65 replies to this topic

[Benz]

I have also found a local business - well about 40 mins drive from my home - that does various things with brakes inc refurb.

 

Just had a chat with the owner, and I am dropping my 2 'challenged' rear calipers off with him tomorrow evening.  He has machining equipment and "likes a challenge", so will see what he thinks.

 

If a positive outcome, I will post on here - always good to know where things can get done.

[james.a]

Mine are back with BCS still. Spoke to their people yesterday and in light of the consistent issues we are seeing with them and the feedback I have received from BCS I am wondering if this is in danger of becoming a 'life limiting' issue with the VX similar to the rear clam.

 

Marc's email included this:

 

We have done some research on this type of calipers before with this

issue and our only reason for this issue was poor caliper design for
the handbrake.

 

So if this is the case and ultimately the rear callipers are simply poorly designed from the start, what is the plan b? I see Elise-arts does a bracket but that is to incorporate the current callipers to work as hand brakes which is where the issue lies. 

 

MOT time is approaching and this is a nailed on fail if the handbrake does not release.

[james.a]

Just heard back from BCS. They have finally given up on these callipers and said they cannot be fixed. Have requested them back and refund of my original fee for the refurb.

 

I now urgently need a plan B. Can anyone offer suggestions?

 

I have a spare set of AP racing front that I can mount to the back using he Elise parts bracket does anyone know where I can get a spot hand brake?

 

The saga continues.

[tommobot]

Hmmm, a position I can see becoming more common...Wouldn't you need 4 pots upfront to compensate for the enlarged rears?

[james.a]

I already have these. ex MG TF 4 pots do a very good job, hence having the original fronts going spare.

 

I can find the Elise parts brackets ok, but need to know what parking brake spot brakes re compatible. I agree this is going to become a more common issue in the coming years. 

[Foxy]

Just heard back from BCS. They have finally given up on these calipers and said they cannot be fixed. Have requested them back and refund of my original fee for the refurb.

So all the stories/excuses they gave you were bollocks. 

 

Did we discount SJ Sportscars?

[techieboy]

Hmmm, a position I can see becoming more common.

Why, they're still available brand new if needed.
 

I can find the Elise parts brackets ok, but need to know what parking brake spot brakes re compatible.

There is no provision for spot calipers with the EP brackets. The only 2-pots on the rear plus spot caliper conversion bracket was made by the German guy on the forum. Steffen? In the Group Buy forum somewhere, I guess.

[james.a]

Really useful that Techie, thanks. So something like this wouldn't be mountable on the original hub carrier if the eliseparts bracket was added so I could mount the AP racing fronts on there.

 

https://www.ebay.co....c-/292800227714.

 

I can see they are still available brand new but A: Bloody expensive and B: problematic. 

[Pidgeon]

The place that have mine made all the right noises, I'll recommend (or not) as soon as mine are done.

 

Just two titbits, they remove the recessed screw by a breed of spark erosion (die sinking, I can't remember what he called it?) and they are 3D printing the basket the bearings sit in, that he told me 'often has melted'.

[techieboy]

I can see they are still available brand new but A: Bloody expensive and B: problematic.

A: Can't deny that and B: Agreed, but they're a minimum of 15 years old now, so not exactly a consumable.

All said whilst smugly congratulating himself for buying two brand new ones a few years ago courtesey of Robin's group-buy for what seems like a veritable bargain now.

Here's what the the rear of the Elise Parts setup looks like.



So assuming you bought their 2-pot on the rear adaptor, you'd still need some form of adaptor bracket to pick up from the old Brembo caliper mounts to suit the mounting bolt pattern of the new spot caliper. It would also need to shift the spot caliper further out towards the outer edge of the disc and probably at the same time also move it towards the outside of the car to centre around the disk properly. Maybe throw in a little Y axis movement too, for fun.

