I am so proud of myself...after not TOO many hours (I think about 10 for the total job)....I - with only basic mechanical experience - did the upgrade to the '89 S4/GT Big Black Brembo's!

I finished up...dropped her off the jack stands...started up...pressed the brake pedal (it felt GOOD!)

Drove around for a couple of hours to get them properly broken in...WOW - What a difference! Even the 60-0 'no hands' stop was straight and POWERFUL!

I can't wait for this months AX - I think being able to go MUCH deeper in the corners will significantly reduce my times...and I LOVE the feel of them big-*** rotors, multi-piston calipers and the Hawk Plus pads!!!

AND - The OxyClean ALMOST got my absolutely grease and grime covered jeans clean!

Pre-86.5 owners - this is DEFINITELY an upgrade to put on your list!

 

Hey Mark, Congats. So, What was the total cost on your upgrade, if you don't mind me asking?

 

Used Calipers (eBay) - $400
Used '81 spindles (Brendan) - $70
Rotors - Front - $260
Rotors - Rear - $180
Adapters - $225
Pads (Hawk Plus) - $230
Dampers - $60
Upper A-arm Ball joint boots - $30

so - around $1400 (plus shipping). I could have saved $$ here and there by getting different things from different vendors (most all was from 928Spec)...but I'd rather support the Big 3 (who will support me in my efforts and give me plenty of advice). Also - went with some pretty serious pads. I could have gotten it down to, maybe $1250...if I wanted the hassle of dealing with non-928 experts...and generic mailorder houses. I figure I can sell what I took of for a couple hundred...getting my net expense down more.

STILL - probably about the same price as paying a Porsche Shop to do a total brake job on the car. AND - it was fun & gratifying to do it myself!

Also - tho it took 10 or 12 hours...now that I know what I am doing - I could probably do one in about 5 hours now! (i.e. - removal of R spindle - 1.5 hours....then did the left in about 20 minutes!)AHHH....Experience!

 

Mark: I haven't looked but if there isn't a step by step here or on Nichols, would you consider doing the write-up? I wasn't going to do the upgrade, but I'm starting to think about AX, and it sounds like something I need to do. It would sure help.

Since you mentioned AX, I would love to know more about it: Tires, tire pressure, etc. Oh, to be retired so I can take a track course. So little time, so little money.

The AX thread is very slow. I saw a recent post that Renfrew (sp) won the day at some pacific NW meet with his 928. He must know what he is doing.

 

Thanks for the info. on the pricing Mark, that actually doesn't sound too bad considering the advantages. As far as the time goes, Well, If I end up keeping my 85' then maybe i'll take a trip to P'Cola and see how close you can come to that 5 hours. LOL

By the way it sounds like your car is fast becomeing a great shark.

 

Thanks Dave! I'm still waiting for you to get over here.Next SCCA AX is June 22!

Steve - I thought about taking pics as I went - but this is a DIRTY job! As my compnay actually owns my digital cam - I didn't think they'd appreciate me trying to expens out 'camera cleaning/de-greasing'!

If I get the time, I will try and remember everything and do a write-up.

As to the AX - do a search. Beth recently posed some AX ???'s and there was MUCH good advice/response to her thread.

 

Thanks for the invite Mark, belive me when I tell you, I am dieing to get out to an AX or DE, but unfortunately I don't want to push a few issue's that I still have to get to before I can get out on the track. But, it sounds like you are having enough fun for the both of us. So, keep up the fun and someday I will catch up with ya and be waiting in line behind you.