Lotus Elise Club Racer

[scotta]

First track outing on saturday for the CR.

Bit of a mixed day. You've all seen i presume the post from @Nefarious about how we had Colin up for the day and he had a good bit of success driving the Westfield.

I had a bit more of a disappointing day.

In prep for tracking the car I had thought i had properly sorted the brakes and put some top quality track biased tyres on.

Brakes wise The car came with a set of brand new front discs (Lotus cross drilled curved vane) and and pads (with a receipt for £650 from allon whyte sportscars) but the rear discs were shagged. So new Lotus Cross drilled discs fitted to the and i - under advice from my indy specialist - went for Pagid RS14 pads all round.

This seems now to have been a mistake. After 3 fairly short sessions at moderate pace i went out on my own and started pushing it a bit harder. this didn't go well. The pads basically shat themselves and started a massive vibration. Cock.

Back into the pits and let everything cool down. Had some discussions with Neil and Kenny Brown (Well renowned race engineer) Kenny immediately said - "Its those pads. Weve had that problem with them before." An opinion backed up in a later discussion with Andrew Baird from Automek - another indy race setup guru who used to race an Exige.

Decided to go out for another session and go easy to try clean the discs up - this did not work. Id forgot to put the go pro on in the earlier sessions so this is the only footage ive got.



So plan going forward. Ive took the discs off and Neil will take them to his mate to clean them up on the lathe and ive ordered a set of CL RC6 pads to replace these shit pagid ones. £400 down the drain

Back out on track at the end of the month so hopefully this is a fix or im in to big money for bells and rotors.

[Foz]

the pagids are still worth cash, stick them on seloc/SE..

I just find them totally lacking feel so binned them off, they are spares now.. I should probably sell them!

[scotta]

the pagids are still worth cash, stick them on seloc/SE..

I just find them totally lacking feel so binned them off, they are spares now.. I should probably sell them!

Probably not a bad shout.

[mik]

Clearly audible on the ‘tube footage. Horrible.

On a more positive note - engine/intake/zorst sound good after your warm up laps.

[dan]

Rs14's are too racy, you won't have worked them hard enough hence the rumbles. The discs won't need to go on a lathe, just go and do a dozen stops from 100mph and they'll clean up.

I've put 'warped' discs on the lathe before now and clocked them up with the dti, not even a thou of run out. Its always pad material that makes them rumble like hell.

[scotta]

Rs14's are too racy, you won't have worked them hard enough hence the rumbles. The discs won't need to go on a lathe, just go and do a dozen stops from 100mph and they'll clean up.

I've put 'warped' discs on the lathe before now and clocked them up with the dti, not even a thou of run out. Its always pad material that makes them rumble like hell.

It was when I started to work them hard the problem started. I did 3 59’s in a row getting progressively faster and they just got worse. The pads are glazed and there was a white deposit on them. I’m stopping from north of 100 to around 40 for the hair pin to the point of just before triggering the ABS. Each lap they got worse. They got well worked!

[dan]

Rs14's are too racy, you won't have worked them hard enough hence the rumbles. The discs won't need to go on a lathe, just go and do a dozen stops from 100mph and they'll clean up.

I've put 'warped' discs on the lathe before now and clocked them up with the dti, not even a thou of run out. Its always pad material that makes them rumble like hell.

It was when I started to work them hard the problem started. I did 3 59’s in a row getting progressively faster and they just got worse. The pads are glazed and there was a white deposit on them. I’m stopping from north of 100 to around 40 for the hair pin to the point of just before triggering the ABS. Each lap they got worse. They got well worked!

I hear what you're saying, but you've got a full race compound in there, there's no way you're overheating them it'll be the opposite. One big stop every minute isn't going to get them hot enough. 42's would be better suited, or just put CL's in and enjoy eye popping braking performance

[scotta]

Rs14's are too racy, you won't have worked them hard enough hence the rumbles. The discs won't need to go on a lathe, just go and do a dozen stops from 100mph and they'll clean up.

