I would say I'm a newbie track guy but I've been very diligent. I'm going on average 3-4 days a month, 6-7 sessions a day, 25 minutes per session. I'm getting 8-12 laps per session in on a ~2min track. I'm tracking my 2012 997.2 Turbo S. And I'm getting faster each time I go, now about 2-3 seconds off my instructor per lap.

I just got back from a 2 day session last weekend. Before I went, my shop inspected my pads and they said they were good to go with over 50% pad left. By the end of the 5th session on my second day, my service brake pads warning came on the dash. I was dumb and thought they would last one more session no problem, so I went out. The rear passenger rotor area proceeded to smoke and catch fire (I couldn't see the fire but only saw smoke, but the corner workers went nuts). It went away after a little bit but the damage was done. Here's a pic upon inspection today.



I wore the pads down to the metal backing plate and it damaged the rotor. It needs to be replaced.

I need to replace it. I looked around just online and OEM Porsche PCCB's looks freakin expensive at about $10000 for a set of rear rotors. My other rear rotor is probably needing replacement soon too... see this pic of that one:



So my question is:
1) Should I stay with Porsche PCCB's or is there an alternative (don't say iron's cuz I want ceramics)? If PCCB's, where is the best place to get it?
2) Are Movit discs any good? I read some reviews and they look good. Should I buy these instead? If yes, should I buy them from Movit or direct from ST? Are they the same?
3) I literally just received my Pagid RSC 3 pads that I planned on using on the stock PCCB's. Can I use these RSC 3 pads on the Movit's if i buy Movit rings? The RSC 3 pad is supposed to be for low fiber content Porsche PCCB's.

Thanks!

Pics of RSC 3's:

 

Thats amazing that the PCCB rotor can be refurbished. BRAVO!

 

Question...are you driving with traction control systems on? If you are, it's your ABS that is prematurely wearing your rear brakes. I would recommend taking PSM off during track days, now that you've got some experience.

As for brakes...if you plan to track regularly, I would switch to standard rotors. The replacement cost will be MUCH less down the road.

 

997 carbons suck. Switch to slotted brembo steels. you wont find any serious track guys using 997 carbons for this reason.

 

+2 Changster. Look into the Steel disc conversion and some good pads.

 

Thank you all for your responses. I think the reason why it caught fire was because the pad wore down so much that brake fluid seeped through and dripped onto the hot rotor. This will be an expensive fix and lesson.

And yes I think I may have to do a steel conversion even though I love the feel of the ceramics.

 

And and yes I did keep PSM on. For sure I can feel the car's system using the rear brakes. I was always a bit hesitant to hit that ESC off button for fear of hitting a wall. My home track has lots of walls and some areas have little run off area. I just need to get better at driving smoother. After I gain more confidence then I'll hit that ESC off.

Thanks again!

 

You paid extra to have ceramic brakes (unless you just wanted yellow calipers). Fix the brakes and do it right....that refurb procedure looks promising and makes sense.

 

I track my car with the steel setup.


I run a 2MI mile track.


I change my PFC08's (pads) every 1/2 year (20 runs.)


Rotors are changed close to a year, 40 runs.


I run with PSM (ECS) off. With this on, brakes burn like hell in the rear. I cant stand it when it kicks on. You still cant bypass with it off though, I can be drifting out of a turn perfectly and come to a complete stop for 2 seconds immediately once it reinitiates itself. This is with the control off.

Basically, understand yourself and your tracking habits or tracking habits to break, while learning your car's setup. I like to push the envelope at times but, I find my best lap times are when I'm confident and in control.


Switch to steel and you can turn off all assistances and pay less for rotors next time around.


Btw, with a rear engine and rear inertia, Porsche did all of this intentionally. You just choose the expensive consumable for track usage.

 

Great advice, thank you. Everyone and their mama is telling me to get steel rotors and I think there's got to be wisdom to that coming from so many track guys. I think that's what I will do. I still need to get a set of rear PCCB's though because if I ever sell the car I can't give them scratched up rotors.

Expensive lesson learned.

I'm never gonna let my pads wear more than 50% before replacing, especially tracking the car so much nowadays.

 

After a couple of trackdays i decided to switch to steel rotors myself. I still have my PCCBs in good shape. 997 PCCBs are not known to handle extensive track duty. Though i would to admit that PCCBs are much better and confidence inspiring that the steels. Also I would advise you to get 2 sets of pads for the coversion, track and street. Unless you like the squeeking sound.

 

Are those the rears? I track hard and run P50 Greens. The rears are the worse. I took off that shield on the back and ran GT3RS brake ducts to help with the cooling. Also the problem is PTV. It adds braking to the rears on turns which smokes the rear discs. You need to disable traction control and use the PIWISS to disable PTV. Also have your calipers discoloured yet? Mine turned brown. I had them repainted twice LOL.

FYI OEM pads started to fade on me after 3-4 laps so that's why I'm running CUP pads. If you want a set let me know I have one with 90% left.

 

Nice. Glad to see another .2 Turbo owner tracking their car hard.

When you disable PTV do you find the car is harder to turn around slow corners like tight hairpins? I have a lot of those at my track. I actually really like the car to help me turn by using the rear brake. But again, I haven't really driven yet with everything turned off so I don't know what that's like. The plan is to turn ESC off starting next time, but drive slower and build up to speed.

 

Harder to turn? Not really...but I run Pirelli Trofeo so everything performance wise is better.

Do you like how it turns more than how bad is smokes and ruins your brakes? That's the question

 

Trofeo R's are like slicks... might as well run cheaper Hoosiers!

But yeah I get ya... will start practicing with everything off and work up to speed.