PCCB's Has anyone had them replaced ?
PCCB's Has anyone had them replaced ?
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BIRMA

Original Poster:

4,270 posts

223 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
I know the debate about for and against PCCB's has been done to death on here but I want to build up some sort of actual figures for the replacement cost and frequency by owners who have had to replace them.
In the future I plan to replace my Boxster which has PCCB's for a 997 Turbo with PCCB's and I am trying to establish pure facts rather than heresay.
If you could just state the mileage, type of use and if you don't mind the cost it would be most helpful.
If I could just repeat please no for and against or my mate down the pub said it cost his mate a fortune answers just cold scary or not scary facts please.

Glenn McMenamin

2,305 posts

267 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
I had PCCB on a 996 Turbo, they lasted the duration of my time with the car, still looked brand and new when I sold it at 36k miles. and was still on original pads too.

As long as you just use the car on road, I'm sure they will last for many years, as they just don't get worked hard enough to worry.

However, I've had 2 997 GT3RS's both came with ceramics, but replaced after a couple hard seasons on track. This shows just what the difference is in terms of wear between road and track.

Now have them on 997 Turbo S, and still like new after 11k miles.

HTH

G.

BIRMA

Original Poster:

4,270 posts

223 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
Glenn McMenamin said:
I had PCCB on a 996 Turbo, they lasted the duration of my time with the car, still looked brand and new when I sold it at 36k miles. and was still on original pads too.

As long as you just use the car on road, I'm sure they will last for many years, as they just don't get worked hard enough to worry.

However, I've had 2 997 GT3RS's both came with ceramics, but replaced after a couple hard seasons on track. This shows just what the difference is in terms of wear between road and track.

Now have them on 997 Turbo S, and still like new after 11k miles.

HTH

G.
Thanks for the reply,
Did you replace the ceramics on the GT3RS or put on steel items? Is it possible to equate track use somehow with what road use would be? I have boiled the brakes on all my cars when taken on track (I'm sure thats the way I drive) but I've never really been able to figure out what trackday braking relates to in terms of spirited road use.
If you would rather pm me the cost of replacement of the ceramics it would be helpful.

Glenn McMenamin

2,305 posts

267 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
I went to Alcon Steels on both GT3RS's. replacing ceramics with new ones is just horrendously expensive.

Sounds like you could be dragging the brakes when on track. That causes unnecessary heat build up.


If the car never goes on track, I can't see why the discs wouldn't see 100k miles. However, i'd guess that track work increases wear 10 fold.

G.

BIRMA

Original Poster:

4,270 posts

223 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
Glenn McMenamin said:
I went to Alcon Steels on both GT3RS's. replacing ceramics with new ones is just horrendously expensive.

Sounds like you could be dragging the brakes when on track. That causes unnecessary heat build up.


If the car never goes on track, I can't see why the discs wouldn't see 100k miles. However, i'd guess that track work increases wear 10 fold.

G.
Thanks your figures have given me something to work on.

As far as my braking is concerned I am one of those people who brake late and hard (not a good idea in damp conditions I know)

phib

4,520 posts

288 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
I replaced mine ( or rather porsche did in the end after a fight) after 1650 miles on my brand new 996 GT2 .

They then lasted the next 30k which I did in the car before I sold it.

Phib

BIRMA

Original Poster:

4,270 posts

223 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
phib said:
I replaced mine ( or rather porsche did in the end after a fight) after 1650 miles on my brand new 996 GT2 .

They then lasted the next 30k which I did in the car before I sold it.

Phib
I'm assuming the discs still had plenty of life left in them at the point of sale. Did anyone offer a no bull straight answer for the failure at 1600 miles?

Martian O

2,734 posts

191 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
I'm on 21K miles (997 Turbo), no wear at all to the discs and pads only worn about 1.5mm in this time. And that includes 10 laps of the 'ring! smile

BIRMA

Original Poster:

4,270 posts

223 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
Martian O said:
I'm on 21K miles (997 Turbo), no wear at all to the discs and pads only worn about 1.5mm in this time. And that includes 10 laps of the 'ring! smile
Thanks good to know, did they squeel at all after track use?

