When Elise brake pads wear out there is NO warning - just a really BAD grinding sound - Page 2 - LotusTalk

LARRY · 08-09-2007, 05:52 PM

Hard to determine 2.5mm.

I checked the pads, determined I had about two weeks left of driving and was wrong.

Like running out of gas 100 ft from the flag at the Indy 500. Or something like that.

fishguy · 08-09-2007, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LARRY

I checked the pads, determined I had about two weeks left of driving and was wrong. Like running out of gas 100 ft from the flag at the Indy 500. Or something like that.

Larry,
living in BH , dont you have the $ to fix things?
when they are showing wear, why would you try to eek out 2 more weeks. they were not doubt done months ago. the frugalness of getting that 2 more weeks of use now cost you new rotors, not a good trade off.
when the pads are the same thickness as the backing plates the pads are done, it easy. you will look like you are wasting pad material throwing it away, but they are not going to dissapate heat enough to be used as intended.
unless your just driving around in 2nd gear, but you do keep saying how you go drive the "twisties", so you need good brakes. I hope you didnt hurt your rotors, those things are $$$$.

codymac · 08-09-2007, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LARRY

Hard to determine 2.5mm.

Kind of like ice cream, it seems to go quicker as you get closer to the bottom of the carton.

+1 on fishguy's method - comparing the pad thickness to the backing plate thickness is a good rule of thumb.

fishguy · 08-09-2007, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codymac

Kind of like ice cream, it seems to go quicker as you get closer to the bottom of the carton.

I never thought of the ice cream analogy, more like a roll of toilet paper.

codymac · 08-09-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishguyAZ

I never thought of the ice cream analogy, more like a roll of toilet paper.

By the time you realize you need it, you're already out!

Jbone · 08-09-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LARRY

FYI-

When the brake pads wear out on the Elise/Exige there is NO audible warning.

All you hear is a sickening grinding sounding as your rotors get ruined.

Thanks for passing this info along because I have 19k miles - so I'm sure I need to change them now!!!

ZJChaser · 08-09-2007, 06:44 PM

wow you guys get long pad life. half way through my 3rd set at 9200 miles. I do replace them at when about 1/4 life is left. Pedal feel starts going south as the pistons have to extend frther from the calipers. hmmm. I go through brakes a little faster than tires it seems.

Green Hornet · 08-09-2007, 07:03 PM

I was on the rotors at 6,000 miles. All highway miles and track days.

It is so true that when they get low the go away almost all at once.

Now using Pagid Blues

FlyLo · 08-10-2007, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishguyAZ

Larry,
living in BH , dont you have the $ to fix things?
when they are showing wear, why would you try to eek out 2 more weeks.

Because it's inconvenient to go to the dealer and he already had an appointment in his calendar?

ace10 · 08-10-2007, 07:34 AM

i've said this, and many others have said this.... the front pads on the car take (much) less than one hour to replace.
it's easier than changing the oil. and unless you suspect the rotors to be worn to a point approaching their minimum thickness and you don't have a way to measure them, there's no reason to bring the car to the dealer for this job.

lancer360 · 08-10-2007, 08:07 AM

I'm due for my third set of pads at 14K! My first set were gone at around 7K and they were just starting to grind and crumble, but I was able to nurse it the few miles home without scoring the rotors.

LARRY · 08-10-2007, 08:33 AM

Third set at 14K!

evilfij · 08-10-2007, 08:58 AM

Original set at 12k and they are way over 50%.

Conan · 08-10-2007, 09:02 AM

Larry, I had the same experience. Luckily, I had JUST run out of pad at the end of a track session and not during. Check out the pic in my post -> http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...0&postcount=16

fishguy · 08-10-2007, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conan

Larry, I had the same experience. Luckily, I had JUST run out of pad at the end of a track session and not during. Check out the pic in my post -> http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...0&postcount=16

Conan,
from those pictures, you were out of pads well before you ever showed up to the track.
Not to be a dick, but its obvious that you did not visually inspect them before you went up to the track?
If you get teched at the track, they will not allow you out if you pads are the same thickness as your backing plates(now if i could only find a dead horse to beat).

