Footbrake; Anti-Lock Brake System - Lotus ELISE 2007 Owner's Handbook Manual

Footbrake

Ventilated disc brakes are fitted to all four wheels of the Elise/
Exige. These are operated by separate front and rear hydraulic
circuits, supplied from a tandem master cylinder with vacuum
servo. Anti-lock control is provided by a microprocessor based
electro-hydraulic unit, integrated into the base braking system.
The braking system is designed to provide good pedal
feedback, with efficient disc cooling to inhibit brake fade. With
a new car, or new brake system components, maximum brak-
ing efficiency will be achieved if, for the first few hundred miles,
needless heavy braking is avoided. Allow the brake pads and
discs to 'bed in' fully before using the brakes to their full potential.
Pedal effort will reduce as the brakes are bedded in, and as they
are warmed from cold to normal working temperature. Note that
the hard grade pad material may give rise to a certain amount
of brake noise under some conditions; such noise is not harmful
and does not affect the life or efficiency of the brakes.
WARNING:
• After driving through a ford, or a flooded road, some loss
of braking response may be experienced until the brakes
have dried out. As soon as it is safe to do so after such
an encounter, apply the brakes until normal operation
is restored. Failure to do so may result in an accident in
which you or others may be killed or seriously injured.
• The brake assistance servo uses vacuum supplied from
the engine intake plenum, such that assistance is avail
able only when the engine is running. Never coast down
hill with the engine stopped. If this situation accidently
arises, avoid repeated application of the brakes, or the
stored vacuum supply will be rapidly used up. Greater
pedal pressures will be required. This may adversely
affect performance of the brakes which may result in an
accident in which you or others may be killed or seriously
injured.

Anti-lock Brake System

The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) is used to optimise brake
performance in extreme conditions and reduce the potential
for any wheel to lock up. Under most conditions, the maximum
braking force is provided by a wheel which is rotating at about
90% of road speed. Apart from the likelihood of increasing the
stopping distance, a locked wheel provides little or no steering
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