I've put 'warped' discs on the lathe before now and clocked them up with the dti, not even a thou of run out. Its always pad material that makes them rumble like hell.

It was when I started to work them hard the problem started. I did 3 59’s in a row getting progressively faster and they just got worse. The pads are glazed and there was a white deposit on them. I’m stopping from north of 100 to around 40 for the hair pin to the point of just before triggering the ABS. Each lap they got worse. They got well worked!

I hear what you're saying, but you've got a full race compound in there, there's no way you're overheating them it'll be the opposite. One big stop every minute isn't going to get them hot enough. 42's would be better suited, or just put CL's in and enjoy eye popping braking performance

CL RC6's have been ordered today!

[scotta]

Saturday saw me (joined by @mik )out for another trackday. After the braking issues last time i was a bit concerned as to how it would go.

I took all 4 discs off and cleaned all the pad material off them with a flappy wheel and a hole punch to clear the pad deposit from the drilled vents on the discs then gave them a good soaking in brake cleaner before fitting the CL6 pads. Happy to report that the brakes ran the full day without a complaint.

However...A couple of days before the track day i had noticed that there was a crunch developed on the 3rd to 4th shift. Bit of digging and these boxes are allegedly fussy about the fluid used in them. When i bought the car id had the box fluid changed with Motul 300 semi synthetic gear oil. After a chat with Craig Moncreif we agreed to change it back to the standard toyota fluid to see if that helped. It did not...Still a crunch there on the 3rd to 4th up change when its hot. Doesnt do it cold. So it looks like im looking at a gearbox rebuild - Balls

In other news ive had the new dampers back from bilstein and the springs are now powder coated ready to go on the car. Hoping that these should be good.

[scotta]

Ive also been watching values recently.

this is almost identical to mine minus the Forged wheels and they are asking £7k more than i paid

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/11690492

[mik]

Saturday saw me out for another trackday. After the braking issues last time i was a bit concerned as to how it would go.

Happy to report that the brakes ran the full day without a complaint.

I (valiantly) provided additional ballast to allow the new setup to be properly tested.

And I have to say that from a passenger perspective the brakes were mighty - allowing far later braking than the majority of other runners. Reminded me of Nef’s Westie in its ability pull many metres out of the heavier cars on the approach to every corner.

[Matty]

I was surprised how cheap yours was, fully expected it to start with a 3 given how prices were/are (hence why I asked if you'd considered an Exige!). Seems you got a bargain.

[Rich B]

I was surprised how cheap yours was, fully expected it to start with a 3 given how prices were/are (hence why I asked if you'd considered an Exige!). Seems you got a bargain.

it was built on an Indian burial ground and several families have died in suspicious circumstances in it.

[Jobbo]

I had no idea you got yours for such a good price - excellent buy. Was that from a dealer, who might give you a bit of support with the gearbox?

[scotta]

I had no idea you got yours for such a good price - excellent buy. Was that from a dealer, who might give you a bit of support with the gearbox?

I bought it from Junction 17 in Peterborough. They put a 3 month warranty on it but TBH it was shit. £250 claim limit. Ive had it since February so that warranty has now expired. I fear it would be wasted breath pursuing that.

[Jobbo]

Consumer Rights Act protection if you can be bothered to pursue them - https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights ... JYx8n5KiSl

[scotta]

Consumer Rights Act protection if you can be bothered to pursue them - https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights ... JYx8n5KiSl

They would i expect then just offer a full refund of the vehicle price at what i bought it for and sell it for the same as the one above for a profit.

[Foz]

call them and see what they say, probably don't mention the track days..

[Jobbo]

Consumer Rights Act protection if you can be bothered to pursue them - https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights ... JYx8n5KiSl

They would i expect then just offer a full refund of the vehicle price at what i bought it for and sell it for the same as the one above for a profit.

While that article isn't proper legal advice (and nor is this post): "If you don't want a refund and still want your product repaired or replaced, you have the right to request that the retailer makes further attempts at a repair or replacement."

[Mito Man]

Don't mention that you changed the gearbox oil to something non-OEM