Brake pads

The OEM Brake pads on the Elise are reasonably expensive and generally not highly regarded. There are many after market products to choose from with superior performance, both in terms of stopping power and longevity, and at a more reasonable costs.

Changing brake pads is an easy and rewarding DIY project, and some people prefer the reassurance this gives. There is a Brake pad bedding in procedure which you are encouraged to following after fitting new pads.

Early S1 Elises with MMC discs MUST use MMC specific pads, if other pads are used you will ruin the discs very quickly and also risk a dangerous brake failure.

Brake pad fitment for the Elise is as follows:-

Below is a list of after market manufacturers with descriptions, and real world experiences, from SELOC members.

Borg&Beck

In 2000 mainstream Automotive Products was broken up and sold, a new, smaller company was created - AP Racing. Specialised in high performance brake and clutch systems for motorsports applications. This company has since been purchased by Brembo S.p.A., but is still run as a separate entity. You can still buy Elise/Exige brake pads and clutches branded with Borg&Beck.
user information required

http://www.firstline.co.uk/borgandbeck/index.php

Brembo HP sport (HP2000)

| Brembo Manufacturer Website

New brake pad available at Eliseparts shop.

Below information is from manufacturer. User information required

Tested to the highest levels on the track with decelerations from 270kph (168mph) the HP2000 material is capable of operating in the most demanding conditions.
With excellent cold performance & bite, high resistance to fade, frictional stability throughout all operating conditions, reduced pad & disc wear and low dust levels, the all new HP2000 friction material offers significant advantages over its rivals. Designed to be a direct replacement for the Original Equipment (OE) pads the Brembo sport pad comes with the exact same specification as the OE pad including (where applicable): fitted wear leads, slots for separate wear leads and anti-rattle clips with the added benefit of anti-noise shims on every pad.
Combine all of this with competitive pricing and UNECE R90 approval across the full range (making them street legal) and you get a true high performance brake pad fit for the road.

Carbone Lorraine

RC5+, RC6, RC6Es, RC8 Sintered brake pads from French manufacturer who started out as a motorbike brake manufacturer, but also does the brake pads for the TGV and works rally teams from Peugeot, etc.

• RC5+ pads have the lowest friction index (µ=0.40) Dusting:Moderate, Pad Wear:Low, Rotor Wear:Low, Noise:Low to Moderate, Max Temp: 980C (1800F)
• RC6Es (**) is an Endurance spec, specifically made for the Elise (µ=0.44) Dust:High, Pad Wear:Very Low, Rotor Wear:Low, Noise:High, Max Temp: 980C (1800F)
• RC6 is medium (µ=0.50) Dust:High, Pad Wear:Moderate, Rotor Wear:Moderate, Noise:High, Max Temp: 980C (1800F)
• RC8 (*) is high (µ=0.6) Dusting:High, Pad Wear:Moderate, Rotor Wear: Moderate, Noise: High, Max Temp: 980C (1800F)

(*) RC8 has a high friction index compared to other pads. To use RC8 on front brakes of a light car like the Elise would make the car lock up quickly and could be tricky. Currently RC8 is available as a rear pad only and is used as a relatively cheap way to shift the brake balance of the car further to the rear.

(**) RC6Es is a specific compound which is formulated for and during the time LOT was doing the Dubai and Barcelona 24hr races. The friction level is slightly below RC6 but the compound is designed to last longer at constant (high) temperature levels. This pad is not suited for road use as it will wear discs and pads very quickly when cold. Only at the operating temperature the wear factory will become very low which means you'd be able to squeeze 24hrs of racing out of one set of pads.

The RC6Es compound is exclusive to elise-shop.com

It is recommended not to mix CL Brakes pads with organic pads on the car. The advantage of sintered pads is they offer their highest friction level directly from first application of the brakes where organic pads have to be warmed up to make them reach their desired friction level. When you mix sintered with organic on the same car the brake balance would constantly shift while warming up the organic pads.

Manufacturer Website

elise-shop.com are official CL Brakes distributor for Lotus applications

UK Distributor

Dedicated CL Brakes Shop

For Elise specific pads:

• Front pad type code: 4060
• Rear pad type code: 4115

Lotus has used two versions of the AP 4-pot calipers where one version came with thicker pads. When CL-Brakes introduced the 4-pot pads, they were designed for the early calipers which meant you'd have to grind 1mm of material away to be able to use them on the new calipers. Nowadays, this problem is resolved.

With standard calipers they are a straight fit but you MUST fit the small square anti rattle rubber buffers directly to the caliper or suffer very annoying rattling from the n/s/f disc.

