AutoQuest Motorsports - Titanium Caliper Piston Pucks for Failed Factory Ceramics
#31
Rennlist Member
Brembo makes TI pistons for their motorsport calipers.
In addition to TI material, the design has less surface area on the pad (only a 'ring' touches the pad) and the ring has little bevels machined in the edge to allow airflow.
Anyway, it's good the aftermarket has an option for those super fragile pucks. On the 997 you could simply buy the motorsport rebuild kits, there is no other option on the 991 other than replacing a perfectly otherwise good caliper.
This disposable nature of these cars really sucks. Brakes, transmissions...
In addition to TI material, the design has less surface area on the pad (only a 'ring' touches the pad) and the ring has little bevels machined in the edge to allow airflow.
Anyway, it's good the aftermarket has an option for those super fragile pucks. On the 997 you could simply buy the motorsport rebuild kits, there is no other option on the 991 other than replacing a perfectly otherwise good caliper.
This disposable nature of these cars really sucks. Brakes, transmissions...
#33
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
Sorry for the late reply guys, we are just now getting consistent power and internet after Hurricane Irma.
FYI Spyerx you are on point with the racing applications coming into play with our decision. Also, we haven't found any concrete evidence of the ceramic pucks being a particular grade of ceramic. As even the best grade of ceramic pucks would be having the same issue, it was not a factor in the R&D process.
I posted the information below over in the GT4 forum earlier this month, but here is some data that we used to make our decision on a Titanium alloy solution. As the end of the day, this was a very well researched project with input from a variety of Motorsports resources we have picked up over the decades we've been ripping around
"Titanium Alloy can have similar thermal barrier properties as a comparative ceramic, it all depends on the grade of both. For example, let's look at a comparison of thermal conductivity of various materials. The units are the standard W/m*K and the higher the number the more conductive they are.
Pure Aluminum: 237
Aluminum Alloy 2024-T6: 177
Pure Titanium: 22
Stainless Steel 304: 16
Titanium Alloy Ti6Al4V: 8
Ceramic: 3-60 (depending on type of ceramic – see link
below for details)
http://global.kyocera.com/fcworld/ch...rmalcond.html.
If you just look at the thermal conductivity of Pure Titanium it looks worse than that of the most popular T304L Stainless Steel, but Titanium Alloy (Ti6Al4V) has a lower value (more insulating) of one half that of T304L SS. As you can see ceramics have quite a large range of conductivity depending on the type. Best case scenario our pucks have even less thermal conductivity than the OEM ceramic, worst case they quite similar with none of the drawbacks. All ceramics are brittle, which is why they aren't the best material choice for caliper pistons or pucks. Professional race teams use Titanium for the brake caliper pistons because they are tough, light, and insulate better than stainless steel with none of the drawbacks of the ceramic."
FYI Spyerx you are on point with the racing applications coming into play with our decision. Also, we haven't found any concrete evidence of the ceramic pucks being a particular grade of ceramic. As even the best grade of ceramic pucks would be having the same issue, it was not a factor in the R&D process.
I posted the information below over in the GT4 forum earlier this month, but here is some data that we used to make our decision on a Titanium alloy solution. As the end of the day, this was a very well researched project with input from a variety of Motorsports resources we have picked up over the decades we've been ripping around
"Titanium Alloy can have similar thermal barrier properties as a comparative ceramic, it all depends on the grade of both. For example, let's look at a comparison of thermal conductivity of various materials. The units are the standard W/m*K and the higher the number the more conductive they are.
Pure Aluminum: 237
Aluminum Alloy 2024-T6: 177
Pure Titanium: 22
Stainless Steel 304: 16
Titanium Alloy Ti6Al4V: 8
Ceramic: 3-60 (depending on type of ceramic – see link
below for details)
http://global.kyocera.com/fcworld/ch...rmalcond.html.
If you just look at the thermal conductivity of Pure Titanium it looks worse than that of the most popular T304L Stainless Steel, but Titanium Alloy (Ti6Al4V) has a lower value (more insulating) of one half that of T304L SS. As you can see ceramics have quite a large range of conductivity depending on the type. Best case scenario our pucks have even less thermal conductivity than the OEM ceramic, worst case they quite similar with none of the drawbacks. All ceramics are brittle, which is why they aren't the best material choice for caliper pistons or pucks. Professional race teams use Titanium for the brake caliper pistons because they are tough, light, and insulate better than stainless steel with none of the drawbacks of the ceramic."
#34
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
I have had my calipers replaced under warranty last year just before Porsche decided to change its approach and deny that claim, they did not last very long before they cracked again....I decided to use the Ti option and have done many events without an issue....a costly option but worth it if you track the car .
We see both the fronts and backs have the issues rather constantly, sorry to hear! Assuming they want to do a complete caliper replacement. I should have some of our pucks left in stock if you'd like to resolve the issue once and for all
#35
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
For those with GT4's or if you know someone that has one...we just released our shorter final drive ratio to take care of that long gearing once and for all! : )
#36
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
Just had to overnight a set to a fellow in California this past weekend when one of his front pucks disintegrated at the track. Check those piston pucks for warning signs, but even so they can go at any time.
#40
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
New batch of piston pucks have arrived and are back in stock. Be preemptive and check your pucks to look for the warning signs, we are ready to help if needed : )
#41
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
For 991.2 GT3 Owners
.The 991.2 GT3's are still using the same calipers as the 991.1s and with them ceramic pucks. However, they have made a minute change to the actual puck design as they did from 997 to 991. In an attempt to help prevent initial cracking/chipping, they sacrificed a larger contact area for more tapered edge with a smaller contact area. As these cars have only been out for a very short time, no 991.2 has had much track use to cause a failure yet. That being said, it is conclusive by the failure rate on the 997s and 991s that the ceramic pucks have a propensity to fail on these cars regardless of the design. We will continue installing our titanium piston puck replacements as a preemptive measure on the 991.2s we have coming through the shop. Time will tell as these cars see more and more track time how the new design fairs.
.
Photos Below Compare 991.1 and 991.2 Piston Pucks Front and Rear
#43
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
Congrats to those who won the silent bid of our piston pucks at the Smokies GT charity event this past weekend! It was an amazing event, raising over $160k for the Cystic Fibrosis foundation. I highly recommend getting involved, it is a great cause : )
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daddyrabbit (12-12-2023)