996 Turbo brake upgrade options
Discussion
What's the current 996tt brake upgrade options ?
I find the standard brakes wooden and without feel, although the brakes do slow the car at high speeds.
I'm looking to change the mc to a TRW PMN166 so more fluid is moved for the same force.
>4 years ago, the most sensible upgrade path was to change to 996 GT3 6 pot calipers, at £600 per side, unfortunately Porsche have increased the price by almost 100% since then.
Are there other sensibly priced, effective options ? Perhaps 6 pot Brembo from Audi/Aston ?
I'd like to use 997t disks all-round so I keep the option of using the OE 18" wheels.
I find the standard brakes wooden and without feel, although the brakes do slow the car at high speeds.
I'm looking to change the mc to a TRW PMN166 so more fluid is moved for the same force.
>4 years ago, the most sensible upgrade path was to change to 996 GT3 6 pot calipers, at £600 per side, unfortunately Porsche have increased the price by almost 100% since then.
Are there other sensibly priced, effective options ? Perhaps 6 pot Brembo from Audi/Aston ?
I'd like to use 997t disks all-round so I keep the option of using the OE 18" wheels.
yep, defo GT3 upgrade is best. i bought a used set from 911uk.com. Keep checking regularly and a set will eventually come up. My 996 turbo had this and was tracked regularly...GT3 brakes with RS29s were very impressive, but given it's weight, the car had to be 'managed' on the UK tracks. On the Ring it was wonderful.
As advised just do the 6GT3/997TT upgrade, 350mm discs / 6 pot fronts, hard lines you won't regret it.. c£2500/3000 job, I'm using OE pads for the road and they are just fine, you can hit them again and again, the pedal is perfect on the cylinders as is for a bit of trailing.. they don't overheat, get noisy and stop stopping like the std 4 pot set up does.., I've moved the tyres on the rims a few times they are that good.., and had to get them re-balanced.. 
palle7688 said:
This is great info, thank you very much.
Have you done this yourself?
Got any pictures?
The 996 Turbo S came with 350mm PCCB discs and 6 piston calipers (as did the 996 GT2) both of which were supplied with 18" turbo hollow spoke wheels from the factory.Have you done this yourself?
Got any pictures?
Fitting 6 piston calipers and 350mm steel or PCCB discs to the front of 996 Turbo inside 18" wheels is a straightforward bolt on conversion that's pretty commonplace, and no need to fit larger wheels at all.
Edit to add images.
Edited by Slippydiff on Wednesday 14th July 22:08
I am ignoring this thread as it's making my wallet itchy
It's also such an interesting topic - from my reading, it appears just whacking on the callipers at the front upsets either the pedal feel or the brake balance, hence I was suspect of doing it, or both - any thoughts from those with it?
It's also such an interesting topic - from my reading, it appears just whacking on the callipers at the front upsets either the pedal feel or the brake balance, hence I was suspect of doing it, or both - any thoughts from those with it?
Thank you so much Slippydiff and StuB, and nebpor.
I have been looking for that answer.
The pictures have convinced me to purchase a kit.
I have been looking for that answer.
The pictures have convinced me to purchase a kit.
Slippydiff said:
The 996 Turbo S came with 350mm PCCB discs and 6 piston calipers (as did the 996 GT2) both of which were supplied with 18" turbo hollow spoke wheels from the factory.
Fitting 6 piston calipers and 350mm steel or PCCB discs to the front of 996 Turbo inside 18" wheels is a straightforward bolt on conversion that's pretty commonplace, and no need to fit larger wheels at all.
Edit to add images.
Edited to add nebpor as he also confirmed they will fit.Fitting 6 piston calipers and 350mm steel or PCCB discs to the front of 996 Turbo inside 18" wheels is a straightforward bolt on conversion that's pretty commonplace, and no need to fit larger wheels at all.
Edit to add images.
Edited by Slippydiff on Wednesday 14th July 22:08
Edited by palle7688 on Thursday 15th July 13:10
nebpor said:
I am ignoring this thread as it's making my wallet itchy
It's also such an interesting topic - from my reading, it appears just whacking on the callipers at the front upsets either the pedal feel or the brake balance, hence I was suspect of doing it, or both - any thoughts from those with it?
