34 replies to this topic

[Alastair]

Hi,

 

My car has failed the MOT with corroded centre brake pipes, and its the centre sections.  I did a few searches on this and can see that its a pig of a job to fix as they are in the sills  (been quoted about 5 hours each side).  One post mentioned replacing with flexi hoses front to back through the centre of the car.  Is this a suitable short cut, or is this not a suitable solution? 

 

Thanks

[christhegasman]

How did they spot that ? 😡

[stu8v]

Mine are flexis through the sill. Done by some lotus specialists before I got it.

[fezzasus]

Are you sure it's the long section through the sill rather than the section running from the sill to the rear brakes? I ask because the section from sill to rear tends to corrode as it's under the side vents. It's also a small part so not as difficult to replace.

 

Items 20 and 21: https://www.deroure....&SMO=0&ST=&SC=0

Edited by fezzasus, 18 April 2016 - 08:58 AM.

[Alastair]

I also need a driveshaft...  will be an expensive MOT!!

[fezzasus]

That's the sill to rear brake pipe. Won't require replacing the entire length in the sill.

 

Also, you can replace just the CV boot assuming the CV joint isn't too worn.

[Alastair]

Just spoke to Simon at CMS, he is taking the shear panel of to see if he can section the rear pipe without having to replace the sill section, so fingers crossed. I am confident he is not trying to make work for himself! He only works on Elise / Exiges so I am sure he has seen this before (it cant just be the VX that suffers from this?) The driveshaft was wining, so I suspect it has gone past the point of replacing the CV boot. Is the turbo n/s driveshaft the same as the NA one?

[fezzasus]

Just spoke to Simon at CMS, he is taking the shear panel of to see if he can section the rear pipe without having to replace the sill section, so fingers crossed. I am confident he is not trying to make work for himself! He only works on Elise / Exiges so I am sure he has seen this before (it cant just be the VX that suffers from this?) The driveshaft was wining, so I suspect it has gone past the point of replacing the CV boot. Is the turbo n/s driveshaft the same as the NA one?

Best approach is to remove the rear wheel and liner and look down into the sill.

 

Yes, driveshafts are same.

[Alastair]

Thanks Tom.

[kingwowns]

Looking down the sill, you'll only see about 50cm before view is blocked by a foam panel - if that's still in place it tells you that the centre lines have never been inspected

[fezzasus]

Foam won't be there - it's supercharged.

[haggi961]

Replaced mine front to back with braided hoses and I've posted it on my project thread if that helps

[MattyJ]

 

Just spoke to Simon at CMS, he is taking the shear panel of to see if he can section the rear pipe without having to replace the sill section, so fingers crossed. I am confident he is not trying to make work for himself! He only works on Elise / Exiges so I am sure he has seen this before (it cant just be the VX that suffers from this?) The driveshaft was wining, so I suspect it has gone past the point of replacing the CV boot. Is the turbo n/s driveshaft the same as the NA one?

Best approach is to remove the rear wheel and liner and look down into the sill.

 

Yes, driveshafts are same.

 

 

Is that the inner or outer boot that's gone?

 

If it's the outer boot I have a spare drive shaft that you could have. 57K miles on it. (£40+p&p)

Or new ones can be obtained from https://www.motorspo...10&category=301

[Alastair]

I think the auction ones were snapped up straight away. Just got a 2nd hand one off ebay, so hopefully that will be ok - thanks for the offer though

[zimmer]

Just spoke to Simon at CMS, he is taking the shear panel of to see if he can section the rear pipe without having to replace the sill section, so fingers crossed. I am confident he is not trying to make work for himself! He only works on Elise / Exiges so I am sure he has seen this before (it cant just be the VX that suffers from this?) The driveshaft was wining, so I suspect it has gone past the point of replacing the CV boot. Is the turbo n/s driveshaft the same as the NA one?

Best approach is to remove the rear wheel and liner and look down into the sill.   Yes, driveshafts are same.

Sure i remember reading that the Elise brake pipes follow the gear cables rather than through the sill. I've just replaced one of mine - used kunifer pipe. You can make a join through the access point below the sill cover if you extend the hole in the fibreglass. I managed to clip it about halfway back down the sill, with a fuel pipe over the brake pipe to stop it rubbing on anything. In hindsight, the easiest and safest thing to do is use flexible hoses as mentioned above - either join it at the front in the sill or thread it through to the join in front of the dashboard if that's possible. It's easily DIYable with a draper 23312 flaring tool so don't get screwed over for hours of labour or removing the sill!

[techieboy]

Sure i remember reading that the Elise brake pipes follow the gear cables rather than through the sill.

 

 

Only the non-servo'd S1 and early S2's as they share a common line from the master cylinder.

[MattyJ]

I think the auction ones were snapped up straight away. Just got a 2nd hand one off ebay, so hopefully that will be ok - thanks for the offer though

 

Driveshafts still available from the auction site

[Exmantaa]

Nope, not the necessary left ones. Or right ones with usefull inboard CV joints... 

All sold-out

[NOSBandit]

It is usually good practice to keep flexi's as short as possible, brake pipes should be solid until they reach the area of movement. I have just changed all my brake pipes and flexi's, it was a awful job to do but hopefully I'll never have to do it again

[robin]

It is usually good practice to keep flexi's as short as possible, brake pipes should be solid until they reach the area of movement. I have just changed all my brake pipes and flexi's, it was a awful job to do but hopefully I'll never have to do it again

Braided lines don't expand that much and see lots of rally cars and race cars run full length flexi lines with no problems. The run is only 3 meters I'm fitting them to mine and don't see the problem at all.