Advice needed on GT3 brake problem
Discussion
Gents,
I posted recently regarding the appalling brake squealing coming from my Mk2 GT3. I have had it for 5 weeks having purchased it from an OPC.
I took it to another more local to me OPC today to have it road tested and the opinion was that the rear discs are corroded and need changing along with the pads. They told me it was not a warranty item (that I already knew) and pointed out to me that the supplying OPC should change them out as they were clearly in this condition at sale. I have only done 500 miles.
The OPC changed the front discs and pads at sale to me and assured me that the rears were ok, the original salesman is away from the office at present and the workshop manager from the local OPC has said that the supplying OPC/salesperson will call me.
I have asked the local OPC for a workshop invoice detailing the fault and the date/mileage etc.
Do you have any tips for my eventual discussion with the supplying OPC, hopefully all will go amicably but somehow the sceptic in me says otherwise.
TIA
>> Edited by trig on Tuesday 22 November 22:01
I posted recently regarding the appalling brake squealing coming from my Mk2 GT3. I have had it for 5 weeks having purchased it from an OPC.
I took it to another more local to me OPC today to have it road tested and the opinion was that the rear discs are corroded and need changing along with the pads. They told me it was not a warranty item (that I already knew) and pointed out to me that the supplying OPC should change them out as they were clearly in this condition at sale. I have only done 500 miles.
The OPC changed the front discs and pads at sale to me and assured me that the rears were ok, the original salesman is away from the office at present and the workshop manager from the local OPC has said that the supplying OPC/salesperson will call me.
I have asked the local OPC for a workshop invoice detailing the fault and the date/mileage etc.
Do you have any tips for my eventual discussion with the supplying OPC, hopefully all will go amicably but somehow the sceptic in me says otherwise.
TIA
>> Edited by trig on Tuesday 22 November 22:01
chances are...they are ok...
A bit of corrosion will clear off after a good run. Mine always squeal when there is some corrosion, but it doesnt take long for it to disappear..
What you must do to minimise corrosion is to drive the car very soon after washing it to dry your brakes...if you dont the corrosion gets quite bad and can take a few days to disappear.
Dont believe the crap OPCs come out with over discs and pads...they'd get you changeing them every 6 months if they could...
They last A LOT longer than most people realise.
(classic trick is to tell you that your discs are cracking...cracks can actually last on discs for thousands of miles before they actually need replacing...as a rule when they look like they might start joining..then replace them..)
FWIW I got my gt3 18 months ago..have done over 12 tracks days on the same set of discs and 10 days the same set of road pads. My discs will go for another 3 I reckon...pads do need changing.
A bit of corrosion will clear off after a good run. Mine always squeal when there is some corrosion, but it doesnt take long for it to disappear..
What you must do to minimise corrosion is to drive the car very soon after washing it to dry your brakes...if you dont the corrosion gets quite bad and can take a few days to disappear.
Dont believe the crap OPCs come out with over discs and pads...they'd get you changeing them every 6 months if they could...
They last A LOT longer than most people realise.
(classic trick is to tell you that your discs are cracking...cracks can actually last on discs for thousands of miles before they actually need replacing...as a rule when they look like they might start joining..then replace them..)
FWIW I got my gt3 18 months ago..have done over 12 tracks days on the same set of discs and 10 days the same set of road pads. My discs will go for another 3 I reckon...pads do need changing.
Good point in previous reply - superficial cracks don't always mean that you need to replace discs. I'd be very reluctant to trust an OPC's view without independent verification (well worth a phone call to Steve at JZ Machtech - he knows these cars inside out).
Also think about drilling out the holes in the discs (JZM etc. will do this for nominal cost), can make a noticeable difference if the holes are bunged up with pad residue etc.
Also think about drilling out the holes in the discs (JZM etc. will do this for nominal cost), can make a noticeable difference if the holes are bunged up with pad residue etc.
Dan, to be honest they have marking (dull grey) in places, it looks like marking you get when the car has not been moved/used for a while.
peterpeter, I hope so but frankly the squeeling has got worse in 500 miles of driving and the technician commented as to how bad it was. perhaps a skimmimg of the discs will help along with chamfering the pads. Ideally they will replace the discs and pads but I am not the type to go in quoting sale of goods act blah blah unless I have to. I am hoping that they will see a 35 yr old Porsche enthusiast who is on his third 911 having worked his way up to OPC prices/service and that I will always return to where I receive good service. Just ask my wallet and Jonas at JZ.
I just wondered if anyone had any good tactics along my line of thinking and also some on the worst case scenario hard line approach.
peterpeter, I hope so but frankly the squeeling has got worse in 500 miles of driving and the technician commented as to how bad it was. perhaps a skimmimg of the discs will help along with chamfering the pads. Ideally they will replace the discs and pads but I am not the type to go in quoting sale of goods act blah blah unless I have to. I am hoping that they will see a 35 yr old Porsche enthusiast who is on his third 911 having worked his way up to OPC prices/service and that I will always return to where I receive good service. Just ask my wallet and Jonas at JZ.
I just wondered if anyone had any good tactics along my line of thinking and also some on the worst case scenario hard line approach.
shotokan, yes my next port of call will be to pop in and see Steve and Jonas, problem is my wallet starts to sweat when I enter Kings Langley 
the local OPC may be abit hasty in diagnosing new components but frankly some action needs to be taken FOC by the selling OPC because this level of squeeling is not normal, the fronts have a gentle squeal, what I beleive to be normal and then the rears kick in with a different squeal, much more vicious on the ears.
the local OPC may be abit hasty in diagnosing new components but frankly some action needs to be taken FOC by the selling OPC because this level of squeeling is not normal, the fronts have a gentle squeal, what I beleive to be normal and then the rears kick in with a different squeal, much more vicious on the ears.
