Front wheels don't rotate freely when car is raised - LotusTalk

zoltiz · 02-23-2008, 07:06 AM

I had the car on stands several times recently and noticed that front wheels don't spin for more than half a revolution when up in the air. Pads are relatively new, but I'm still a bit worried that caliper cylinder is not letting go enough.

Think I should get it checked out, maybe clean the caliper? Both front wheels do it. Car has 18K miles on it, pads have around 1500 miles on them, half of it just highway cruising, though.

ace10 · 02-23-2008, 07:34 AM

frequently reported, possibly normal.

investigate further by searching:

brake* drag*

jordantii · 02-23-2008, 09:02 AM

I was told by Allan from LBH, that the pistons get clogged with brake dust. This prevents the piston from fully retracting. I have this problem and am going to clean the boots out today and see if it helps.

R T · 02-23-2008, 03:05 PM

on mine, the pads were hung up in the caliper

jordantii · 02-23-2008, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R T

on mine, the pads were hung up in the caliper

What do you mean "hung up"? Like they were stuck to the pistons? I cleaned mine today and it is a little better but not totally free.

Graphite Bruce · 02-23-2008, 09:18 PM

Brake drag is normal, says Rob at Dietdchwerks.

R T · 02-23-2008, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordantii

What do you mean "hung up"? Like they were stuck to the pistons? I cleaned mine today and it is a little better but not totally free.

No, like they don't slide smoothly away from the rotor because the edges of the pad backing plate that touch the caliper (not the piston) get "hung up" on the calipers where the pad backing plates are supposed to slide against the caliper (not the piston).

ChrisH · 02-24-2008, 01:03 AM

A bit of brake drag is normal for the Elise. I even checked with the dealer on this. There is no spring to push the pads away from the disk - just a release of pressure. Hence, they drag slightly. If the pads did fully retract, then you would have to push the brake pedal even further than you do know to engage the brakes.

I have even seen it on other car types (Hondas, BMWs, ...) at autocrosses when one is cornering hard enough for a wheel to lift. The wheel quickly stops spinning.

jordantii · 02-24-2008, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R T

No, like they don't slide smoothly away from the rotor because the edges of the pad backing plate that touch the caliper (not the piston) get "hung up" on the calipers where the pad backing plates are supposed to slide against the caliper (not the piston).

Gotcha. Thanks. I cleaned all of the surfaces and it is a bit better.

cerven · 02-24-2008, 05:56 AM

I use WD-40 on the pads - no brake squeel and wheels turn faster

jallingt · 02-24-2008, 07:50 AM

+1 for the brake drag when the wheels are off the ground.

R T · 02-24-2008, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordantii

Gotcha. Thanks. I cleaned all of the surfaces and it is a bit better.

Jordan, I actually grease those contact point lightly.

carlover · 02-24-2008, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cerven

I use WD-40 on the pads - no brake squeel and wheels turn faster

jordantii · 02-24-2008, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R T

Jordan, I actually grease those contact point lightly.

I was going to but I wanted to see if it was just a build up of dust. I will grease them next time. Thanks for the info.

R T · 02-24-2008, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordantii

I was going to but I wanted to see if it was just a build up of dust. I will grease them next time. Thanks for the info.

In fact, for the stock pads, I had to file the edge down a little to get rid of the nasty edge of the backing plate "burnout" where it contacts the caliper.
For the price on those pads you'd hope for at least a Plasma cut backing plate as a min ...... but hey, do what you gotta do

02-23-2008, 07:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
zoltiz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 140	Front wheels don't rotate freely when car is raised I had the car on stands several times recently and noticed that front wheels don't spin for more than half a revolution when up in the air. Pads are relatively new, but I'm still a bit worried that caliper cylinder is not letting go enough. Think I should get it checked out, maybe clean the caliper? Both front wheels do it. Car has 18K miles on it, pads have around 1500 miles on them, half of it just highway cruising, though. __________________ '05 Storm Titanium Elise \| sport \| touring \| hardtop \| larini se \| cup car airbox '08 Deep Sea Metallic BMW 550i \| //M-Sport \| premium \| nav

02-23-2008, 07:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
ace10 -30- Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 4,450 Images: 33	frequently reported, possibly normal. investigate further by searching: brake* drag* __________________ [SIZE="2"]2007 Exige S, Storm Ti. Sport, Track and TC.[/SIZE][SIZE="1"]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.[/SIZE] [SIZE="4"][/SIZE] [SIZE="1"]08 M-B ML320 cdi, 08 Toyota Tundra SR5 5.7, 06 M-B E320 cdi, 02 Lexus LX470, 97 Bobcat 751C[/SIZE] [URL="http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/search.php"]The Red Pill[/URL] :wave: [URL="http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/profile.php?do=addlist&userlist=ignore&u=5868"]Ignore Me[/URL] :up: [SIZE="1"]*Be sure too save your IL before browsing away[/SIZE]

02-23-2008, 09:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
jordantii KMG365 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 747	I was told by Allan from LBH, that the pistons get clogged with brake dust. This prevents the piston from fully retracting. I have this problem and am going to clean the boots out today and see if it helps. __________________ Never Lift.... Last edited by jordantii : 02-23-2008 at 11:16 AM.

02-23-2008, 09:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
Graphite Bruce Graphite Bruce Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Los Gatos, Ca Posts: 15	Brake drag is normal, says Rob at Dietdchwerks. __________________ 05 Elise, sport pack, touring, graphite

02-24-2008, 05:56 AM	#10 (permalink)
cerven Elise Fondler Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: N. KY Posts: 1,244	I use WD-40 on the pads - no brake squeel and wheels turn faster __________________ Eschew Obfuscation Got mine 03-25-05 Ardent /biscuit /touring /3M / hard top

02-23-2008, 03:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
R T Registered Loser Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 599	on mine, the pads were hung up in the caliper

02-24-2008, 01:03 AM	#8 (permalink)
ChrisH Mountain Road Nut Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ramona,CA Posts: 2,337	A bit of brake drag is normal for the Elise. I even checked with the dealer on this. There is no spring to push the pads away from the disk - just a release of pressure. Hence, they drag slightly. If the pads did fully retract, then you would have to push the brake pedal even further than you do know to engage the brakes. I have even seen it on other car types (Hondas, BMWs, ...) at autocrosses when one is cornering hard enough for a wheel to lift. The wheel quickly stops spinning.

02-24-2008, 07:50 AM	#11 (permalink)
jallingt Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 521	+1 for the brake drag when the wheels are off the ground. __________________ 2005 Bordeaux Met #21 (HT, Touring, Quicksilver ext, TRM F1 wheels, Stan Stud, HID lights, BWR S/C,Filled motor mounts, catch can, no camber shims, Tillett saddles) 2004 Audi S4 Sedan (Tip, GAIC Chip, AWE Cat-back, Team Dyanmics Pro 1.2 wheels, H-sport sway bars) 2002 F-350 (Powerstroke, 4x4, Banks power pack, 6th alternator) Couple nice bicycles, way too many snow skis.

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