Last Lemming

I installed new brake pads and rotors on my 86 944 turbo. I bled the system thoroughly with a motive power bleeder.I had a firm solid pedal after bleeding. I go for my first test drive and it's like the car cannot stop at all. I certainly cannot get the car to lock the brakes up at all. So I go for an extended Drive bringing the car up to speed and bedding in the brakes over multiple stops. The car begins to break pretty good but I'm still able to almost push the pedal all the way to the floor and not lock the brakes up. I'm not sure I should even be able to lock up the brakes but since this is not an antilock braking system it seems that you have that ability correct?

Is it a matter of continuing to bed the brakes in till I get more bite? I did about 10 to 12 stops from 60 down to about 10 miles an hour pressing on the brakes hard each time to help bed them in. I don't think the brake system needs any more bleeding because I get solid fluid with no bubbles out of all calipers at all positions. Not to mention it's all new fluid of course. And the brakes do not squeal in the least bit.

So is what I'm experiencing normal or not?

Dave W.

Is the brake pedal soft? It's hard to tell from your description if the new pads simple don't have any power and bite or if there's air in the lines. Did you completely clean the rotors with brake parts cleaner?

Last Lemming

The brake pedal is not soft. It's firm but they had no bite initially. I just got back from another round of bedding them in. They are much better now. They stop the car pretty good now, but I still can't lock them up at will.

marc abrams

Did you use ceramic pads? Those pads make a 944 stop like a drum brake 68 Dodge Dart.

Last Lemming

I used PBR as suggested by Ian at 944online

marc abrams

I knew you had ceramic's in there by the sound of your post. I too had the PBR ceramic's in my 944. Ceramic's don't dust, don't squeal, and don't stop. I replaced them with Mintex pad's, the difference was like night and day.

Last Lemming

Well they do seem to suck compared to the Pagids. What's a good pad for the street that bites better. Would a Hawk pad fit the bill? And I'm assuming since the rotors are still new I won't need to turn them for the new set I get just rebed them in.

944Ross

EBC makes excellent pads. They bed almost immediately, no squeal to speak of, minimal dust.

Last Lemming

I can only find the yellows (street/track) and I need hi/po street pads. And they seem very expensive.

Edit: I found some EBC Reds!

V2Rocket

I used OE replacement mintex at $30 an axle and they'll put you through the windshield if you push hard enough without locking.

Spidey944

I wont use PBR pads on any customer vehicle, the heat range is just not right for our cars. Pedal effort is just too high when the brakes are cold.

Last Lemming

Put the EBC brake pads on. It's amazing car stops immediately now. PBR pads in the garbage

marc abrams

I'm guessing that you used EBC reds.
Do you like the EBC over the pagids?

Last Lemming

Yes I got the Reds. So far stops a bit better than the Pagids but no brake squeal!