thing which I thought it might be is some rubbing on full lock somewhere in the wheel arch??? I'll keep you posted.
Mark
Mark
Decent reply NJS25 thanks for that
Well this morning guaranteed it did it, so straight away jumped out the car and felt the disc but couldnt feel anything accept getting black fingers. Then got in and on full lock was driving it going back and forward so I just applied the brakes while going back and forward and it went straight away !!! Bit tricky because I had to get abit of speed up so I could use the brake to ease off what ever is stuck to the disc, well thats how I imagined what was happening.
Well this morning guaranteed it did it, so straight away jumped out the car and felt the disc but couldnt feel anything accept getting black fingers. Then got in and on full lock was driving it going back and forward so I just applied the brakes while going back and forward and it went straight away !!! Bit tricky because I had to get abit of speed up so I could use the brake to ease off what ever is stuck to the disc, well thats how I imagined what was happening.
You've got to remember that this car is an object of desire so it will always sell. I think there is abit of paranoia though when you own one, because as soon as you think there is something wrong it could cost loads of dollar.
It also illuminates how in touch you can be with a car, you feel absolutely everything, which to me has converted me, I love the feel of old school driving, there is none of this false light control. It does what you make it do. Very rewarding.
It also illuminates how in touch you can be with a car, you feel absolutely everything, which to me has converted me, I love the feel of old school driving, there is none of this false light control. It does what you make it do. Very rewarding.
Hi All. Was just reading this post but couldnt see any definite conclusion. Does anyone else have this problem? I have had issues with binded brakes during 3 years of ownership, however this problem seems to be independent of the brakes. The best description has been that of driving over sthree large stones.
I noticed it just before Xmas and the problem is getting more pronounced. Happens on full lock reversing into or driving straight out of my parking space. Almost feels like the wheels are warped is the best way I can find to describe it!
Car is going in for full B service and MOt next month so will get it checked then - was jsut interest if any of the previous posters had had it looked at?
I noticed it just before Xmas and the problem is getting more pronounced. Happens on full lock reversing into or driving straight out of my parking space. Almost feels like the wheels are warped is the best way I can find to describe it!
Car is going in for full B service and MOt next month so will get it checked then - was jsut interest if any of the previous posters had had it looked at?
Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff