Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: S2Zetec54 on Sunday,March 12, 2023, 10:14:23 AM
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Hi All,
Been slightly disappointed with the brakes on my Europa recently….would like a smidge more bite…..so ordered a different compound and fitted them today. Haven’t been for a test drive yet so will report back. Ebc greenstuff.
I found the old pads very glazed so I may have my answer anyway and probably have an immediate improvement.
So the question…. The R clips although it good condition seem a little frail…has anyone used safety wire across both pins?
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I haven't had an r-clip fail. There is zero load on them.
Greenstuff pads work well: reasonable bite (too much just promotes front locking) and excellent modulation. BUT, on a long, steep hill with lots of low speed turns, they will fade. It's not the rotors. Just something to keep in mind.
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Hi JB
Thank you very much that’s good to know, makes complete sense and I will tread carefully as I learn the pad’s characteristics
All the best
Andrew
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I found greenstuff pads on my Europa JPS with boosters to have too much bite, and the fronts locked up prematurely.
I went with Mintex 1144 pads and I like them very much. Not too much bite, but just enough.
There aren't many mountains in Florida and I don' race, so cannot comment on fade.
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Mintex 1144 That’s interesting…..I'll keep that in mind. Just done a quick search and I see that 1144 is the compound so I'll use the old pads for the shape and dimensions so I can get a match if I need to with my favourite motorsport supplier
Thanks
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The Mintex part number is mgb533-1144
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+1
While the greenstuff are just fine away from the mountains, I, too, would suggest the Mintex 1144s. They have a higher heat load capacity over the greenstuff. My Europa has no boosters so the greenstuff's initial bite was not an issue.
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Thanks ever so much both of you…..I'll get a set of those as well and experiment with both of them.
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Does Mintex make a compatible rear brake shoe? The Mintex site doesn't mention the Europas, and for the Spitfires and Herold, no brake shoes are listed.
And if Mintex doesn't provide, is there a matching shoe from someone else?
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Not that I know of. I know you can buy friction material and rivet them to the steel part of the shoe. That way the braking can be engineered other than changing hydraulic piston diameters or a balance valve or bar.
I have never riveted friction material for drum brakes.
Off the shelf, there is a cheap set of shoes which everyone seems to stock. I think Lotus Engineering in the uk sells a competition shoe.
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I sent my rear shoes to Porterfield Racing and they relined them in their street lining material.