Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Evening all,

I am now turning my attention to the front brake calipers on my restoration project, My S3 SE has the connection with a banjo behind the pistons, rather than above. I believe the Girling type 14 caliper could have either? Are there any advantages/disadvantages, as the top entry version appears to be more available and cheaper? I have to buy new flexable pipes anyway, so this will not be an issue.

Cheers,

David

Aren't you just going to rebuild your existing calipers? A rebuild kit of rubbers and 4 new Stainless pistons and a little cleaning and you're finished.

Roger

Morning,

Yes, I have seriously considered it and have done so in the past. However, for very little extra money I can buy new Spitfire ones, admittedly with the hydraulic connection at the top of the piston, rather than behind it. As both cars have triumph suspension anyway, should this matter?

David

But you can't buy new rear calipers, I don't believe and I'll bet the new calipers you are considering are made somewhere I wouldn't want to trust, probably across the BIG pond. Do they have SS pistons?

I recall seeing a post including a chap around the south east of the good old US of A whom had made rear calliper.

Thought this was the post

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=22999&start=15


I will keep looking

Rebuild the ones you have, if they are Girling. I bought new 'top entry' calipers for my S3 and they, of course,
are not Girling. First off, the top entry requires the short 'squirrely' hard line, which is yet another
potential leak point because it needs to meet up with the soft line. Second, I've had a H*&&a5 of a time getting the bleeder screws and hard line entry points to not leak. I believe the casting, at the bottom where the bleeder seats and line seats, is not shaped as correctly as a Girling. That's just an unscientific observation on my part. That's using RD's lines, my own lines and other parts store bleeders. I'm finally down to a very minor dribble from one of the bleeders.

http://www.chequeredflagautomotive.com/maintenance.html

Again, not sure if its active

Go Raptors eh!

http://www.chequeredflagracing.net/

Correction

For the record, I have discovered the S4/Sprint has the top hydraulic connection calipers, so I guess they will fit. I have also brought pattern brake calipers for my +2 which worked fine. However, in this case, as I have decided to repair my originals as I have the time. The joys of early retirement!

One last slightly interesting point on this saga; I guess my original calipers were not actually original anyway as they were painted green.

Cheers,

David