OK -
I know it's been brought up a million times, but I'm specing my car in the next day or so for Nov delivery, and am torn on whether or not to order PCCB. I'm going to track it in DE's 30+ days a year. From all the posts I've read it seams the major drawback (obviously) is the cost of replacement rotors. Just wondering what the true replacement cost is. I hear people quoting 4-6k per corner for them. Just browsing the web, I've seen dealers selling the complete conversion kit (calipers and rotors) for about 13-15k. It would be cheaper just to buy the conversion kit for the rotors, and dump the calipers on ebay. Any insight?

 

Most of the crack rotors problem were from GEN 1 PCCB. Didn't heard a lot of complain with newer version.

 

ray is correct...most were gen1 so you should be fine...

 

Not really worried about cracking. More the wear on them from the track use. I've seen such mixed posted about it...with many people switching to cup rotors after the ceramics wear out. So I expect to have to replace them (hopefully after 2 seasons, not one), so trying to figure out the true replacement cost of the rotors. I've replaced the rotors and pads myself on my turbo, so i'm just tryin' to figure best pricing on the actual rotors themselves.

 

How do you tell the Gen1's from the Gen2's?

 

Well chickened out on the PCCB brakes on GT3 order today. The replacement costs worried me. Called the parts department where I ordered it...$5500 each. Talked to parts guy for a while about them, and he said on track they wont last that long. Seemed silly to have to spend 20k+ in next 18-24 months. I'll put up with a bit of brake fade and a few extra pounds at each wheel (I'm not that advanced where the money made sense). I was having flashbacks of going into a gravel pit and tearing one up...better a few hundred than a few thousand to fix

 

LoneRegister,
Here's a photo to show the main difference. The hole orientation is the main indicator.

 

Gen 2 does not look correct, despite the hole pattern. Both pics show are grayish disk, which is Gen 1. Gen 2 looks a lot more like normal steel in color, but is clearly not steel with close inspection. The color is the same as Ferrari carbon composite brakes, which are not gray.

PCCBs cost a lot more, but are expected to last a lot longer too. Here is a link to a good article. PCCBs are not for every person or wallet.

http://www.europeancarweb.com/tech/0...eramic_brakes/

 

Shhh, but the photo I used for the Gen. 2 is directly from the 997 GT3 section of the Porsche site. Probably correct, wouldn't you think? The Gen. 1 is a shot from my 996 GT3.

 

The article I provided also shows a Gen 1 brake. My keychain has a Gen 1 brake. I suspect PCNA does not want to admit the flaws in Gen 1 (at least flaws I have heard about on this site, such as cracking). I have Gen 2 PCCBs on my club coupe and like them a lot. I can't say they work better than steel brakes (big reds), because my last 997 had black calipers (which worked just fine). I have not tracked my car, yet.

I think the added cost was worthwhile because I don't get blackish-grayish brake dust all over my wheels -- ever! So I paid $8k for looks and convenience? Maybe.

 

I should call 997 GT3 PCCB rotors Gen 2.1, basically the same construction as the Gen 2 rotors, but back to the tested cross drilled pattern.

With track use rotors will crack whether they're made of steel or Ceramic. Brake rotors are consumable items. Replacement cost is pretty high for PCCB.

Quite a few Porsche SuperCup team members have made comments about the PCCB rotors lasting two weekends, compared to one weekend for the steel brakes.

For a car that goes to the track 4 days a year, and taking care of inspecting the pads and running good brake fluid (SRF), the PCCB might tolerate the abuse. I said they might, because it really depends on driving style, and the car itself.

A car running slicks will stress brakes much more than a car running street tires. A driver that hits the ABS from very high speeds sections, will consume the PCCB sooner. An experienced and fast driver typically causes more stress on the brakes.

On a given track day, I've seen other GT3 on my track session lapping 10-20 secs behind the fast drivers pace. I doubt those driver would have problems with Gen I PCCB.

 

10 to 20 seconds per lap slower?

I'll bet they wouldn't need to even touch the brakes. Just use engine braking

 

I'm usually the one going 10-20 sec faster per lap And go from full throttle to verge of ABS at the end of the straights. Needless to say I decided to order my GT3 with Steels vs PCCB because of the replacement costs. Although man I bet they would be awesome on the track!!!...just don't want to spend 15% of the cars value replacing them after one season.

 

You shouldnt have chickened out. Even with Gen I and the right pads
(the fronts off the CGT thanks to 4Curves) you would have got thousands and thousands of miles on your rotors. I have no problems with mine and love the fact I have them
AND the yellow calipers (they look absolutely new -7 track days in the desert heat)
Some early trackers had problems. I havent heard of anythings but myths since then in the mid 04 time frame. I have heard zero problems with the Gen II (outside of rumors). The early problems with the stock pads were real problems though. 4Curves and his wife have tracked his GT3 more than anyone I know and with those CGT fronts she keeps going and going
(he has a Cup car now and his wife tracks the GT3)