These pads give a very consistent pedal feel and show little or no variation in retardation if temperatures go up. Fading because of pad material breakdown is virtually impossible as sintered material does not break down until >1100C and by that time your brake fluid will have started to boil.

See the following thread for some concerns:

SELOC Chat

CarboTech

1521

The Carbotech™ 1521™ is our high performance street compound. The 1521™ compound is known for its release and modulation, along with unmatched rotor friendliness. 1521™ is also a very low dusting and low noise compound with an excellent initial bite. This compound's excellent linear torque production provides incredible braking force without ABS intervention. Carbotech™ 1521™ operating range starts out at ambient and goes up to 800°F (426°C+). 1521™ is suitable for ALL street cars, perfect for your tow vehicle or fleet vehicle. Carbotech™ 1521™ is NOT recommended for ANY track use.

AX6

The AX6™ is specifically engineered for Autocross applications. A high torque brake compound delivering reliable and consistent performance over a very wide operating temperature range of 50°F to 1000°F + (10°C to 537°C+). The advanced compound matrix provides an excellent initial bite, high coefficient of friction at lower temperatures along with very progressive brake modulation and release characteristics. Many drivers use the AX6™ for street driving as well, even though Carbotech™ doesn't recommend street driving with AX6™ due to possible elevated levels of dust and noise. AX6™ is NOT recommended as a race compound in most applications.

XP8

A high torque brake compound with a wide operating temperature range of 200°F-1250°F+ (93°C to 676°C+). Carbotech™ XP8™ is the first of our racing compounds. Good initial bite at race temperatures, high coefficient of friction, excellent modulation and release characteristics. Extremely high fade resistance and very rotor friendly. Perfect for track day use with any tire and can still be driven safely to and from the track. Carbotech™ does NOT recommended XP8™ as a daily driven street pad due to elevated levels of dust and noise. Carbotech™ XP8™ is a great compound on the front & rear of most open wheel and sports racers.
Friction Coefficient: .58 to .60
Material: Ceramic
Dust: Moderate to High
Pad Wear: "Longer brake pad and rotor life"
Rotor Wear: "Longer brake pad and rotor life"
Noise: High
Max Temp: 730C (1350F)

XP10

When Carbotech™ unleashed the XP10™ to the general public it immediately gathered multiple regional, divisional, and national championships. The XP10™ has a very strong initial bite with a coefficient of friction and rotor friendliness unmatched in the industry. Fade resistance is in excess of 1475°F (801°C). XP10™ still maintains the highly praised release, excellent modulation and rotor friendliness that have made all Carbotech™ compounds so successful. Carbotech™ XP10™ is not recommended as a daily-driven street pad due to possible elevated levels of dust and noise.
Coefficient of Friction: .63 to .65
Material: Ceramic
Dust: Moderate to High
Pad Wear: "Longer brake pad and rotor life"
Rotor Wear: "Longer brake pad and rotor life"
Noise: High
Max Temp: 925C (1700F)

XP12

Another highly successful XP™ series compound with an excellent initial bite, torque and fade resistance over and above the XP10™ compound. XP12™ has temperature range of 250°F to 1850°F+ (121°C to 1010°C+). The XP12™ has that excellent Carbotech™ release and modulation that has made all other Carbotech™ compounds so successful. The XP12™ is more rotor aggressive than XP10™, but compared to the competition the XP12™ is still very rotor friendly. XP12™ is NOT recommended for use as a daily driven street pad due to possible elevated levels of dust and noise.
Coefficient of Friction: .65 to .67
Material: Ceramic
Dust: Moderate to High
Pad Wear: "Longer brake pad and rotor life"
Rotor Wear: "Longer brake pad and rotor life"
Noise: High
Max Temp: 1093C (2000F)

XP20

The latest iteration of the highly successful XP™ series of compounds. XP20™ is a step up from the highly successful XP16™ compound. With an extremely aggressive initial bite, linear torque curve and excellent fade resistance the XP20™ is another major step in progression of the highly successful XP™ series line of compounds from Carbotech™. XP20™ has a temperature range of 275°F to 2000°F+ (135°C to 1093°C+). Carbotech™ XP20™ maintains our tradition of having the outstanding release and modulation that has made all other Carbotech™ compounds so successful. Carbotech™ XP20™ is NOT recommended for use as a daily driven street pad due to possible elevated levels of dust and noise.

