QUESTION.
I have looked at the Lotus Marques web site and saw the items I need which is what prompted this email.
The car is a 1968 Lotus Elan S4 which has not been modified.
The car has been fully restored and the clutch tested by clutch experts in Adelaide.
They pronounced it did not need replacement.
I replaced the thrust bearing as a precaution.
The master cylinder and slave cylinder were refurbished, the slave cylinder with a stainless steel liner which was fitted by PBR.
The distance the lever to the clutch moves is 25mm.
The same as on the Lotus Elan Sprint I have and I know the clutch works well on it.
Can you supply the correct replacement clutch kit for my Lotus Elan?
W.M. - Adelaide, Australia
ANSWER.
I have looked at the photograph of the clutch pressure plate that you sent me.
This plate clearly shows the friction pad has been previously machined.
There are arcs from the cutting tool that has re-surfaced the pressure pad.

The pressure pad should have an almost mirror finish.
Looking at the photo there other tell tale signs of wear and oil contamination.
Lotus Marques has facilities here to check clutch clamping pressures.
With a plate presenting like this, there is no way we would install this back in a customers vehicle.
I am sure the clutch experts you took this to would have given you the same advice.
As a matter of interest, Lotus Marques will only deal with world class clutch companies.
All of these companies are based in the UK and are ISO 9000 approved.
One of these companies provides cutting edge clutch design technology and is run by ex-Formual 1 engineers.
I am also intrigued to note you have used all these different businesses to provide parts and services but none of the know anything about Lotus
This results in a fragmented approach to maintaining your Elan where you will not receive appropriate or expert advice
Lotus Marques stocks all of the components shown in the Elan clutch section in our on-line catalogue
Copyright © 2012 Lotus Marques
I have looked at the Lotus Marques web site and saw the items I need which is what prompted this email.
The car is a 1968 Lotus Elan S4 which has not been modified.
The car has been fully restored and the clutch tested by clutch experts in Adelaide.
They pronounced it did not need replacement.
I replaced the thrust bearing as a precaution.
The master cylinder and slave cylinder were refurbished, the slave cylinder with a stainless steel liner which was fitted by PBR.
The distance the lever to the clutch moves is 25mm.
The same as on the Lotus Elan Sprint I have and I know the clutch works well on it.
Can you supply the correct replacement clutch kit for my Lotus Elan?
W.M. - Adelaide, Australia
ANSWER.
I have looked at the photograph of the clutch pressure plate that you sent me.
This plate clearly shows the friction pad has been previously machined.
There are arcs from the cutting tool that has re-surfaced the pressure pad.

The pressure pad should have an almost mirror finish.
Looking at the photo there other tell tale signs of wear and oil contamination.
Lotus Marques has facilities here to check clutch clamping pressures.
With a plate presenting like this, there is no way we would install this back in a customers vehicle.
I am sure the clutch experts you took this to would have given you the same advice.
As a matter of interest, Lotus Marques will only deal with world class clutch companies.
All of these companies are based in the UK and are ISO 9000 approved.
One of these companies provides cutting edge clutch design technology and is run by ex-Formual 1 engineers.
I am also intrigued to note you have used all these different businesses to provide parts and services but none of the know anything about Lotus
This results in a fragmented approach to maintaining your Elan where you will not receive appropriate or expert advice
Lotus Marques stocks all of the components shown in the Elan clutch section in our on-line catalogue
Copyright © 2012 Lotus Marques