Martian O

2,734 posts

191 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
BIRMA said:
Thanks good to know, did they squeel at all after track use?
No not at all.

Steve Rance

5,453 posts

260 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
The ring is very light on brakes. There are few big stops and lots of cooling oportunity in between them. If you are only looking at the ring as your tracking option then Ceramics should be absolutely fine. A normal race track will take a lot more out of your brakes

BIRMA

Original Poster:

4,270 posts

223 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
Thanks Steve, I'm trying to gather information on wear and replacement, track use from what I gather can have a significant effect on wear and is mentioned on the various manufacturers websites. I'm guessing that members on here are more likely than most to have PCCB's on their cars than anywhere else, so I am hoping to build up a realistic picture of whether they are being replaced on a regular basis and at what mileage and cost

Steve Rance

5,453 posts

260 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
If you intend to regularly track a 911 on ceramics i think that you are playing Russian roulette with nothing to gain and everything to lose. If your use is almost entirely road, then you will have no problems.

BubblesNW

1,711 posts

212 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
Slight thread hijack but I hope you will forgive me.

I have a Gen II Cayman with ceramics and I do about 6-8 track days per year.
The front pads were replaced in December at 12k miles and I have done 2 days since. Everything else is as it left the factory. I had the car checked over by OPC last month and got a clean bill of health, no comments regarding pads or discs whatsoever.

The car seems massively over-braked due to the size of the discs, especially at the rear. Do you think I am asking for trouble by using the car as I do or should I put the ceramics in the loft and put a set of Alcons on until it's time to sell?

BIRMA

Original Poster:

4,270 posts

223 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
Steve my purpose behind this thread is to get a picture of the life and cost of ceramic brakes. My potential track use with ceramics will only serve to add more collected info. I hope in the months to come I can build a useful, informed ammount of info which may be of use to potential buyers and sellers of cars with them and hopefully dispel any misinformation.
For instance I bought my car because it had them having done only brief research and over time I have heard many differing points of view about them. I would just like to compile from a neither pro or anti perspective real world experiences of them because to date I haven't really found anything that I could call a half decent picture of them.

Geneve

4,018 posts

248 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
I'm on my third Porsche with PCCBs and never had an issue (only the benefits).

The pads are said to be softer, to extend disc life, but I haven't even worn out pads.

mm450exc

571 posts

207 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
24k on 997 Turbo with PCCB and no problems. A few track days at SPA. Pads are maybe at 75%. Discs as new!

When the time comes to replace way down the line I'll get alcons or something. Porsche PCCB with pads and stuff are £20k!

mrdemon

21,146 posts

294 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
It is like asking about steels, some get 4 track days out a set, some get 20 track days out a set.

Asking on a forum how long PCCB last seems pointless imo.
People mis treat them also, they are not magic.

The performance on a cayman is night and day as you get much bigger calipers and disks than stock steels.

So with that in mind you could buy a PCCB car 2nd hand, box the disks and fit bigger steels.

I have two Porsche which are about the same one with PCCB one with out.
The PCCB imo are outstanding over the car fitted with smaller steels.

I also track the car now and again, if the disks wear, I'll fit brembo up sized steels but keep the larger calipers.
Turn is is def better also driving both back to back, the steering just feels better.

As for pricing look at suncoast Porsche parts.

BIRMA

Original Poster:

4,270 posts

223 months

Sunday 12th May 2013
quotequote all
Mine are on 30K miles, I did read the minimum thickness data on the bell housing and this week-end I managed to get a vernier in to measure the thickness of both discs each has a different minimum thickness which mine were nowhere near the stated minimum thickness.
Perhaps the Boxster and Caymen being a bit lighter do benefit from the size of the discs.
But so far with this thread being in its very early stages there has yet to be an actual account of replacement.

Slickhillsy

1,773 posts

172 months

Monday 13th May 2013
quotequote all
34K GT3 - Mostly road use and they are still awesome! I hear the stated life of ceramics (without being tracked) is 180,000 miles...