XP24

XP24™ is the pinnacle compound of the extremely successful XP™ Series of compounds engineered by Carbotech™. This compound is based on the same fundamentals that exist in all other Carbotech™ formulations. XP24™ has even more initial bite, more overall bite, and more torque along with the most linear torque curve we have ever offered. The thermal characteristics are of the highest Carbotech™ offers along with one of the highest coefficient of friction ratings offered by anyone in the braking industry. This compound is the longest wearing compound Carbotech™ offers as it was originally engineered for endurance applications at the highest pro racing levels. This revolutionary new compound has been extremely successful with open wheel, closed wheel, sprint and endurance applications. XP24™ has a temperature range of 400°F to 2000°F+ (204°C to 1093°C+). Carbotech™ XP24™ is NOT recommended for use as a daily driven street pad due to possible elevated levels of dust and noise along with the necessary heat required to work properly.

RP2

The RP2™ compound was engineered for endurance racing based on our highly successful XP™ Series formulations. RP2™ has strong initial bite, a little less modulation than our XP12™, but still maintains the rotor friendliness of our XP™ series compounds. RP2™ has great fade resistance with a temperature range of 250°F to 1450°F+ (121°C to 787°C). RP2™ is as rotor friendly as our XP™ series compounds. Carbotech™ RP2™ is NOT recommended for use as a daily driven street pad due to possible elevated levels of dust and noise.

CarboTech website CarboTech website direct link to Lotus pads OAKOS Automotive Brakes Hangar 111 Brake Bits 5X racing brake pads Forged

EBC

EBC Manufacturer Website

We fit 100's of EBC Greens & have had no reported failures or catching fire. However, with any pads it is very important to bed them in properly & we supply a hanger on every car that goes out explaining this. Edited by Sinclaire 20/05/09

EBC brake pad range temperature overview

• Ultimax/Blackstuff: no information found on use with Lotus. They are cheap, have the lowest temperature capacity and surely won't stand up to track use. Nominal friction coefficient 0.46

• Green: Not recommended for track use but comparable with OEM pads for both stopping power and wear. Nominal friction coefficient 0.55

Coefficient of Friction: .55(average) >Varies dramatically< Material: aramid fibre Dust: Moderate Pad Wear: Moderate Rotor Wear: Moderate Noise: ? Max Temp: 1100 F

• Redstuff: low dust, high temp pad. Designed for large vehicles or high performance vehicles. Average friction coefficient 0.5

Coefficient of Friction: .5(average) Material: Kevlar® fibre based brake compound enhanced with ceramic particles Dust: Low Pad Wear: Moderate Rotor Wear: Noise: ? Max Temp: 1380 F

• Yellow: New compound getting a good write-up for track use, possible alternative to Pagids at half the price. Cold friction 0.5 ; 550C(1000F)-0.31 ; 800C(1440F)-0.21 ; Average friction coefficient 0.5

Coefficient of Friction: .5 cold, decrease with heat Material: Kevlar® fibre based brake compound enhanced with ceramic particles Dust: High Pad Wear: Moderate Rotor Wear: Noise: ? Max Temp: 1440(coefficient of friction at .21 at this temp)

• Bluestuff NDX: NDX is for street use. Non-NXD is an endurance race pad (not street legal). Cold friction 0.75 ; 550C(1000F)-0.45 ; 800C(1440F)-0.42

• Orangestuff: New pad. Track use only (not street legal). Designed to slow down car and not stop it. Cold friction 0.5 ; 550C(1000F)-0.6 ; 800C(1440F)-0.63

One of the [comments] about EBC from forum from a user (Simon S) that has used a lot of brake pads:
EBC *anything* are just shite cheap crap, Greens are IMHO dangerous for anything other than light road use, Reds are not much better, and don't work well when pushed hard (as in overheat and break up), Yellows are rock hard and just do not offer the same level of retardation and pedal feel the OEM pads to when push come to shove... they also crumble when really pushed (and I had them actually catch fire!).

Ferodo

Ferodo Manufacturer Website

DS2500 - H compound

Close in performance to a CL5 or Pagid42. None of the self destruct problems of the CL and better feel from cold than the pagids and dont go wooden in feel when part worn. Good for dust and no squeal either. Common replacement pad in mainland Europe. Consistent coefficient of friction (0,42) at all temperatures.

