I have 4 pot AP something or others (5000’s i think but not the lotus kit ones which appraently have larger or smaller pistons cant remeber which) with the discs that came with it and RS14’s, all that Graham (plans) put on for me and retained the standard discs onthe back because if i’d put the fronts on the back (which I’d wanted)I’d 've lost the handbrake.
Anyway, at Rockingham, first time in anger, they were very effective, all I’d asked for when I asked Graham to change them.
Though after one particluar session (probably about my fifth or sixth c10-15 mins each) I did get juddering etc etc…so I went in cooled off, noticed what looked like a little pad transfer, went back out and it was there but gradually went, I didn’t ease up and there was no loss of braking efficacy.
Now: I was trying to “change” my braking style (graham was with me in the car), deliberatly braking later and harder and consequently may have snatched once a little too hard.
AND in the afternoon the car developed a problem (as yet undiagnosed) so I wasn’t antwhere as hard on the brakes in the later session after the juddering.
Using the car on the road subsequently the juddering isn’t there any longer. ANd I’m due at Bedford on Saturday (not withstanding the fueling problem is fixed) which is also quite hard on the brakes, so we’ll see.
They have been very effective.Very feelsome, very confidence inspiring and seemingly well suited to MY car being a little heavier perhaps.
Though I am waiting to see how they perform on subsequent days.
First time I used the 14’s at Silverstone, I killed the std discs, I then bought a set of the AP 304’s which got totally destroyed in less than an hour at oulten park using the 14’s still.
New set of 304’s and a new set of 42’s to go with them and they have all been hunky dory (touch wood)!!
Since fitting them I have raced at outlen, donnigton and done trcakdays at croft, spa(x2), and zandvoort… NO PROBLEMS AT ALL!! Only thing I have had to do is put another set of front pads in as they wear down quite quickly, Although saying that I would much prefer to be eating through pads rather than eating through discs!!
p.s I am still using the 14’s in the back, no problems.
In your post you say you trashed a set opf 304mm discs, in another you also mentioned you had trashed a set of 295mm discs. Have i misunderstood or have you found that both the 5000 series and the 3000 series discs from ap are not up to it when used with rs14s?
Sounds like i need to get a set of 42s for the front. What i do not understand is that i thought pad transfer (which is the reson we all feel juddering) is caused by the surface of the pad and disc becoming too hot and this results in pad material transfering to the disc face (unevenly) and thereby causing vibration. If thats the case wouldn’t a lower temp pad like the 42 be more likely to overheat and cause the same problem or worse?
In your post you say you trashed a set opf 304mm discs, in another you also mentioned you had trashed a set of 295mm discs. Have i misunderstood or have you found that both the 5000 series and the 3000 series discs from ap are not up to it when used with rs14s?
I have never used the 295’s only the 304’s. Im on my second set now as the first set only lasted 1 hr tops (that was to a point were i felt they were not safe to use anymore, they start juddering long before that). The only way I could desciribe it was like having someone with a pneumatic hammer attacking the frontend of teh car. bloody awful.
Before I switched to the 14’s I was using 42’s with the standard disc and getting reasonably good results (I have used 42’s for the last couple of years on different cars and it was a pad I felt comfortable with). The only reason I went with the 14’s was under recomendation that they would work better than the 42’s so I used them with the standard discs which still had plenty of life left in them. They started to judder and shake with deposits, but it took a good couple of sessions for them to start going. After reading all the posts about the pad deposits and the shaking etc. the general concenus on the boards was to use them with AP rotors and this woulod cure the problem, However, after changing to the 304 ap discs they sufferd exacty the same fate but felt ten times worse than the standrd discs did but in less than half the time???
The depsoits put down on the ap discs looked like the shape of the pads as if it had been stamped onto the disc, hence my theory about the abs cauing the problems… either that or ther is a dodgy batch of 14’s out there.
we can’t put all we do on the web site… and there are lots of options from a simple disc and bell upgrade starting with the 295 AP disc, through 304 (as on tarmac terrosists car) and 308 (the “factory” kit) and 320 (the biggest possible inside the wheels)
Our 295 conversion fixes all the “cheese discs” issues with the standard car (this uses the standard caliper and does not compromise front/ rear balance)
Our latest project involves a full six pot front / four pot rear race car set up.
Great idea!
Any problems I have with the racer, or any other Lotus I have for that matter, are usually sorted by a quick call to the cars’ manufacturer - Lotus!!!
Russell Gibbons is a good guy and he helps build and run the latest Cadena cars - he even gets his hands dirty at race meetings as well.
01953 608507
Seems strange that people do not make more use of Motorsport at the factory, they are there to be called and used - they are not some secret department that only the privileged few can go to. Maybe they need to push themselves a little more.
Great idea!
Any problems I have with the racer, or any other Lotus I have for that matter, are usually sorted by a quick call to the cars’ manufacturer - Lotus!!!
Russell Gibbons is a good guy and he helps build and run the latest Cadena cars - he even gets his hands dirty at race meetings as well.
01953 608507
Seems strange that people do not make more use of Motorsport at the factory, they are there to be called and used - they are not some secret department that only the privileged few can go to. Maybe they need to push themselves a little more.
Spot on there Russ. Lotus Sport (and in particular Russell G)are nothing but totally helpful every time. I think that because they don’t have a big shiny catalogue or a click’n buy website they get a little lost in the background sometimes.
The reason people go to Plans is you get advice about all products not just Lotus ones.
Sorry, I was just trying to give the benefit of my experience with Lotus’ Motorsport deparment who,for me, have been superb. I obviously do not drive my S2 hard enough to cause the braking problem as I still have my original disks, but as I said, all my experiences with them have been spot on.