997 GTS brake disc life.
Discussion
It does seem premature. My car still has the same disks and pads it had when it left the factory 7 years ago and its done 28K since then. The pads may need replacing in spring but the disks don't have any lip on them so they will be good for a while yet. You should be able to see how much material is left on the pads and you'll also get a light on in the car when they get to minimum depth. I assume this is an OPC that has told you this?
moonigan said:
It does seem premature. My car still has the same disks and pads it had when it left the factory 7 years ago and its done 28K since then. The pads may need replacing in spring but the disks don't have any lip on them so they will be good for a while yet. You should be able to see how much material is left on the pads and you'll also get a light on in the car when they get to minimum depth. I assume this is an OPC that has told you this?
There was a warning light up, but I assumed it to be the rears which I’ve never had done.Erniemcp said:
Re brake wear on the 997 GTS, it’s binary, they either are below the minimal mark or they are not. OPC’s are obliged to recommend change if within a certain mm wear of the minimal mark. Porsche provide a must change mark on those brakes , to avoid just this debate. I think your age and miles merit change. Tyres and brakes amaze me how people think they can get away with not changing, but spend happily on carbon bits and bobs . Fwiw I’d change using oem parts at a good independent, even if under approved warranty still. Half the cost circa 700-800 for fronts vs double at opc.
My rear discs are the ones that were on the car when I got it. I’ve done 30k and they were slightly worn when I got the car.Okay so brakes are front biased, but 18k miles seems soon. I’ve got a Range Rover that weights the same as the moon and it’s done 80k miles on one change of discs.
Have a look at the discs and pads through the wheels. Is there a significant lip on the edge of the disc? Look at the calliper and the pad. Can you see significant meat still left on the pads (look for the gap between the disc itself and the pad backing plate).
Failing that paste a camera phone pic here and 50 idiots will be along shortly to give you their opinion.
Failing that paste a camera phone pic here and 50 idiots will be along shortly to give you their opinion.
alfapork said:
Have a look at the discs and pads through the wheels. Is there a significant lip on the edge of the disc? Look at the calliper and the pad. Can you see significant meat still left on the pads (look for the gap between the disc itself and the pad backing plate).
Failing that paste a camera phone pic here and 50 idiots will be along shortly to give you their opinion.
If I had though for a moment that this was going to come up, I'd have checked. But I cannot see from here. The OPC is on the ramp at the OPC, which is 10 miles away. Failing that paste a camera phone pic here and 50 idiots will be along shortly to give you their opinion.
boxsey said:
Porsche discs are prone to corroding on the inside faces especially if the car is left out in the elements and then driven like an old lady
It could be that they look great on the outside but are shot on the inside which can only be seen when it's up on a ramp.
It's not corrosion, it's wear. They are saying the "new" front discs I had fitted are 75% worn after 2.years.It could be that they look great on the outside but are shot on the inside which can only be seen when it's up on a ramp.
Whilst perhaps I do drive a bit faster than an old lady, I rarely use that car aggressively and I never track it.
If it's on the ramp, ask them to show you around it, especially if they are asking for money to fix it.
Whilst you're there take a picture ;-)
Actually even better ask them to send you a picture. Many dealerships send you a walk around video these days when in for service to justify their £90/hr fees.
Whilst you're there take a picture ;-)
Actually even better ask them to send you a picture. Many dealerships send you a walk around video these days when in for service to justify their £90/hr fees.
Porsche dealers (and many others) will now advise replacement if they deem your brakes won't last to your next service (which we know is 2 years) so more and more times owners are being told the brakes need replacing when in many cases they could have another 12 months or 10,000 miles of use left.
99% sure 997.2 GTS discs have wear dimples in the disc surface (the very outer cross-drilled hole isn't actually a hole and is just drilled to the discs minimum thickness depth) so when that dimple disappears the disc has reached its recommended structural minimum thickness. Ask the OPC for the thickness of the remaining pad material and the disc thickness along with the recommended minimum thickness - quite often when faced with these questions the recommendation to change them goes all quiet!
We see customers cars all the time that have been told they need new brakes elsewhere (mainly dealerships) only to find the pads 50% worn and the discs well above minimum thickness!
My advice - get the measurements and then decide.
99% sure 997.2 GTS discs have wear dimples in the disc surface (the very outer cross-drilled hole isn't actually a hole and is just drilled to the discs minimum thickness depth) so when that dimple disappears the disc has reached its recommended structural minimum thickness. Ask the OPC for the thickness of the remaining pad material and the disc thickness along with the recommended minimum thickness - quite often when faced with these questions the recommendation to change them goes all quiet!
We see customers cars all the time that have been told they need new brakes elsewhere (mainly dealerships) only to find the pads 50% worn and the discs well above minimum thickness!
My advice - get the measurements and then decide.
So said:
It's not corrosion, it's wear. They are saying the "new" front discs I had fitted are 75% worn after 2.years.
Whilst perhaps I do drive a bit faster than an old lady, I rarely use that car aggressively and I never track it.
As Chris mentions above, Porsche are well known for advising change of discs well before they are needed to. It's really your choice though and I am sure they will be fine for an MOT seeing as the inner face corrosion is not the issue. Personally, I have rarely got more than 20K miles out of discs on my P cars. Often much less on the ones I've tracked. You just won't see them last the sort of mileages that they do on more run of the mill cars. I guess that's the price we pay for having brakes with so much feel and performance.Whilst perhaps I do drive a bit faster than an old lady, I rarely use that car aggressively and I never track it.
p.s. only jesting regarding the 'old lady' (seeing as you bought it up in the first place).
So said:
They also want £400 for spark plugs. What are they exactly, diamond tipped?
chrisABP said:
Provided the brake discs aren't excessively lipped (or corroded on the inner face) I would suggest new front and rear pads to be fitted to your existing discs. The minimum thickness quoted for the discs is I am sure based on 'minimum thickness for new pads to be fitted' as opposed to minimum thickness for use.
Thanks Chris.
So said:
chrisABP said:
Provided the brake discs aren't excessively lipped (or corroded on the inner face) I would suggest new front and rear pads to be fitted to your existing discs. The minimum thickness quoted for the discs is I am sure based on 'minimum thickness for new pads to be fitted' as opposed to minimum thickness for use.
Thanks Chris.Had disks & pads all round on mine in August after 24k miles from new. Done by my local independent in Edinburgh for about 2/3 of the cost quoted by OPC, using OEM parts. Part of my problem was that I'd succumbed to the "can't put miles on it as the value will plummet" theory and it had sat around for a year or so, partly outside. As we're told, Porsches like to be driven and things will deteriorate if they're not - well, mine's the proof of that! Now had a "get real" pill and am driving it regularly again. Much better!
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