Quick Question re handbrake cable

[Dundeesfinest]

Just a quick one. My brakes have been seized on at the rear n/s for a while (on and off) and after finally getting it to a local Kwik Fit (I know, I know, dont judge) they advised me I need new rear discs, new front and rear pads and a new handbrake cable. I wont tell you how much they quoted me but lets say it was about 5 times the cost of parts that I can source locally! The only thing I cant find is the handbrake cable. Most places are saying its a dealer job to find. Eliseparts.com have one for £65.......will this be the right spec for my 03 plate Type 23 Elise?

Thanks in advance.

Derek

[robin]

I just fitted that same cable to my 03 135R and was then amazed to discover that Elise shop sell a cable for about half the money. The elise parts cable is good, though, and should last a lifetime if you lubricate it, so actually I think money well spent compared to the standard cable.

Cheers,
Robin

[Dominic]

If you have not done so already, PLEASE get a second opinion on the state of your brake discs and pads

[dirkpitt]

+1 they see you pull up in a lotus and see £££ signs......not to say that your pads and disk could very well be close to the limit, but its probably a little over kill.....

[Dundeesfinest]

Thanks for the hints and tips folks. In fairness I always avoid Kwik Fit like the plague but circumstances dictated that I had to use them to replace the pads. I knew before the car went in that they needed replaced and was originally quoted £156 to get standard pads on the front and back. I was happy enough to pay this for two reasons, firstly nice and easy and the cars back within an hour, 2 they come with a lifetime guarantee. They then insisted I needed a full brake check which I accepted (I already feared for rear discs as the brakes had been scrapping for about 6 weeks!) I was called a couple of hours later and told the following;

'Hello Sir, we have carried out our full brake check and you do need new front and rear pads as expected. However the rear discs are quite badly damaged due to the lack of pad and also you need one handbrake cable. We havent been able to source the parts cheaply, in fact we have had to go to Lotus direct and they do a special kit that helps keep the cost down........all in all the price will be.................................£887!'

At this point I feel away laughing and told them I will collect the car within half an hour. The guy assured me I would not find the parts cheaper elsewhere.

As it stands I have found front pads for £30, rear pads for £30 and rear discs for £120 for the set. Hand brake cable is about £65 so all I need now is someone to fit.

Chancers would be an understatement for the losers working at my local Kwik Fit.

[robin]

It's all pretty simple to fit if you have even a modicum of skillz and a couple of spanners; front pads need only a pair of small pliers; rear pads need a 17mm spanner, a hammer and a small punch (read: suitable nail with the sharp end flattened off); to change rear disks whilst changing rear pads comes for free as the disks fall off once you've removed the 17mm bolt, pretty much.

Handbrake cable is a couple of 15mm spanners, IIRC (might be 14mm) and a 10mm socket, plus a pair of pliers to remove R-clips and cables from the levers on the calipers.

So spend your money on buying a couple of tools and a jack

Cheers,
Robin

[mwmackenzie]

Wow imagine the brake upgrade £880 would get you lol! Carbon Lorraine RC5 pads with EBC discs all round, new handbrake cable and a fluid change easy lol

Buy decent pads if you can afford them... Minted 1144 is a popular choice of fast road pad for the Elise and EBC discs work well with them, remember brakes are paramount for safety lol so I'd try and get the best you can afford fitted.

All the best
Mark