Scottish Elises

HI folks, i am still here with my elise 'L plates' on! I took off a front wheel and back wheel (to send for refurb) and had a look at the brake flexible hoses which I think should be replaced soon. I cannot work out what happens when they disappear into the body of the car. Where do the meet the union with the non flex pipes. I suspect that this may a bit of an awkward job.

I know that at sign of rust on a brake pipe or hose can result a mot failure so I guess this will have to be done. Why do little cars have big problems!
Regards.

Rust on the outer spring part is not going to fail MOT - only rust on actual metal pipes or unions. Don't change them unless you're sure they are going to fail MOT.

On early S1 it is a real PITA to undo the inboard front unions - if I remember correctly, on later cars they added a slot to get access to the union - on early cars you either need a very short spanner and a lot of patience or you need to cut the slot.

Thanks Robin, the actual metal joins have rust so the job will have to be done sonner or later. Do I have to take off the front undertray for this as I just cannot see anyhting for the inner join.
Regards.

No, it's hidden under a bit of the crash structure, you need to cut 25x5mm slots to access them on early cars.

From memory it's a nasty job as the fittings don't spin on the pipe so you have to unscrew/screw the calipers off/onto the hose.

Rich H wrote:From memory it's a nasty job as the fittings don't spin on the pipe so you have to unscrew/screw the calipers off/onto the hose.

I think I recall this too on my early S1. I had my car on axle stands with all 4 wheels off, and fitted 4x braided pipes at the same time as replacing the red plastic clutch pipe with a braided one.

I don't remember the brake pipes being that bad, but that's maybe because the clutch pipe was horrendous.

For the front crash structure, I drilled a variety of holes in a line and used a file to make them into a slot..
The slot obviously has to be big enough to get a spanner in, and to move it. You can see where the pipe goes into the crash structure from memory..

If you take a picture of the inside of the services compartment showing where the copper brake pipes disappear I can scribble on your photograph where to cut the slots.

If you lean into the services compartment and follow the metal brake pipe with your eye (and then fingers) you will find the union.

As Rich says, it's a PITA as you'll need to start by removing the caliper from upright, spin the caliper off the brake line, then loosen the inboard union and spin the rubber hose off the metal line.

For sure you'll want to replace the metal pipes in the front services compartment at the same time (if only because you'll break them undoing the rusty union anyway).

If it were me I would not hesitate to book this one into MMC and let them have the pain

Oh, and I would avoid the braided brake lines unless you're a track god - get the normal rubber ones for best longevity & correct fit into the hose clamps that are on the wishbones, etc.

Cheers,
Robin

Also, the only time I've heard of one of these failing was on a stainless braided one, so I would not undertake this job until it actually fails the MOT!

Cheers,
Robin

Thanks for all your help folks. I have had another look and I can just see the union from the wheel arch. As was rightly pointed out it is awkward but I reckon the best plan would be to cut off the rubber section leaving just the metal end and use a box spanner to try and remove it. Sods law will dictate that everything just rotates on he bracket or whatever holds it on.

I've found that a lot of my lotus mots just have inspection not available floor panels in the way (or similar, I don't have the slip on me) they wont remove anything for an inspection, so i'd leave it and see.
I got my mates car mot'd in glasgow and the guy was worried he'd break it, afterbeing told exactly how to lift it, and not to use the car lift he had. He passed it without what I would call a rigourous examination (one of the headlights didn't even work, I only noticed after i'd picked it up again) before anyone tells me you should avoid a garage like that, as they could have you driving in an unsafe car, it was a rush-in due to my mates incompetance and sudden use of the car. He gets it serviced every year by lotus specislists, so anything major would have been picked up at that.
Just trying to point out that you may not need to do it for the mot.

(If you are going to be tracking it, that's a different story)