It's not anything particularly complex for somebody to machine but does really require the bits in hand to model it and get it in some form of CNC friendly format. May be worth talking to Geary at Elise Parts and seeing if it's something his machinist can do (I'm guessing they'll have run into the same request before, though does beg the question why he doesn't offer the conversion - maybe still has bad memories of the HiSpec rear caliper with integrated handbrake that they used to do many years ago) or maybe somebody like Spitfire/Gaz who thinks in 3 dimensions and metallurgy could come up with something to suit that or another spot caliper.

[techieboy]

Here you go, the luxury solution and direct fit to our cars. Lose the weight of the Brembos, the weight of the "front" AP's, the weight of the handbrake lever/mechanism and even the handbrake cable.



http://www.hispeccal...ectroslide.html

2 pot (or maybe 4 pot - can't tell) with integrated electronic parking brake.

Not even that much of a luxury, given the price of new standard rear calipers, at £770+VAT for the pair.

Though they are HiSpec, so they may flex and they may have no dust seals to prevent wear.

[james.a]

They look the business. Sadly however as I have one working calliper I have elected to buy a single calliper and suck up the £386 cost! Hopefully this will rectify it once and for all.

 

[RC220]

BCS has sent my calipers back.  They re-furbed the LHD side caliper for £106 but couldn't do anything with the RHS caliper.  I have bought a new RHS caliper from EP for £389 (+ VAT).  £500 for both...ouch.

The re-furb work from BCS looks very good.  Won't really know 'til I put car back together. It'll be 8 weeks or so 'til I get there as other bits are out at mo.

Foxy, BCS sent the write-off RHS caliper back stripped down & in pieces. PM me and I will send this to you if you are still interested?

Roy 

[Pidgeon]

Contract Auto Engineering

Wilden Ind Estate

Stourport on Severn

DY13 9JY

 

01299 828117

 

Don't advertise, mainly work for trade, but accept direct orders.  They'll only refurbish yours (don't hold stock) and it took a few weeks, but I have a pair of calipers looking as new, gold anodised, £95 + VAT apiece.

 

Old school engineers, nothing is impossible.

[Pidgeon]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Pidgeon]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[james.a]

They look great fella. 

 

[Ivor]

Hmmm, a position I can see becoming more common.

Why, they're still available brand new if needed.

I can find the Elise parts brackets ok, but need to know what parking brake spot brakes re compatible.

There is no provision for spot calipers with the EP brackets. The only 2-pots on the rear plus spot caliper conversion bracket was made by the German guy on the forum. Steffen? In the Group Buy forum somewhere, I guess.

I have ba set of this that I have not fitted

[james.a]

Hopefully my last post on this issue.

 

After a great deal of emailing for updates, BCS finally agreed to refund half the cost of the refurb as there was one they simply couldn't crack. Ultimately with the cost of mailing I have decided to keep it as some form of elaborate paperweight/garage ornament as the refund wasn't worth the fuss.

 

having gone through this it has left a bit of a sour taste and my observations are:

 

1. if it was clear there was a problem with the calliper I would have preferred to have been told rather than fobbed off with repeated assurances and missed deadlines

2. the process has taken far too long and could have been quickly shortcut

3. There is no way they didn't know there was a broken off tori bit jammed in to the grub screw. this shouldn't have been sent back like this

4. communications around this wasn't as good as I would have hoped. It usually fell to me to seek updates, and delivery times were repeatdly promised and missed.

 

The good people at Orbit in Wellingborough were superb, patient and as a result of their work on this I can honestly say my car is as hooked up and planted better than it has ever been and stops as well as it goes!

[Rosssco]

I have also found a local business - well about 40 mins drive from my home - that does various things with brakes inc refurb.
 
Just had a chat with the owner, and I am dropping my 2 'challenged' rear calipers off with him tomorrow evening.  He has machining equipment and "likes a challenge", so will see what he thinks.
 
If a positive outcome, I will post on here - always good to know where things can get done.

 
How did you get on with this Scott?