this is what happens when you have a spare saturday!!

[dirkpitt]

These small plastic cars should come with a government health warning!.....not only does the car fluff your ego with its looks and styling but makes you think your an ace driver too...ha....and to top it off, suddenly you feel like a race mechanic also

Here are some pics of me taking off the clam to fit some braided hoses. It took me all day to do this job and it was exhausting.
The front hoses were really tricky and painful and tested my patience. i have the sore and crapped hands to prove it

i should warn that the ABS side was the most difficult because there was almost no access to the three hose nuts...however, like most mech adventures and the bad knees and back...you feel that you have had an education in all things elise and lotus.

Anyway, here are some pics for thoughts of you who are interested.


leigh

[Dominic]

Top effort Leigh!

Should have said you were spannering - I'm sure a few of us amateur mechanics would have come and helped,... or at least pointed and laughed

[BiggestNizzy]

fancy doing my rears ?

[roadboy]

Would this be a good time tonpoint out that braided hoses make feck all difference on ABS/Servo'd cars.

Dan

[Dominic]

Would this be a good time tonpoint out that braided hoses make feck all difference on ABS/Servo'd cars.

Dan

Not True!!! They look nicer

[dirkpitt]

Doh! roadboy why do you have to go and prove a point like that!... but they do look nice and shiny!

seriously, i cant say i feel much difference in the pedal, maybe a bit more feed back and a bit more positive progression...however, i have recently changed the pads to CL RO5+, so who knows....i suppose a good excuse would be that the OE rubber hose where getting a bit past there best, so ive just renewed.

dom,

cheers, and i was laughing at myself half way through

nizzy,

sure mate....if you need a helping hand with your rears im happy to assist!

[ste7en]

Good effort!!

Looks like a fairly daunting task to undertake and to start something like that in what looks like the carpark outside you flat!!

Hat's off to you sir

[shooomer]

Would this be a good time tonpoint out that braided hoses make feck all difference on ABS/Servo'd cars.

Dan

Is that right?

[Mikie711]

Sorry, but I've got to ask, why did you take off the clam!!!?

[Shug]

Sure you have to do it clam off on S2s?

Shoom - any benefit with a harder pedal etc, is totally negated by a servo sitting in the way - that masks all the feel. They are better from a burst pressure POV, but that only really applies if you've got the oldest, most shagged rubber hoses on there imaginable.

[dirkpitt]

Sorry, but I've got to ask, why did you take off the clam!!!?

so i could fit the front braided hoses on mike ........

on the s2 exige with ABS, you need to gain access by removal of the front clam (unfortunately) with the s1 i imagine its possible to get at them with out removal.

all i can say is its a right fiddle of a job with the ABS unit in the way......as shug has mentioned the servo will gain a nice positive feel, but i will only gain what ever the servo wants to give back......i will say that you do feel a little back, but only when I really push hard on the pedal

[Shug]

Sorry, but I've got to ask, why did you take off the clam!!!?

so i could fit the front braided hoses on mike ........

Aye - you don't need to on S1s, but I'm sure you're right that the S2s, you need to.

[Rich H]

On old S1s you need to cut a (small) hole in the crash structure... on later ones the factory cut the hole for you!

[DavieK]

Good work

But I'm interested in this spare Saturday that you speak of, where do you get them

[Kinger]

I managed to fit them on my 111R without taking the clam off, I got some advice from Alan at Knockhill about cutting a small window in the plastic cover with a Dremel which gave plenty of access. Hardest bit of the job was getting the brakes bled.