Icedog_16 · 08-10-2007, 10:05 AM

One track day and got 15700 miles out of my original pads. I think the fronts were 3mm according to the dealer. Rears looked OK, but went ahead and changed out all with RS42s. One thing I didn't expect was how many places that either wouldn't do my brakes simply because of the car or that wouldn't do them because I had my own pads. Ended up doing them myself. (Pats self on back

) Never really done anything mechanical, but I feel compelled to bond with the car. Mad props to Sands Museum for the great writeup.

xtn · 08-10-2007, 10:34 AM

Why is it hard to determine 2.5 mm?

Just imagine a mm, then imagine another one and a half of them stacked up on top of the first one.

Personally I'll throw out the fronts once they're halfway gone. It's easy to determine the approximately halfway point, because you can look at the new replacement set you always keep at the ready in your track-side tool bag for comparison.

xtn

LARRY · 08-10-2007, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conan

Larry, I had the same experience. Luckily, I had JUST run out of pad at the end of a track session and not during. Check out the pic in my post -> http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...0&postcount=16

Great pictures.

Conan · 08-10-2007, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishguyAZ

Conan,
from those pictures, you were out of pads well before you ever showed up to the track.
Not to be a dick, but its obvious that you did not visually inspect them before you went up to the track?
If you get teched at the track, they will not allow you out if you pads are the same thickness as your backing plates(now if i could only find a dead horse to beat).

Not a problem. Your post doesn't bother me, and I'm not trying to be a dick, either, but you weren't there so I'm not sure how you know.

I DID inspect the pads before the event -- which was a two day event, btw. Granted, I should have inspected them at the end of each session, so it's still my own fault. But I did inspect before the event. It should be noted that I was running R-compound slicks (Avon Tech Ra) on a very grippy track in perfect (sunny, 80 deg F) weather.

LARRY · 08-10-2007, 01:45 PM

No harm done really.

I'll replace the pads and two rotors and be on my way....

08-09-2007, 05:52 PM	#21 (permalink)
LARRY It's a Lotus Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Beverly Hills, Ca. Posts: 17,161	Hard to determine 2.5mm. I checked the pads, determined I had about two weeks left of driving and was wrong. Like running out of gas 100 ft from the flag at the Indy 500. Or something like that. __________________ 2005 Saffron Yellow Elise. Stage II Exhaust. 2007 ProBax seats. "We know they're magical and worth every minute we spend on them. The whole Lotus owners' world is like a secret handshake among people who understand that." (R&T)

08-09-2007, 06:44 PM	#27 (permalink)
ZJChaser Blue Wheel Pimp Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Laguna Hills, CA Posts: 2,851	wow you guys get long pad life. half way through my 3rd set at 9200 miles. I do replace them at when about 1/4 life is left. Pedal feel starts going south as the pistons have to extend frther from the calipers. hmmm. I go through brakes a little faster than tires it seems. __________________ AJ - Akua Solutions - #128 Lotus Exige - JRZ Suspension - Innovative Mounts - Toyo Tires - TW Research Development

08-09-2007, 07:03 PM	#28 (permalink)
Green Hornet Zzzzzzz Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 874	I was on the rotors at 6,000 miles. All highway miles and track days. It is so true that when they get low the go away almost all at once. Now using Pagid Blues __________________ Life, Liberty and the Happiness of Pursuit

08-10-2007, 07:34 AM	#30 (permalink)
ace10 -30- Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 4,449 Images: 35	i've said this, and many others have said this.... the front pads on the car take (much) less than one hour to replace. it's easier than changing the oil. and unless you suspect the rotors to be worn to a point approaching their minimum thickness and you don't have a way to measure them, there's no reason to bring the car to the dealer for this job. __________________ 2007 Exige S, Storm Ti. Sport, Track and TC.Plus: Multivex Mirrors, S111 Deltabrace, Sparco 6Pt harnesses (w/Ti Dave's Antisub belt mount), I/O Port video mount, Snorkel delete, Shims out, Rearview Mirror delete, 2Bular 7X18, Pagid RS42's, Saiku Michi catch can and, of course, blingy carpet buttons. 08 M-B ML320 cdi, 08 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7, 06 M-B E320 cdi, 02 Lexus LX470, 97 Bobcat 751C The Red Pill Ignore Me *Be sure too save your IL before browsing away

