Cayman Brakes - Ouch

[guyh]

So 13,000 miles and 6 trackdays. I'm now having my 3rd set of pads and a new set of disks fitted. Technician at OPC Reading (who are great BTW) assures me that there is no sign of abuse, they've just worn. I should expect to replace a set of disks every time I replace pads.

I know the Porsche is heavier and more expensive to run than my previous Lotuses, but didn't expect this.

Is this normal ?

Guy

[Matt Seabrook]

There is no normal when it comes to this sort of thing. It depends so much on how hard you are pushing. The only thing I would say is yes compared to a Lotus things will wear quicker as its about twice the weight.

[guyh]

Matt Seabrook said:

There is no normal when it comes to this sort of thing. It depends so much on how hard you are pushing. The only thing I would say is yes compared to a Lotus things will wear quicker as its about twice the weight.

Yes pushing quite hard and last track was Silverstone which must be pretty heavy on brakes.

Guy

[Trev450]

Sounds as if you need to upgrade to something more competition focused - AP, PF, etc. I can recommend these people: http://www.godspeedbrakes.co.uk/

[chris7676]

Mine would last good 6-9 tracks on one pads (fronts, rears close to twice a long) in my 3.2 Boxster. Mind you I tend to do drive on flowing circuits, which may be the factor...

Interestingly the ones in my previus Elise would last similarly long, except they were no more than half price and probably half braking material, which would roughly make sense.

Edited by chris7676 on Tuesday 31st July 15:24

[guyh]

Trev450 said:

Sounds as if you need to upgrade to something more competition focused - AP, PF, etc. I can recommend these people: http://www.godspeedbrakes.co.uk/

Yes and thanks for this - but of course then you get into the warranty invalidation issue - 18 months to go, guess I'll bite the bullet sometime

guy

[spyderman8]

guyh said:

So 13,000 miles and 6 trackdays. I'm now having my 3rd set of pads and a new set of disks fitted. Technician at OPC Reading (who are great BTW) assures me that there is no sign of abuse, they've just worn.

I've done about 15k miles and maybe a dozen track days on the discs and pads that came with my 986 in 2008 but its only now I've started racing that I've really learned how I should be braking! I started the season on new pads and discs and after five rounds we put new front pads on - but still the same discs.

guyh said:

I should expect to replace a set of disks every time I replace pads.

No, I don't think you should expect that.

[BubblesNW]

[quote=spyderman8I've done about 15k miles and maybe a dozen track days on the discs and pads that came with my 986 in 2008 but its only now I've started racing that I've really learned how I should be braking!
[/quote]

Interesting comment. Would you mind letting the rest of us know your braking technique so we can all reduce our wear rates.

[mrdemon]

Why goto the OPC for pads and disks ?

Try Serbo disks at 1/2 the price and pagid 29's

The pads will last you ages and the disks are only £140

Fit yourself in 1/2 a hour, so does not have to be expensive.

[FrankCayman]

mrdemon said:

Why goto the OPC for pads and disks ?

Try Serbo disks at 1/2 the price and pagid 29's

The pads will last you ages and the disks are only £140

Fit yourself in 1/2 a hour, so does not have to be expensive.

And kiss goodbye to any Porsche warranty...I think....

[guyh]

mrdemon said:

Why goto the OPC for pads and disks ?

Try Serbo disks at 1/2 the price and pagid 29's

The pads will last you ages and the disks are only £140

Fit yourself in 1/2 a hour, so does not have to be expensive.

Potentially invalidates the warranty

[mankey]

guyh said:

Potentially invalidates the warranty

You can drop the Potentially bit. I know it sucks, but that's the way it is.

[jackwood]

If the OPC tell you you need to replace the disks every time you change the pads you need to find another OPC. Disks should be replaced on thickness or condition only.
As long as you use OEM disks and pads you can use an independent or even do the job yourself and retain your warranty. And save yourself a decent amount of cash.

[bull996]

BubblesNW said:

Interesting comment. Would you mind letting the rest of us know your braking technique so we can all reduce our wear rates.

Hard and late.

The less time on the brakes the better. So no half measures as you approach the corner.

[guyh]

jackwood said:

If the OPC tell you you need to replace the disks every time you change the pads you need to find another OPC. Disks should be replaced on thickness or condition only. .

OPC Reading - they didn't replace the disks last time, so its 2 sets of pads to 1 set of disks

Guy

[noneedtolift]

Replacing the discs every time you change pads is uneccessary unless they have cracks extending to the outer rim of the dics or are substantially larger than 1cm. I would say that a set of OE discs should take at east 2-3 pad changes depending on the tracks you got to (at least for 997s, can't comment on Caymans but assume it is the same if not better).

As has been said before you could go for more performace orientated brake materials. Even changing the pads alone will make a noticeable difference. If it is longlivety you are after I can highly recommend both the Performance Friction endurance pads (I believe its 03?) or endless (MA45B). Both seem to last for ever, I would say you get about half the wear rate over the OE pads.

[guyh]

noneedtolift said:

Replacing the discs every time you change pads is uneccessary unless they have cracks extending to the outer rim of the dics or are substantially larger than 1cm. I would say that a set of OE discs should take at east 2-3 pad changes depending on the tracks you got to (at least for 997s, can't comment on Caymans but assume it is the same if not better).

As has been said before you could go for more performace orientated brake materials. Even changing the pads alone will make a noticeable difference. If it is longlivety you are after I can highly recommend both the Performance Friction endurance pads (I believe its 03?) or endless (MA45B). Both seem to last for ever, I would say you get about half the wear rate over the OE pads.

Thinking about changing discs and pads and ignoring the warranty issue - will go to France next year and do 4 track days in a week, standard pads won't survive.

Guy

[guyh]

noneedtolift said:

Replacing the discs every time you change pads is uneccessary unless they have cracks extending to the outer rim of the dics or are substantially larger than 1cm. I would say that a set of OE discs should take at east 2-3 pad changes depending on the tracks you got to (at least for 997s, can't comment on Caymans but assume it is the same if not better).

As has been said before you could go for more performace orientated brake materials. Even changing the pads alone will make a noticeable difference. If it is longlivety you are after I can highly recommend both the Performance Friction endurance pads (I believe its 03?) or endless (MA45B). Both seem to last for ever, I would say you get about half the wear rate over the OE pads.

No cracks

[fioran0]

in my experience its perfectly possible to finish off a set of porsche oem pads from new over a single track day. they do pretty well in terms of fade resistance but they wear extremely quickly. a set of discs being done over 13000miles and 6 track days isnt too bad going either imho.
if you are going to keep doing track days think about running a set of a mild track pad like RS29 for the track day only and replace with the oem pads for regular use. should help keep everything in order that you are concerned about.
also think about more frequent oil changes and an increased maintenance/inspection schedule.

regarding braking late and hard, if you plan on doing this make sure its finished before you turn in.

[Great Pretender]

guyh said:

So 13,000 miles and 6 trackdays. I'm now having my 3rd set of pads and a new set of disks fitted. Technician at OPC Reading (who are great BTW) assures me that there is no sign of abuse, they've just worn. I should expect to replace a set of disks every time I replace pads.

I know the Porsche is heavier and more expensive to run than my previous Lotuses, but didn't expect this.

Is this normal ?

Guy

6 trackdays?

I'd say you did well to get that many out of them.