I have ceramic brakes on my 997TT currently but the cost of the maintenance has me worried so I have been thinking about converting to regular brakes and I was wondering if anyone has done this before?

I searched but I could find an exact answer on what the conversion entails and what specifically I would have to replace.

 

rotor replacement is expensive but from what I understand is that those rarely need replacing on street driven cars anyways. I would cross that bridge when you come to it and perhaps buy the pads from suncoast and DIY or go to a good independant when replacement time arrives.

 

Street use only: replace pads when at about 50% and the rotors should last length of ownership.

Track use: replace with the iron rotors or other BBK.

Bish

 

+1 Change the pads before they expire, can probably go to 30% instead of 50%. My sources tell me the reason is the pad design. The Ceramic is attached to the back of the pad via a cement compound that if you run the pads too low the cement eats the rotors quick.

 

Thanks. So do I need to make an appointment with my dealer to check pad wear or will an independent be able to tell fairly easily.

 

A good indie should have no problems determining wear life.

 

Perfect, Thanks!

 

wait until you drive for a while and you will never go back to steel. performance is sick. don't worry about price, money is a renewable resource.

 

So, I am starting to track the car finally and will be switching to iron brakes. What can I expect from a cost to convert and how many hours is it usually to switch back should I want to use iron for the track and pccb for the road?

 

Just switch and run the iron setup. No different that standard brake labor, about 4 hours tops book time. Put the ceramic stuff in a box and put it on the shelf, and when you go to sell the car, put the ceramic stuff back on.

 

Thanks! What should I expect it to cost for the new rotors and pads?

 

Get a calliper and check the wear. I got 12k miles on my Turbo and zero wear on the rotors. No track time yet. Here is the spec from new.

Brake disc thickness new (front): 34mm
Brake disc thickness new (rear): 28mm
Pad thickness front/rear new: 12mm

If you want to replace the rotors at some point. There is a replacement - some sort for ceramic/steel mix I think.

 

My ceramics are fine but I want to track my car and they are too expensive as consumables so I will go to iron brakes and sell or box my ceramics.

 

The problem with this is you may cross the bridge and end up ruining your expensive PCCB rotors.

One thing to keep in mind...

Our local track, Sebring, is tougher on brakes than any other track in the country. It eats brakes for breakfast.

 

Porsche Doc.. ae you back in business? it's good to see you around man! Hope things are looking up!