Slightly sticking front brakes

[martins]

Need some advice.

Have a 55 reg 111R and the front brakes are sticking ever so slightly. Noticeable when stop start in town.

When jacked up can still turn wheels by hand but they are definately not as free as they should be. Seems to ease off if left for a while with no pressure on the foot brake. Does not seem to be an issue when driving 'with vigour'.

Disk wear is also not excessive.

Any ideas.

M

[robin]

I might suggest removing the wheels and pads, pushing the pistons back in clean the slides on the calipers with some brake cleaner, or just a tooth brush and some elbow grease, then grease with copperslip and reinsert the pads, pins, springs and R-clips (take note of which way the retaining spring plate is fitted before disassembling). Don't forget to pump the brakes a few times before trying to drive anywhere as the pedal will go to the floor a few times before the pistons are pumped back to their starting position.

If that doesn't clear up the problem then you probably have a sticking piston (pretty unusual, especially on a relatively new Elise).

Cheers,
Robin

P.S. I'm sure it's obvious that you must refit the pads into the same positions they came out of as they will be worn to match the face of the disk, each of which will be unique.

[young_bairn]

Thread bump. I have this issue to. Leave the car in the garage with and even over night the front far side brake is sticking. Need to get the wheel off for a look. Any pad suggestions for the 111r"

[tut]

"Don't forget to pump the brakes a few times before trying to drive anywhere as the pedal will go to the floor a few times before the pistons are pumped back to their starting position."

I found this out the hard way some time back when I shot out of the front gate and onto the track opposite.

tut

[Shug]

Thread bump. I have this issue to. Leave the car in the garage with and even over night the front far side brake is sticking. Need to get the wheel off for a look. Any pad suggestions for the 111r"

If by sticking, you mean the pad is sticking to the disc, they all do that if you park up with the discs a bit wet. Just drive it out to unstick it and it's fine. Sometimes if Elaine's has been driven home in the rain and parked up in the garage for a couple of weeks, she needs me to go in and give it a few thousand revs and sidestep the clutch to pop them free (she can't face being that brutal with it!)

Unless you're talking about having jacked up the corner and you can't freely spin the wheel due to a dragging pad, that's the issue the OP was talking about.