mts

Where is a good place to purchase a Big Red brake upgrade kit?

CorrdoBrit

Why? Most would say that unless you plan on tracking the car the big reds don't improve braking performance much over the standard calipers and rotors.

Ed Hughes

I too would wonder why you feel the need to add bigger brakes on a street car. Even from an aesthetics standpoint, I don't think stock calipers look wimpy or small.

certz

To answer your question, though, Sunset Imports in Portland is a good place to start for new. Otherwise, hunt these forums, eBay, Craigslist, Pelican for used. I thought I recently saw a set of rears for sale in the sale ads section.

Matt Lane

Recent price check at Sunset was around ~$450 per TT front caliper if I recall.
The RS rears were on sale recently at $429, which is a good price considering you get the the larger pistons on these usually pretty spendy (over $600) Euro bits.

The larger brakes will run cooler for sure, as measured empirically by Bill Verburg. They will last a lot longer (but of course cost more for pads and rotors when replaced).

I would think the greater rear bias of the RS rears would be the main benefit of a Big Red conversion, and even then, only on a track car.

Best,

Matt

CalvinC4S

Why some ask... Because they are AWESOME.
If you are getting them for any other reason you may be let down.

mts

Because I want them. Thanks for the help though.

Ed Hughes

IMO, that is an unwarranted reply to a valid comment. I refer to the "thanks for the help though" portion of your reply, which smacks of sarcasm. Saying "because you want them" was enough of an answer.

CorrdoBrit

Well its a free country and your money. You can do what you want.

mts

Sarcasm, yes. I asked a simple question and the first two responses were offering opinions and questioning the upgrade without even offering an answer the question. If I had asked what people thought of the upgrade, or whether I should do it, both would have been helpful reponses. Since I didn't, IMO those posts were unwarranted replies.

Sorry for the sarcasm, but after being on the forum for about 7 years and seeing it happen over and over again, it's a bit of a pet peeve when it happens.

Kika

I put a big brake kit on my 911SC when I was tracking it.

Eventually I stopped taking it to the track. on the street, the pads would last a long long time, in fact I had them on the car for about 5 years, and they looked basically new. it was WAY overkill for street use and had no practical advantage over the OEM brakes.

Each of us owns our cars for our own reasons, and personalizes them to suit our own individuality. While big reds on a street car may have no practical advantages, and in fact are actually heavier, it is the owners choice to do what they like and spend his or her money how they choose.

I happen to like my RS splitters and skirts, are they practical for a street car, no. has anyone taken pot shots at me for it? no, but my response to those that might, "it is my car, and I like them"

Sorry, I don't have a definitive answer to the original question, but let's lighten up guys.

I would start monitoring the Rennlist classified, maybe check the turbo forum, see if someone has upgraded from there. place an ad in the Rennlist WTB forum, outside of that, search, the archives. LA Porsche Dismantler might have some, but certainly proceed with caution.

AOW162435

mts,
Sunset may be best source for a complete set of Big Reds (turbo front calipers & RS rear calipers).

Alternately, you could do something like this.




Andreas

certz

mts - to clarify what Andreas is saying, you can get your calipers powder coated to look like his (I am doing this over the winter) but good luck getting your wheel well to look like his

AOW162435

Did not happen overnight.


Andreas

techman1

MTS Me thinks the first two replies were leading questions, to provide help later. Meant to go something like this:

Why? Are you going to track the car only?

Your reply was supposed to be something like- Nope just like the looks, or Well, someone told me it was necessary on the track.

And then Ed or one of the really helpful folks would have replied: "Wait till you visit the track a few times, the stock setup is quite good"

Just trying to help...