DS3000

Race pad (not suitable for the road). Very grabby (high initial bite like it says on Ferodo website), no pedal feel, non-linear (unvarying torque output). Very High coefficient of friction (0,54) at all speeds and temperatures. There are several flavours of DS3000 pad: DS3000-R,DS3000-E,DS3000plus-M

Additional brake pads from Ferodo. Not available for Elise owners: DS4003, DS1.11, DS2.11 (source: http://www.compfriction.com.au/brake_pads/ferodo_racing.php)

Hawk

Hawk Manufacturer Website
According to their catalogue they only produce brake pads/discs for Lotus Elise 2005 (need more info: is this pad compatible with more years?)
User information required
Code reference:

• HB180x.560 Front brake pads
• B278x.465 Rear brake pads

Instead of 'x' fill in compound code: F=High Performance Street(HPS) Z=Performance Ceramic N=HP Plus

DTC-70

Race pad. Compound code U: 400-1600°F; 204-871°C. Extremely high torque with aggressive controllable initial bite. Superior release and torque control characteristics. Brake pads designed for cars with high deceleration rates with or without down force.

DTC-30

Race pad. Compound code W: 100-1200°F; 38-649°C. Brake pads designed Specifically for Dirt Circle Track applications. Uniquely controllable torque with smooth consistent feel and bite. Superior Release and torque control characteristics.

HT-10

Race pad. Compound code S: 300-1300°F; 149-871°C. Intermediate to high torque with a smooth initial bite. Very consistent pedal feel. Excellent modulation and release characteristics. Higher Torque than Blue 9012.

Blue 9012

Race pad. Compound code E: 250-1000°F; 121-538°C. Medium/High torque and temperature compound with excellent brake modulation. #1 selling brake pad material for SCCA.

HP Plus

Race/Street pad. Compound code N. Extremely high coefficient of friction makes HP Plus the perfect upgrade over stock for high performance streetcars used in autocross competition or that experience repetitive, heavy braking.

Buy direct from Hawk: http://www.hawkpadsdirect.com/
Direct link to Hawk catalogue: http://www.hawkperformance.com/docs/catalog-current.pdf

Hawk brake pad temperature friction overview

Mintex

Mintex Manufacturer Website

1144

Excellent value for fast road and occasional track. Quick to bed in and work well from cold. Good pad life and not particularly abrasive on disks, although can be a bit dusty. Some fade experienced after pro-longed track use. Squeal can be a problem when the pads are hot, but a hefty dollop of coppaslip on the back of the pads should help.

Can overheat on tracks that need heavy braking and not much opportunity for cooling (e.g. Brands Indy), leading to a "gravelly" feel after a few laps.

Mintex variations

Be aware that there has been some confusion over which pads are 1144's. The part number for Mintex Pads for the Elise are MDB1890 and MDB1891 (Front and Rear), there are then compound types of which 1144 is one. These are the variations;

1109 - Standard Road Use - Not suitable for the track - These are normally found in motorfactors or ebay for £25 per axel and sometimes mis-sold as 1144's.

1144 - Fast Road / Normal Track Use - Cira £60 per axel, will be marked C-Type on the box.

1155 - Hard Track use only - harder compound and will lose out on feel and progression

The code will be on the back of the pad.

OMP

Road&Sport

OT/7951 Front pads
OT/7954 Rear pads
http://www.ompracing.it/prodotti.html?categorycode=GPASTIGLIE1&changelanguage=en

OMP Road&Sport brake pads have been developed to offer excellent performance in fast road use.

• Excellent stability of the friction coefficient, even at the highest temperature (see graph).
• This compound is the result of 30 years experience in rallies and track racers.
• For the new car models manufactured from 10/1999 the pads are homologated according to R-90 rules.

Racing

OT/6951 Front pads
OT/6952 Rear pads

http://www.ompracing.it/prodotti.html?categorycode=GPASTIGLIE&changelanguage=en

971C RACING COMPOUND OMP 971C range of brake pads is made from a new friction material, asbestos free, having following characteristics:

• COMPOSITION: thermosetting resins with the addition of special carbon materials.
• FRICTION COEFFICIENT: very high (0.48).
• FRICTION STABILITY: uniform also during varying of the temperature in a field between 100 and 800° C (see graph).
• ANTI-FADING PROPERTIES: excellent
• MECHANICAL RESISTANCE: very high also thanks to the special structure formed by the substances present in the compound.
• TOP LEVEL PERFORMANCES in professional use (Rally, Group N).

Pads have good initial bite from cold and cope well with track use.

Could do with a little more feedback under hard braking, but don't show any signs of fading.

Like many track-oriented pads they can squeal/screech quite a bit on the street.

Low disc wear.

Pagid

Official Website

Racing Compound Characteristics

RS 4-2 Blue

A medium friction racing compound with good cold friction and fading resistance up to 500°C ( 930°F).

