Lotus Elan Central

by **petestubbs** » Thu 19.10.2006, 16:05

After seeing the idea in one of the threads here, I have bought a handbrake extension, one of those sleeve type things that goes over the original handbrake.

But now the gaiter is too short showing several inches of old handbrake lever.

Can anyone suggest where I can replace the existing gaiter and some tips as to how to fit it, ie. how the old gaiter comes off.

Many thanks in advance.

Pete.

by **Paul.P** » Thu 19.10.2006, 16:50

The old gaitor is held in the console by a metal springy piece, that is sowed in the end of the gaitor. To remove you need to carefully spring it out with a screwdriver from the console. Hope that makes some sense ?.
As to a new one, well Demon-Tweaks sell lots of gaitors, whether they will fit is another matter ?, i had lotus make mine up to fit the new handle.

by **petestubbs** » Fri 20.10.2006, 10:58

Thanks Paul,

I assume it's the same springy type thing that holds the gear stick gaiter in place? I found that one but the handbrake seemed more secure.

Thanks for your help.

Pete.

by **Elanlover** » Fri 20.10.2006, 12:54

petestubbs wrote:Thanks Paul,

I assume it's the same springy type thing that holds the gear stick gaiter in place? I found that one but the handbrake seemed more secure.

Thanks for your help.

Pete.

When I had the center console off (while doing the AB gear cable upgrade) I found the gaiter around the gear shift to be easy to remove. The one around the hand brake wouldn't budge. When I removed the console I could see that, while it too had the retaining "wire" like the shifter, the gaiter for the handbrake was in much tighter and couldn't be removed from the outside.

I wonder if the shifter and handbrake gaiters are both hard to get off the first time but easier once removed? Someone may have popped the shifter one off in the past but not the handbrake one. Anyway, it almost seemed glued in because it was in so tight.

by **Paul.P** » Fri 20.10.2006, 16:32

Agreed Elanlover, 1st time its very tight, from then on it gets easier !

by **petestubbs** » Wed 01.11.2006, 18:29

Thanks for your assistance on this one.

I managed to get both gaiters off and used them as a template to make larger ones.

Cut these out of yellow leather (found a ladies handbag in the exact colour) so both gaiters now match the car!

Pete

by **Paul.P** » Wed 01.11.2006, 18:41

Nice one Pete, knew ladies handbags were useful for something ?, any chance of a pic or two ?

by **petestubbs** » Thu 02.11.2006, 21:59

Certainly!

2 X handbags at £4 each - just a little cheaper than Lotus would have charged, me thinks!

by **Elanlover** » Thu 02.11.2006, 22:24

Paul.P wrote:Agreed Elanlover, 1st time its very tight, from then on it gets easier !

Were we talking about gaiters or something else???? :wink:

by **Paul.P** » Thu 02.11.2006, 22:55

Elanlover wrote:
Paul.P wrote:Agreed Elanlover, 1st time its very tight, from then on it gets easier !

Were we talking about gaiters or something else????

Took a while, didn't it ?

by **Doug** » Thu 02.11.2006, 23:38

hmmm . . . ladies handbags and he's a sewing expert . . .

good work!

don't be surprised if you get requests from others to make one for them too :-D

Website · by **theelanman** » Fri 03.11.2006, 02:37

handbags!!!!!
were they dawns and did you have 2 of them....
duelin bangos spring to mind....
:lol:

by **dermotbell** » Sat 04.11.2006, 23:25

Great results, just disapointed my interior is all grey. Too many other jobs to go for the expense of upgrading my seats to allow me to do the gaitor.

by **Luke - the elanimal** » Tue 17.07.2007, 01:38

petestubbs wrote:Certainly!

2 X handbags at £4 each - just a little cheaper than Lotus would have charged, me thinks!

this looks really good!.....i have the same yellow/black interior and i'm just starting to look into smartening up the interior.

nice job! :smt038

by **petestubbs** » Tue 17.07.2007, 07:33

Good luck!

Pete.

by **petestubbs** » Tue 17.07.2007, 18:25

Luke,

If your interior is the same colour as mine, I bought the handbags at primarks at £4 each - if that helps

Pete

Website · by **theelanman** » Tue 17.07.2007, 19:42

and what kinda funny looks did you get..... :gray:

:-D

by **petestubbs** » Tue 17.07.2007, 20:40

I'm not that stupid...............

............I got the wife to buy them :lol:

by **Luke - the elanimal** » Wed 18.07.2007, 00:26

theelanman wrote:and what kinda funny looks did you get..... :gray:

yeah i might try ebay if i go down that route lol.....i'll get me mum to sew them lol. :smt033

by **jecuk** » Wed 04.06.2008, 23:34

Just to clarify on this, the replace the gaitors, does the centre console have to come out?

Lotus Elan Central

Handbrake Gaiter

Handbrake Gaiter

Who is online