In theory they should not make a difference in absolute braking. I'd like to see some evidence that they do in fact produce shorter braking distances. I would expect a more grippy pad compound to require less pedal pressure to achieve a given level of braking, thus providing the illusion of faster stops. I cannot however see how grippier brake pads would cause faster stops, once you're at the limit of tire adhesion on all 4 wheels.

 

The point here is what you are using your car for. I don't track my car and use it for daily transportation. The steel brakes on my 997TT are fantastic. My only worry is when I make a sudden stop someone will hit me from behind. Obviously the ceramics are better but unless you need them for more agressive driving the steel brakes are more than adequate.

 

Braking power can be calculated (see old article "Physics of Racing") in theory, expressed as the equivalent of engine horsepower. One advantage that Porsche always has had is that it has a higher multiplicative of braking power versus horsepower than most other cars. Everything else being equal (tires, weight of car, etc) is there a theoretical difference between the steel brakes and ceramic ones (it can be calculated)? A side-by-side comparison would be a better real world test, but harder to control in terms of experimental design, especially since the ceramics seem to fade less after repitative use.

I ordered ceramics against my better judgement, because brake fade is a real problem on extended race days, especially when both when my wife and I are
driving in enduros. I could care less about cleaning off brake dust - my car is not a garage queen - it is made to race.

The dealer told me that the replacement cost for a ceramic rotor was $5,500USD. Ouch!

 

I have to agree that stopping function is primarily a function of the tires in the areas of composition, width and contact patch. This only applies when the brakes are fully capable of locking up the tires. When mags test 60-0 of sports cars most of the time they ignore the weights of the cars, and the various factors of the the tires that are used. You also have to take into consideration that some brakes and pads are better at certain temps than others, so the skimpy mag tests dont prove much. ABS systems also come into play as some will give more when detecting a loss of traction than others, resulting in greater penalty if you start to lose traction. Those test should be which car has the best ABS because with many car today coming with BBK from the factory testing on stock tires is more a test of the ABS than the brakes.

 

Does anyone know what the unsprng weight savings is between the standard brakes and PCCB's?

For the guys who track their cars how important is this next to better fade resistance?

BTW: My 997TT on order has PCCB, so readign this thread is very illuminating!

 

Dont get ceramics unless ur at the track.

 

i read some where that stated around 20lb or 30lb or more... and brake is the most important thing on any tracking events this side of Great Tires... and brake fade just does not happen with PCCB... PERIOD!

Alan

 

It was very cold on the last track day last November. I did not notice any difference in braking at all. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

Isn't the cracking issue related to banging the disc with the wheel? I think we have some sort of guide pin for that, screws into one of the lug holes?
I used to get a few squeaks in the morning on the days following a track day. The squeaks went away with the brake recall.

 

I have seen 44 lb lighter total for the four wheels in Porsche mags.

 

What kind of recall was it?? Were there any recalls on the GT2's do you guys know? Also my brakes squeak like crazy but I have the steel rotors on, I wonder if these are the wrong pads hmm!

 

Carry that thought further, don't get a Porsche unless ur at the track.

 

it's not how fast you stop. it's how quick you accellerate.

 

I think it was a pad recall and only on the first shipments into the US. Mine is a launch car.

 

You dont need ceramics unless your going to be at a track or doing alot of track days. What are you going to be doing with ceramics on the street, late breaking into Target's parking lot? What i am saying is it is a waist of money to have cermaics if you are just going to drive it on the street.