PCCB Brakes on a 996 GT2/3. Good or avoid?
Discussion
I've been looking at GT2's and GT3's in the hope that the prices would come tumbling into my price range (I know, no chance!) And there are a few with PCCB's fitted. Are these a potential nightmare or have they proved reliable and worth having?
Good on road, crumble with heavy track work?
Great on track, a liability on the road?
Great and great and last 300,000 miles and a must have?
I've driven loads of light high powered cars with big brakes (Ultima GTR's with AP's, Subarishi's, Kit Cars & TVR's etc) but never a non-steel set up. Are Ceramics the future?
Cheers
Good on road, crumble with heavy track work?
Great on track, a liability on the road?
Great and great and last 300,000 miles and a must have?
I've driven loads of light high powered cars with big brakes (Ultima GTR's with AP's, Subarishi's, Kit Cars & TVR's etc) but never a non-steel set up. Are Ceramics the future?
Cheers
PCCBs are outstanding, with wide range of benefits.
However, on a 996 GT3/GT2 they may well be early Generation 1 or 2 derivatives, and these did exhibit some issues. On the other hand, I know several that are still on the original discs 10 years on, with no problems.
Gen 3's(2006 on - 997 models) were vastly improved in design, construction, cooling, pad specs, f/r bias, etc and are now super reliable.
Safe advice would be to get them checked. But, if you wish you can replace them with steel options, and box up the ceramics for the future.
However, on a 996 GT3/GT2 they may well be early Generation 1 or 2 derivatives, and these did exhibit some issues. On the other hand, I know several that are still on the original discs 10 years on, with no problems.
Gen 3's(2006 on - 997 models) were vastly improved in design, construction, cooling, pad specs, f/r bias, etc and are now super reliable.
Safe advice would be to get them checked. But, if you wish you can replace them with steel options, and box up the ceramics for the future.
I have PCCB's on my 6.2 GT3 and love them. They need warmed up to be fully effective I find (whereas the latest generation are great from the moment you drive off) but once warmed up they are outstanding and the lack of brake dust is a huge bonus.
Mine is road use only so far,I'm not sure if I'd want to track gen 1 PCCBS
Mine is road use only so far,I'm not sure if I'd want to track gen 1 PCCBS
Geneve said:
PCCBs are outstanding, with wide range of benefits.
However, on a 996 GT3/GT2 they may well be early Generation 1 or 2 derivatives, and these did exhibit some issues. On the other hand, I know several that are still on the original discs 10 years on, with no problems.
Gen 3's(2006 on - 997 models) were vastly improved in design, construction, cooling, pad specs, f/r bias, etc and are now super reliable.
Safe advice would be to get them checked. But, if you wish you can replace them with steel options, and box up the ceramics for the future.
Do you know any specific 'issues' the earlier cars may suffer from? Are they likely to have been sorted by now?However, on a 996 GT3/GT2 they may well be early Generation 1 or 2 derivatives, and these did exhibit some issues. On the other hand, I know several that are still on the original discs 10 years on, with no problems.
Gen 3's(2006 on - 997 models) were vastly improved in design, construction, cooling, pad specs, f/r bias, etc and are now super reliable.
Safe advice would be to get them checked. But, if you wish you can replace them with steel options, and box up the ceramics for the future.
Cheers
You'd need to check whether they are Gen 1 or Gen 2.
I think it was the Gen 1s that had some issues caused by overheating (wrong braking technique), FOD (gravel traps), wrong pads, etc.
Porsche didn't help the situation by blaming the customers for misuse - hence the early loss of confidence in PCCBs.
WRT 'overheating', Aston Martin told me that they once saw a chap deliberately overheating the PCCBs on his GT3RS, at the end of a track day, so his mate could get some pictures of the glowing discs in the fading light
I think it was the Gen 1s that had some issues caused by overheating (wrong braking technique), FOD (gravel traps), wrong pads, etc.
Porsche didn't help the situation by blaming the customers for misuse - hence the early loss of confidence in PCCBs.
WRT 'overheating', Aston Martin told me that they once saw a chap deliberately overheating the PCCBs on his GT3RS, at the end of a track day, so his mate could get some pictures of the glowing discs in the fading light
Try the search for many threads covering this issue - it really is done on a very regular basis.
The abridged version is that they are great for road use, don't last anywhere near as long as you might expect on track and cost a fortune to replace when spent. The standing advice is that if they are in decent shape they are not something to avoid (particularly if the car is out of warranty anyway), but don't pay a premium and expect to replace with steel at such point as when they are done (if you do this on a car in warranty you will not be able to extend it).
The abridged version is that they are great for road use, don't last anywhere near as long as you might expect on track and cost a fortune to replace when spent. The standing advice is that if they are in decent shape they are not something to avoid (particularly if the car is out of warranty anyway), but don't pay a premium and expect to replace with steel at such point as when they are done (if you do this on a car in warranty you will not be able to extend it).
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