• Work well from cold.
• Under very hard use they will fade before the RS14 compound.
• less prone to squeal than RS14's

Friction Coefficient: .4-.46 (cold-max)
Material: Carbon
Dust: ?
Pad Wear: Good
Rotor Wear: Good
Noise: Little to none
Max Temp: 500C (940F)

Summary, A good compromise for both Road and Track usage. Can be noisy with some disc combo's.

Fronts are lasting around 10 hard track days (20 hours) rears are lasting 40 track hard days (80 hours).

RS 14 Black

This is a medium high friction value ceramic type compound with very good modulation, high fade resistance, low heat conductivity, and a good wear rate up to a temperature of 650°C (1.200°F).

• If used as a road pad they can eat discs, however when at track temperature the wear ratio will be higher in the pad providing less wear of the disk.
• Not as effective from cold as the RS 4-2 compound.
• Very track orientated pad so whilst safe to use on the road a driver with a road only intention may well be better to look at a different compound.

Coefficient of Friction: .44-.54 (cold-max)
Material: Carbon Ceramic
Dust: ?
Pad Wear: "RS14, while showing a reduction in pad wear, particularly at high temperatures...."
Rotor Wear: Good(on track, otherwise eats rotors)
Noise: Squeal on street
Max Temp: 800C (1472F)

These pads can generate a lot of squeal if not used in anger on a regular basis, so while highly rated for track work, these pads are perhaps too compromised for a road car. Incompatible with a lot of discs so check compatibility before buying.

RS 15 Grey

Very high torque compound. It combines a 20% higher friction value than the RS14 with a slightly increased pad wear. Needs finesse to avoid over braking the car. Good release characteristic. Although the RS15 has a very good modulation (controllability) it might have an excessive bite for some applications, as lightweight cars or cars with boosted brakes. Applications: NASCAR, CART, F3, Touring cars, GT cars, WSC, DP, Trans Am and Rally.

Performance Friction

New brake pad available at Eliseparts shop. PFC Manufacturer Website
Below information is from manufacturer and other websites. user information required

81

Low Grip Asphalt and Dirt Track applications Replacing the perennial favourite 80 compound, 81 offers smooth and stable high temperature torque with excellent cold bite for the dirt and asphalt racers that demand race ready friction. 81 compound also offers quicker release for unrivaled modulation with low wear and excellent disc conditioning properties.

01

01 is one of the most popular race compounds in the PFC's arsenal. Slightly higher bite and torque for the first 2/3's of the stop than 83 compound. At the end of the stop, 01 compound has less torque scatter for improved modulation with excellent release and a flat torque curve. 01 compound is very easy on the discs with very low wear, on par with 83 compounds.

08

08 compound is one of PFC newest and have gained immediate favor in Endurance Sportscar, and GT racing due to its performance in applications where smooth initial bite is a must. 08 have a slight friction rise with temperature, excellent release and modulation characteristics, and very low abraded disc wear. In addition to its considerable performance, 08 wears the longest of all PFC pads and easily matches wear of the other competitors with much higher bite.

note: Added section below because this compound is mentioned. 83 Compound is replaced by the 81 compound.

83

Recommended for high grip and severe duty applications. This is the compound that has won more championships since it’s debut than all others. It is a perenniel workhorse in NASCAR. When it comes to slowing down under the most severe conditions, 83 compound has a tremendous history of success. Higher bite than 80 compound, with a rising torque curve to handle the most extreme conditions, along with low wear. 01, 03 and 05 compounds are steadily replacing 83 compound in most applications. It is still available in many applications and remains a viable choice nearly 20 years after being released.

Manufacturer website: http://www.performancefriction.com

SBS

Scandinavian Brake Systems. Not have the feel of Pagid but perfectly decent. High performance low cost.

• SBS Manufacturer Website
• UK SBS distributer is Questmead.

ProTrack

Steady, all round carbon ceramic race compound. Ideal for track days, standard car racing etc.

• Disc temperatures up to 700°C.

Front: 3017.CC.TH14.3
Rear: 3101.CC.

ProRace

The professional Dual Carbon race compound for racing at highest level. Stable and consistent brake performance round after round. Extremely high thermal stability.

• Disc temperatures up to 800°C.

Textar

Textar Manufacturer Website

R90 Road pads

Pure road pads which should be similar (and possibly identical) to Lotus OEM brake pads.

Additional information: OEM are Textar pads with a Brembo/AP logo printed on them. The Textar logo can be seen engraved in the backing plate.

Part numbers:

• Front: 2032306 (EAN-number: 4019722256141)
• Rear: 2041003 (EAN-number: 4019722256172)