[EspritNOOB]

Was at Claudius yesterday for brake fluid flush and two front Spax shocks and they showed me a brake system they came up with to replace ours. I know this issue has been beat to death with dual switches etc. They showed me their system that were installed in two cars that were in their shop. No ABS but supposed to have amazing brake feel and much better braking power. Didn't/couldn't take any pics but has anyone on here tried their system?

 

[G8nightman]

Im running the Wilwood kit they sell 6 piston front and 4 pistion in the rear. Night and day differance with the factory set up feels like i have brakes now. But im still running ABS.

 

[Vulcan Grey]

I installed a Claudius brake kit on a friend's 89SE. He bought the 6 poison front and 4 poison rear. You can see the photos in my link below.
https://picasaweb.google.com/116113253735518541549/LotusWilwoodBrakes?noredirect=1

To tell the truth, I want impressed by the Claudius kit.
http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f164/wilwood-big-brake-kit-esprit-163122/#post2308082

I designed my own system using Brembo race calipers, no ABS, and the feel is excellent.
http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f164/brembo-racing-brakes-my-own-design-101381/

 

[EspritNOOB]

Sorry guys I am not talking about the calipers, I am talking about the system. They got rid of the entire assembly, pressure switch and all and built their own. The accumulator is still there and using the factory Toyota calipers. May ask to drive one of their customer's cars to see for myself. Cost is $3K installed but gets rid of the troublesome switch that is failing slowly.

 

[CarSalesman]

There is a supplier online who has a replacement switch available, discussed in another thread. IMHO the system has enough hydraulic capacity so if you are not going with bigger calipers there is not much to gain by changing the hydraulics.

 

[maxvelocity]

He is talking about the ABS delete kit

 

[jtrealty]

Sorry guys I am not talking about the calipers, I am talking about the system. They got rid of the entire assembly, pressure switch and all and built their own. The accumulator is still there and using the factory Toyota calipers. May ask to drive one of their customer's cars to see for myself. Cost is $3K installed but gets rid of the troublesome switch that is failing slowly.

$3K is a lot to spend to get away from that switch when there are other, less expensive alternatives. And still keep the ABS.
David Teitelbaum

 

[Vulcan Grey]

Just revert back to the 89 non ABS master cylinder (from a VW) and a vacuum booster, it shouldn't cost $3k... Not even a fraction.

 

[maxvelocity]

Just revert back to the 89 non ABS master cylinder (from a VW) and a vacuum booster, it shouldn't cost $3k... Not even a fraction.

I agree with Travis. That's 3K installed parts and labor as in just drop the car off and pick it up. I hear Claudius is pretty good but he is spendy. Travis and handful of others talk a different price language. To me other than something like a matched cyl/liners set or transmission 3K is a huge pile of Esprit parts

 

[EspritNOOB]

OK glad I brought this up, thanks for the feed back fellas.

 

[Vulcan Grey]

There is a thread on thelotusforums where somebody exactly this, essentially went back to the 89SE specification master cylinder, vacuum booster, and removed the rear proportioning valve, which only the GM ABS cars had. They used a Toyota MR2 mastercylinder, but the VW Transporter master cylinder is the same as the 89SE master, so I would use that.

 

[maxvelocity]

Its not that hard but there is a good amount bending and flaring of brake piping because you don't want to be splicing brake lines together when you drop the ABS. You think you can plumb the piping? The reason Claudius does it that particular way is that it is fast. I'm certain there is a fair amount of 4 cyl Esprit owners in SoCal. You got to find them so they can mentor you. This forum is good but nothing beats a live person at the car.

 

[EspritNOOB]

Bolt on superchargers, manifolds, turbos, exhaust stuff I can do but fabrication is something I am not prepared to do. WIll just look in to the aftermarket switches that Lotus Marquee has out now.

You guys all make it sound so easy to just slap some stuff together from this manufacturer to that car make to this roll of ductape but to a noob like me that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Chances would be I kill myself, my wife and a chihuahua crossing the street because my brakes won't work. :facepalm


Thanks all!

 

[MidLifeZ]

With all the Brembo calipers on ebay for sale wish there was someone with a kit to use them with! Which didnt require on a 1994 replacing hubs and all manner of other stuff!

 

[firefighter1c57]

I can't imagine it'd be that difficult.... ??? maybe I've not looked at it close enough. I'd think it'd require nothing more than caliper brackets being machined...

Or, is the caliper mount a part of the hub? I'm picturing it as a bolt on affair, but I've really not looked much at my front brakes.

 

[Laser Bob]

Does Claudius have rear brake assemblies for an '83? I need to replace the entire RR brake assembly on my 83, and might be interested in replacing the entire system if parts are available and the price is right.

 

[MidLifeZ]

I can't imagine it'd be that difficult.... ??? maybe I've not looked at it close enough. I'd think it'd require nothing more than caliper brackets being machined...

Or, is the caliper mount a part of the hub? I'm picturing it as a bolt on affair, but I've really not looked much at my front brakes.

Even if part of the hub the caliper still bolts to it so would seem a bracket could be made to mount Brembo or what not.. Alas, I have ZERO skills to make a bracket...

 

[G8nightman]

EspritNOOB is your switch bad now? if so why not just try the replacement switch rather then dumping 3000 to revert to a non abs system??

 

[maxvelocity]

With all the Brembo calipers on ebay for sale wish there was someone with a kit to use them with! Which didnt require on a 1994 replacing hubs and all manner of other stuff!

Uhhhh.....They do make a kit to change to Brembo brakes. Just not to many people know about it. It will require a disc change from the 258 X 20 Toyota rotor to the Brembo 296 X 28. You have to call the ball on if you want the 1 piece or 2 piece rotors that alters the price a lot.

When doing the matched rear calipers there is also some minor issues in relocation of the new parking brake mechanisms as they will have to be moved about 70mm forward of the present location that involves drilling 2 new holes into the frame about 50-60mm aft from the fuel tank balancer line and 1 hole 60mm just forward of it also into the frame. You also need to remove the proportioning valve and cap off the input line that is used just for the Bendix rears.

You also have to remove and reinstall the reluctor rings from the Toyota to the Brembo discs without distorting them using a puller or the M5 removal taps. I hear that some owners have found them tack welded on which is strange and bothersome.

Its not too bad but there it is depends how much you want to spend and if you are going to do any hard braking outside of the 3-4 hot laps at the track that the standard brakes can handle before they fade.

 

[EspritNOOB]

EspritNOOB is your switch bad now? if so why not just try the replacement switch rather then dumping 3000 to revert to a non abs system??

Yes it was bad then I soaked it and problem has not come back. Then there was a seller local here who said he had one brand new in the packaging but to this day can't locate it so I gave up on him. The feeling I had when the switch went out on me was an eerie feeling so wanted to be cautious and not have that happen again on the freeway. Just to be safe I was going that route but looking like I will be getting the after market one. Emailed Lotus Marquee to see how I can order one but not gotten a reply...