JFA65

Anybody want my April delivery if I discount it? NOT!

Seth Thomas

That is not 100% true. Not every top of the line Brembo Caliper is has a removable bridge. Check out their racing catalog:

http://www.brembo.com/it/Auto/Racing...MBO_RACING.pdf

You will notice there are several monobloc calipers with a non-removable bridge. In motorsports most of the brake manufacturers are going this route and doing quick connect lines on the calipers. They had rather quickly remove a hot caliper and disc. Then replace it with a cold caliper and disc. It is easier on the mechanics, quicker, and less likely for something to go wrong.

As for Porsches reasons for using a monobloc with a non-removable bridge on a street car I don't feel it is them trying to work against the end user. I see them as more of a performance advantage move. Yes it will make it a little bit harder to swap pads between street and track but nothing out of the ordinary. It is still 2 bolts that need to be removed same as removing the bridge.

Mike in CA

I received a PM from someone yesterday with GT car ownership experience on another reason why Porsche redesigned the calipers for the 991 GT3. I thought it was interesting information; maybe someone would like to comment further.

Anyway to my point, re the calipers....and you can put this in the bank...the caliper has been redesigned to prevent the tapering of the pads (which occurred in the previous GT models) especially the front. The addition of the torque vectoring in the 991 switched the heavy brake usage from the front to the rear (because of the way it applies brakes) so tapering had to be reduced there too.

It was solution based engineering versus cost based engineering...

orthojoe

I do remember the 997 GT3 guys having problems with their pads tapering, so that is certainly a possible explanation

I haven't had problems with tapering on my spyder, which has 350mm PCCB sized rotors and 6 pot calipers.

Perhaps the larger the caliper, the more flex occurs, thus the need for the bridge. Only, that wouldn't explain why there are bridges on the new boxster/caymans, which have much smaller calipers than a gt3...

Dr.Bill

The new user-unfriendly brake calipers started with the 991 and 981 series cars. Nothing to do with the GT3 and any perceived deficiency in braking or pad wear issues.

I think we are back to a cost-cutting measure, not some magic engineering.

Although I suspect some will still see the emperor's clothes. . .

GrantG

The Brembo race calipers have a bridge that quickly bolts in and out, so you have max stiffness and pads can be swapped while leaving the calipers mounted - seems like the best solution, but probably a couple bucks more cost...

Bernie930

I beg to differ, as I have changed many 997 RSR front calipers (endurance)made by brembo and they don't have a removable bridge!!!

Bernie930

So GrantG stop making false statements, I think Seth knows what he's talking about

911rox

I think GrantG was referring to the new brembo race calipers in their current catalogs, not the 997 units...

Bernie930

I see, but a 991 cup uses PFC brakes!

Bernie930

So please tell me then which Porsche uses the removable bridge caliper then!

911rox

Well, I suppose that's kind of the point... They don't use this type of caliper and probably should when many owners are changing brake pads every 1000-2000 miles. Hex bolts into alloy uprights is a recipe for disaster. They don't even have the decency to provide cup car like stud setups to facilitate caliper removal without risk of damage... Where's the sense in that???

GrantG

How about this one (notice no pins to hassle with either - pads held in with quick release U-shaped spring):
http://www.racetechnologies.com/page3-44/RaceSystems

IMO, this would be the best setup for a multi-purpose car (easy to swap track and street pads every weekend). Maybe swapping the whole caliper is good for pro racing in the pits where every second counts, but this one is better for the majority of GT3 owners who track, DE, or Club Race (don't need to buy a second set of calipers and for an easy change and no fear of contamination of the brake fluid with dirt or air when changing over too).

ShakeNBake

PCNA will sell you studs to fix that problem...you have to do this today with rear calipers anyways.

orthojoe

The front rotors are pretty darn big. Will there be enough play in the brake lines to allow the caliper to slide completely off of studs? It's already really tight when lifting the calipers off of the front rotors during a rotor swap. Studs will require more play in the brake lines.