Smoking rear brakes

[Flying kiwi]

My rear brakes are smoking [Not B&H], The car is only 7 months old, The brakes were smoking after a track day [the first & only one to date], What can i do to resolve this problem? Appart from not brake!

The car is an R400.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

Kiwi

[phelpsa]

Don't drive it, if you don't go you won't have to stop 😬 😬

 

Not in a very helpful mood today *tongue*

 

Adam

[Mcalvert]

You didn't leave the handbrake on did you?

 

[ahem] a "friend" I know did that and had LOTS of smoke :-)

 

Michael.

[Flying kiwi]

Michael,

 

I wish i had left the handbrake on, but no i hadn`t.

 

Kiwi

[shn7]

Do you know what pads are currently fitted. Consider upgrading them maybe.

 

Steve.

[Bafty Crastard]

Have you tried a Nicotine patch? 😳

 

R300 NUT'errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

 

[Jason Plato]

Check the brakes are not binding first .

 

The rear brakes on a caterham do get very hot as the airflow around that area is low .

 

Also the brake ballance on a std caterham setup is too far rearwards - to the extent that people have actually failed the SVA for the rear brake bias .

 

I would consider up grading the pad material on both the front and rear to Pagid and adding a reduction valve into the rear brake circuit .

 

all this is available from Performance braking on 01600 713117

 

 

 

Lotus 7 Club Speed Champion 2003

South Wales Area Organiser

C7 TOPhere

[stevefoster]

Have you got an infrared temp gun? Check the temps after only a normal drive.

A slightly binding caliper will show up as higher temp.

My NSR caliper has a tendancy to be 'on' more the than OSR due to the handbrake.

To pass an MOT you have to tension up the handbrake adjuster so that its firm.

Try slackening the adjusters right off so and measure again.

 

Even with standard pads they should not smoke. Overheat and get a big crumbly yes.

 

 

Hants (North) and Berkshire Area club site here

My racing info site

here

 

 

 

[Flying kiwi]

Thanks for all replies, Looks like a weekend sorting the car out.

 

Steve Newman, I would have thought that my car was fitted with upgraded brake pads being an R400, Although I couldn`t tell you what they are until i get the wheels off and have a look.

 

Steve Foster, No i don`t have an infared temp gun, You are right though the brakes should not smoke.

 

Bafty crastard 😬 😬

 

Dave jackson, I will check if the brakes are binding when i jack the car up.

 

 

Kiwi.

[Jason Plato]

I have a temp gun you can use - if you come to Llandow trackday on October 3rd

 

The R400's use a Mintex pad , this is a "fast road" pad basically . Std fit to all Caterhams .

 

If you are cooking the brakes then you are clearly driving well , and you would benifit fro the far superior performance of a pad such as Pagid

 

Have a word with John at Performance braking - he is more than familier with caterhams and their brakes and he will look after you .

 

dave

 

Lotus 7 Club Speed Champion 2003

South Wales Area Organiser

C7 TOPhere