Couple of things..brakes and gear change

[LogicSnap]

Hello all, Just looking for some advice...!

Right after all that crappy weather of late, I was caught up in wales and drive back on heavily gritted roads, parked up in London then used my car for a quick jaunt to the pub and back (no boozing!) and then left her for about two weeks. Went to use the car and the brakes had stuck SOLID. I am used to the clunk as you pull away but this was beyond a joke, all four wheels stuck fast. I rocked it on the clutch (gently) and freed the backs, then moved forward but the left front didnt roll and for 50m skidded like a lame dog dragging its leg. Finally it freed up and it felt like the disks had been replaced with sand paper.

Every press of the pedal resulting is a horrible judder from all the rust on the disks. Kinda felt stuck as I didnt want to leave it as is so went for a quick drive on the A3 and did some emergency stops, after 30 mins of braking from 60ish all seemed well again but on inspection there is quite bad pitting on the rear disks (fronts seem ok) All disks and pads were new in March 09 since done 6k. Anything to worry about do you think? Would replacing the pads be a wise option considering the state the baraking surface is probably in?? Can they be "cleaned" as they are still relatively new?

FYI I always felt my pads were joey replacement ones they say delphi on them, any ideas?

Secondly should the Elise S2 111s (K series)gear stick auto centre? Pretty sure it did, now it doesnt, makes finding third a little tricky. Is this a simple broken spring or symptomatic of something more serious?

Any help much obliged!!

Russ

[mike_knott]

As long as braking performance is back to normal, I wouldn’t bother replacing the brakes. Elises are prone to the pads sticking (it happens on mine which lives a dry life in a garage) so it will only happen again if you replace them anyway. The pitting will eventually disappear as the discs wear. The pads should also self-clean, but if there is something wrong with them, they can be removed and filed down (or replaced – decent pads are not that much!)

Haven’t heard about Delphi pads, although they ring bells as a general automotive supplier.

As for the gear stick, it should self-centre, but I believe it is a common problem for it not to. I wouldn’t be too bothered, unless you can’t live without it.

Mike…

[kambites]

You'll probably find that use will loosen up the gear change again, but they always tend to be a bit sticky on K-series cars.

[JBanx]

The gear stick should self centre and can be sorted by buying some nylatron bushes from either elise parts, elise-shop or eBay.

It takes about 1 hour to fit them and will sort the self centering issue out. It could also be due the the bell crank pivot thingy being done up to tight which stops the side to side movement. You will see what I'm talking about when you fit the new gear linkage bushes.

It's a very easy DIY job.

[Justin S]

Its the bell crank bush that needs cleaning out and regreasing. Takes 10 minutes after removing the undertray to do. As above, get the kit off ebay for £17 and change the gear shift bushes as well while you are there.

[deany]

Delphi are pads that would have prob been picked up at a motor factors, that's the brand I got when I picked up disks and pads to change over on my sisters ford ka, were relatively cheap

Kevin

[LotusEater666]

My gear stick only sticks when the car's warmed up, it centres ok when cold. I think the exhaust pipe run next to the gear linkage and the heat causes the problem; maybe it can be fixed with some heat shielding.

[andy_s]

My gear stick is the same, I think at some stage it stopped self-centering, I've lived with it for a year and will get it sorted when it's getting its spring overhaul.

[LogicSnap]

cheers for the feedback guys, looks like elise parts will be getting some more of my hard earned cash!

cheers

russ