Sounds like glazed pads....
Whatever it is I would try a few nil cost checks first.....
Bed the brakes in properly, then do it again..... You need to bust the glaze off.
Stick your finger nail on the top edge of the disc. (Oh, forgot.... wait till it's cooled down!). When the blister has healed, if you feel a small lip they are best described as part worn. If it is a large lip then they are nearing their wear limits.
Corrosion is a problem raised often to sell discs, I have seen heavy corrosion on the inside of the bells but my discs don't usually last long enough to get too corroded.
Wash your car - dry your discs!!
Have you checked the anti-squeal shims are in place?? Are you sure they are not a race compound pad, which will squeal??
Whatever it is I would try a few nil cost checks first.....
Bed the brakes in properly, then do it again..... You need to bust the glaze off.
Stick your finger nail on the top edge of the disc. (Oh, forgot.... wait till it's cooled down!). When the blister has healed, if you feel a small lip they are best described as part worn. If it is a large lip then they are nearing their wear limits.
Corrosion is a problem raised often to sell discs, I have seen heavy corrosion on the inside of the bells but my discs don't usually last long enough to get too corroded.
Wash your car - dry your discs!!
Have you checked the anti-squeal shims are in place?? Are you sure they are not a race compound pad, which will squeal??
lol @ wallet sweating...last time I visited Kings Langley (in desperation following a major cock up by the supplying dealer's service partner - resulted in a bent gearbox input shaft and full rebuild requirement) my car was there for a month, and my wallet was completely EVISCERATED...
BUT...I left there with:
1. Sorted gearbox with new synchro rings (no crunching on fast downshifts)
2. Corsas (grippy!)
3. Trackday setup (bye bye understeer)
4. Brake cooling conversion (MUCH less fade)
5. Manthey K400
Oh my...
They are cheaper than OPC's (noticeably), and they actually know what they're talking about. No contest. Speak to Steve or Jonas and they'll give you an honest appraisal of the problem. You can take this back to the OPC, and they'll be less able to indulge in their favoured pastime - talking SH*T - concerning your problem.
BUT...I left there with:
1. Sorted gearbox with new synchro rings (no crunching on fast downshifts)
2. Corsas (grippy!)
3. Trackday setup (bye bye understeer)
4. Brake cooling conversion (MUCH less fade)
5. Manthey K400
Oh my...
They are cheaper than OPC's (noticeably), and they actually know what they're talking about. No contest. Speak to Steve or Jonas and they'll give you an honest appraisal of the problem. You can take this back to the OPC, and they'll be less able to indulge in their favoured pastime - talking SH*T - concerning your problem.
chaps
thanks for the replies, I was hoping for a resolution that didn't cost me time and money, maybe a disc skim and pad chamfer will help but I shouldn't have to do the donkey work here, after all I only bought the car 500 miles ago!!
I have tried busting the glaze off but its the rear pads but as most of the braking goes to the fronts its difficult.
I know the boys at JZ only too well, they have modded my old 964 and 993 and I have probably spent in excess of £20k there over the last 5 years, you cannot get any better than JZ IMHO.
I think I'll pop in there for a second opinion, I want to sort out a geo set-up to fast road anyway and have a chat about other shiny/carbon/nicer sounding things.
Open wallet surgery here we come!
thanks for the replies, I was hoping for a resolution that didn't cost me time and money, maybe a disc skim and pad chamfer will help but I shouldn't have to do the donkey work here, after all I only bought the car 500 miles ago!!
I have tried busting the glaze off but its the rear pads but as most of the braking goes to the fronts its difficult.
I know the boys at JZ only too well, they have modded my old 964 and 993 and I have probably spent in excess of £20k there over the last 5 years, you cannot get any better than JZ IMHO.
I think I'll pop in there for a second opinion, I want to sort out a geo set-up to fast road anyway and have a chat about other shiny/carbon/nicer sounding things.
Open wallet surgery here we come!
Well I spoke with the salesperson at the selling OPC and whilst he is still waiting for the sales manager at Hatfield to call him back he has re-assured me that they will stand by whatever is needed to rectify the problem.
Just what I wanted to hear and frankly why I went to an OPC and paid slightly over the odds for a MK2 GT3. Mind you PEVO's wheel nut problems were worrying me!
I will post a final update including the OPC when it is resolved.
Lets hope that my experience starts to restore some faith in the OPC network?
Just what I wanted to hear and frankly why I went to an OPC and paid slightly over the odds for a MK2 GT3. Mind you PEVO's wheel nut problems were worrying me!
I will post a final update including the OPC when it is resolved.
Lets hope that my experience starts to restore some faith in the OPC network?
Well chaps,
Got my rear discs and pads changed at a local OPC at the selling OPC's cost. I must say that Bournemouth OPC who sold me the car have been excellent and very professional in dealing with my claim.
A big thank you to Jonathan Stevens at Bournemouth OPC.
Faith renewed in OPC's, well independent ones anyway!!
Got my rear discs and pads changed at a local OPC at the selling OPC's cost. I must say that Bournemouth OPC who sold me the car have been excellent and very professional in dealing with my claim.
A big thank you to Jonathan Stevens at Bournemouth OPC.
Faith renewed in OPC's, well independent ones anyway!!
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