S3 Elise Brakes

[Trebor_UK]

Since owning my Elise 240 Final Edition I've felt that the brakes weren't the best. Seemed to lack initial bite and lacked "feel" through the pedal. Over the past few weeks I've had 2 occasions when driving in the rain where I've gone to brake and found there to be very little there, had to press the pedal a few times and wondered whether I was going to stop in time - not a comfortable feeling.

As I'd never been keen on the feel of the brakes I always planned to change the pads at some point anyway, so I booked it in at Central Lotus (was going for the drive belt replacement anyway as wasn't done at last service as the belts were out of stock) for them to have a check over of the brakes and fit some different pads and take it from there. 

Went for a set of Pagid pads and also performance brake fluid at the same time.

The stock pads removed were heavily glazed and I guess were just not biting into the disc surface.

The braking has been transformed. Immediately there is more feel, the initial bite is much improved as is the stopping power. Early days and there is some squeal at very low speed braking but I've had that with other cars before and it sometimes goes away as the pads fully bed in.

[DeanB]

Which Pagid pads did you go for?

I usually use Carbon Lorraine RC5+ on the front axle but I have just ordered some Ferodo DS2500s - they were good value, about £130 all in from DemonTweeks. A fair bit cheaper than the RC5+, let's hope they are as good. Or at least nearly as good.

[Trebor_UK]

I went Pagid RS42

[Trebor_UK]

A week or so on, and really like the braking feel now. The squeal as about to stop has gone too.

[DeanB]

They have always been good pads the Pagids, I had them on my VX220 back in the day. I'm hoping the Ferodo DS2500s aren't far off but we shall see.

[winthattt]

Rs 42 pads are my first choice, bit dead when cold but always stop! They can rattle in the brake callipers when hot which sounds like they are eating the discs. Eliseparts sell rubber brake buffers which fix the problem for a few pounds.