08-10-2007, 08:07 AM	#31 (permalink)
lancer360 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,215	I'm due for my third set of pads at 14K! My first set were gone at around 7K and they were just starting to grind and crumble, but I was able to nurse it the few miles home without scoring the rotors. __________________ '05 Lotus Elise Saffron Yellow, Touring, Sport, Stainless Brake Lines, Moroso Oil Pan, RTD Brace KBS Mark 7 Formula 500 with a heart transplant in progress '09 600cc GSX-R Due to hit the track in August '09

08-10-2007, 08:33 AM	#32 (permalink)
LARRY It's a Lotus Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Beverly Hills, Ca. Posts: 17,161	Third set at 14K! __________________ 2005 Saffron Yellow Elise. Stage II Exhaust. 2007 ProBax seats. "We know they're magical and worth every minute we spend on them. The whole Lotus owners' world is like a secret handshake among people who understand that." (R&T)

08-10-2007, 08:58 AM	#33 (permalink)
evilfij Land Rover Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Main Line PA Posts: 769	Original set at 12k and they are way over 50%. __________________ 2006 Autumn Gold Elise SELL ME YOUR AUTUMN GOLD HARDTOP PLEASE OR WILL TRADE FOR CARBON FIBER LOOK TOP I ALREADY HAVE

08-10-2007, 09:02 AM	#34 (permalink)
Conan with future lotus driver Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 2,074 Images: 24	Larry, I had the same experience. Luckily, I had JUST run out of pad at the end of a track session and not during. Check out the pic in my post -> http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...0&postcount=16 __________________ Yes, it IS my real name. No, I don't look like him. I'm Polish. Polish barbarians are skinny nerds. 2006 BRG Lotus Elise (broken), 2009 Honda Fit (gas miser), 2007 Honda Odyssey (the wife's)

08-10-2007, 10:05 AM	#36 (permalink)
Icedog_16 I drank what?!? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 4,214	One track day and got 15700 miles out of my original pads. I think the fronts were 3mm according to the dealer. Rears looked OK, but went ahead and changed out all with RS42s. One thing I didn't expect was how many places that either wouldn't do my brakes simply because of the car or that wouldn't do them because I had my own pads. Ended up doing them myself. (Pats self on back ) Never really done anything mechanical, but I feel compelled to bond with the car. Mad props to Sands Museum for the great writeup.

08-10-2007, 10:34 AM	#37 (permalink)
xtn McLareghini Bugatterrari Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 6,845	Why is it hard to determine 2.5 mm? Just imagine a mm, then imagine another one and a half of them stacked up on top of the first one. Personally I'll throw out the fronts once they're halfway gone. It's easy to determine the approximately halfway point, because you can look at the new replacement set you always keep at the ready in your track-side tool bag for comparison. xtn __________________ 2006 McLareghini Bugatterrari, Storm Titanium... <mods> installed: air horn, Scroth 4-point ASM harnesses, Sector111 halon extinguisher and mounting bracket, Von Hep exhaust and rear panel delete, Pagid brake pads, red Volks CE28n wheels, Toyo RA-1 tires, Nitron SA coilovers, Sector111 (WorksBell) quick-disconnect steering wheel kit. awaiting installation: Scroth "pull-up" lap belts, Sector111 RTD Brace, Tony's heater bypass mod, and dropped steering rack mounting plates. </mods>

08-10-2007, 01:45 PM	#40 (permalink)
LARRY It's a Lotus Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Beverly Hills, Ca. Posts: 17,161	No harm done really. I'll replace the pads and two rotors and be on my way.... __________________ 2005 Saffron Yellow Elise. Stage II Exhaust. 2007 ProBax seats. "We know they're magical and worth every minute we spend on them. The whole Lotus owners' world is like a secret handshake among people who understand that." (R&T)

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