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

[lancer360]

Originally Posted by LARRY

Third set at 14K!

Just to clarify, I'm due for my third set at 14K (about 7K per set). I do have some pad left, but probably not enough to pass tech for the track day at LOG.

[habendanio]

Weird at my last dealer appointment @14k miles I was told my brakes were just like new? I must be engine braking too much.

[LARRY]

Like new at 14K?

I don't think so...!

[ace10]

Originally Posted by habendanio

Weird at my last dealer appointment @14k miles I was told my brakes were just like new? I must be engine braking too much.

did they happen to inspect your clutch?

[fishguy]

Originally Posted by Conan

I should have inspected them at the end of each session

or at least at the end of the day.
I still bet they were a bit skinny(compared to new) prior to the first day.
keep a spare set with you at the track...............good advice XTN

[dododge]

Originally Posted by LARRY

It's not easy to tell when the pads need replacing. Initial conversations with Lotus mechanics led me to believe they would last to 12,000 miles. But they didn't.

Considering the wide variance around here in pad wear, it may just be the sort of driving and roads you deal with. My 15K miles are mostly from my commute, which is on highways at times of day when traffic jams are very rare. There's a couple of lights at the start and end, but for about 23 of those 25 miles I don't need to use the brakes at all.

[edit: I kept track this evening and in the 25-mile drive, taking a route with even more lights and traffic than my usual one, I had to use the brakes only 9 times. That included parking, red lights, stop signs and several spirited corners.]

For example a previous car had terrible brake fade if the pads/rotors got really wet, so while driving home in the rain I had to make a point to touch the brakes once or twice when approaching the last mile, to just to clean them off so that they'd actually work when I needed them.

[loanshark]

Larry

Where did you get the work done? How much did you pay? Let me know. Pm me or call me at 310 924 4839

Thanks

[Arno]

Originally Posted by LARRY

Hard to determine 2.5mm.

Useful trick.. On the Elise the pads usually have a groove/cut in the center.

If this wears flat/away then it's really time to change. Should be in the 2 to 2.5mm remaining region.

If you take off a whee and look into the caliperl you can usually see the groove on the side of the pads and see how much is left.

Bye, Arno.