Someone seemed to infer earlier in this thread (for reasons I don't understand) that brake pedal travel is increased and thus a problem when fitting the 6 pot calipers and larger discs. I made a point of stating that is NOT the case, there is no increase in travel and the pedal feel remains identical.It's also such an interesting topic - from my reading, it appears just whacking on the callipers at the front upsets either the pedal feel or the brake balance, hence I was suspect of doing it, or both - any thoughts from those with it?
I know an individual who fitted the 6 pots and 350mm discs to the front of a 996 Turbo and did some proper datalogging at an airfield afterwards (because that was their line of business).
What the data revealed was the larger brakes didn't actually stop the car any better than stock brakes from 100-120mph (though note the stock 330mm/4 pot set up needs to be in very rude health (no corrosion on the inner faces of discs, pads that haven't been heat cycled over time to the point they become less efficient and calipers in perfect condition seal wise)) for the first few stops, but thereafter, as the smaller brakes became increasingly heat soaked, the drop off in efficiency and increase in pedal pressure rose rapidly, whilst the 6 pot/350mm brakes kept on performing at the same level as the first stop.
There was no mention of brake imbalance due to the fitment of the larger front brakes IIRC. But if that is a concern, the 350mm one piece rear discs from a 997 Turbo and set of 10mm caliper spacers along with 10mm longer bolts should enable you to fit the larger rear discs whilst utilising the original calipers, and would address any brake bias/balance concerns.
Slippydiff said:
Someone seemed to infer earlier in this thread (for reasons I don't understand) that brake pedal travel is increased and thus a problem when fitting the 6 pot calipers and larger discs. I made a point of stating that is NOT the case, there is no increase in travel and the pedal feel remains identical.
I know an individual who fitted the 6 pots and 350mm discs to the front of a 996 Turbo and did some proper datalogging at an airfield afterwards (because that was their line of business).
What the data revealed was the larger brakes didn't actually stop the car any better than stock brakes from 100-120mph (though note the stock 330mm/4 pot set up needs to be in very rude health (no corrosion on the inner faces of discs, pads that haven't been heat cycled over time to the point they become less efficient and calipers in perfect condition seal wise)) for the first few stops, but thereafter, as the smaller brakes became increasingly heat soaked, the drop off in efficiency and increase in pedal pressure rose rapidly, whilst the 6 pot/350mm brakes kept on performing at the same level as the first stop.
There was no mention of brake imbalance due to the fitment of the larger front brakes IIRC. But if that is a concern, the 350mm one piece rear discs from a 997 Turbo and set of 10mm caliper spacers along with 10mm longer bolts should enable you to fit the larger rear discs whilst utilising the original calipers, and would address any brake bias/balance concerns.
That is very good information.I know an individual who fitted the 6 pots and 350mm discs to the front of a 996 Turbo and did some proper datalogging at an airfield afterwards (because that was their line of business).
What the data revealed was the larger brakes didn't actually stop the car any better than stock brakes from 100-120mph (though note the stock 330mm/4 pot set up needs to be in very rude health (no corrosion on the inner faces of discs, pads that haven't been heat cycled over time to the point they become less efficient and calipers in perfect condition seal wise)) for the first few stops, but thereafter, as the smaller brakes became increasingly heat soaked, the drop off in efficiency and increase in pedal pressure rose rapidly, whilst the 6 pot/350mm brakes kept on performing at the same level as the first stop.
There was no mention of brake imbalance due to the fitment of the larger front brakes IIRC. But if that is a concern, the 350mm one piece rear discs from a 997 Turbo and set of 10mm caliper spacers along with 10mm longer bolts should enable you to fit the larger rear discs whilst utilising the original calipers, and would address any brake bias/balance concerns.
Thank you so much.
The discs mentioned above, are they the steel or PCCB discs?
I will install the kit on my 993turbo for thermal reserve reasons. I have 996 wheels on my car.
If I feel brake balance go forward i can always install either RS calipers on that rear (they have bigger pistons) or buy a bigbrake kit.
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