Simple brake upgrade on a 996?

[Bebs]

As discussed on previous threads I picked up a 996 C4 from 911V last week.

Its a great little car to chuck around but I find the brakes a bit wooden. You really need to stand on them hard for anything to happen. I just wondered if anyone had advice on brake upgrades?
I had a similar problem on my 360 and changed to Pagid pads, fitted braided hoses and fresh brake fluid and it transformed the feel of the brakes.

Thanks chaps

[Cardiff]

Interested in this too, test driven a few and thought the same about the standard brakes

[Magic919]

Sounds normal to me. You'll man up over time.

[Bebs]

Magic919 said:

Sounds normal to me. You'll man up over time.

Its not me - its the missus!

[Magic919]

My wife drives one too. The brakes feel so very ineffectual compared to the average modern car. But that does pass and you realise you can use them very well without huge servo assistance.

Mine both ran on standard pads and we adapted. You can try washing the car the day before she drives it. The rust build-up gives them a bit more bite.

[sundayjumper]

I really like the brakes on my 996. They do need a firm shove but you can feel what they're doing. Much nicer than the brakes on wifey's Passat that feel like an on/off switch.

[boxsey]

Bebs said:

Magic919 said:

Sounds normal to me. You'll man up over time.

Its not me - its the missus!

He's right about them sounding normal. Bleed them if there's no recent record of it being done. They might feel a bit firmer then but don't expect a massive difference. It'll take a while for her to appreciate them if she's used to the gentle pedal pressure required for a highly servoed brake set up that is common in other cars.

[davek_964]

When I had new brakes all round (turbo) they did feel noticeably better - but that feeling disappeared within a couple of weeks.

I'm not a big fan of stock brakes - they will stop you very quickly - they just don't feel like they will.

[spyderman8]

Bebs said:

...I find the brakes a bit wooden. You really need to stand on them hard for anything to happen. I just wondered if anyone had advice on brake upgrades?
I had a similar problem on my 360 and changed to Pagid pads, fitted braided hoses and fresh brake fluid and it transformed the feel of the brakes.

If anything, changing the lines and using "better" (race) fluid will make the brakes feel even more "wooden", not less. I think you'll find your brakes are behaving exactly as Porsche brakes should.

If, on the other hand, you want more bite, a change of pad and/or disc might be worth a try. Beware of "race" pads though as they tend to be ineffective when cold.