Boulder GT3

I ran a search but can't find a clear answer. When did the transistion occur from Gen 1 to Gen 2 PCCB brakes? Thanks

TM

Hi,

all 996 models are using first generation PCCB. Porsche introduced the 2nd generation with the 997 models.

Cheers

Boulder GT3

The gen 1's don't have a great reputation per the posts. Did Porsche remedy some of the rotors issues or are they problematic? Like most things on boards, the problems are usually overstated as the people that aren't having problems aren't as vocal. Any opinions on staying away from the Gen 1's?

03-turbo911

Gen II is standard on the turbo S.

DanH

Depends on your usage. For road use Gen1s are fine. For hard track use I'm fairly certain they will wear out. I have gen1s on my RS so its just a matter of time imho.

Gen2s have better cooling (more internal ducting) and also have a random vent pattern. Jury's out on them being much better on track, but I bet they wear out too.

Still you can just migrate to steals once they do wear out if Porsche haven't dropped the price on ceramics to something reasonable, so its not the end of the world.

Boulder GT3

Thanks DanH. What is involved in the conversion? Rotors, Pads, calipers, proportioning valves? I want to take kind of worst case assumption. I am not going to track the car but want to understand downstream costs on a car that I am looking at.

navdoc

Gen 1 2004 GT3 25,000 miles on car 15,000+ track use T.H. VIR. California, Portland Seattle rotors look new no cracks.

DanH

You don't have to change anything on the front appart form the disks. For the rear, you have a few choices :

- Buy the conversion kit (350mm -> 330mm rear). Carnewal sells it. I don't believe porsche bothered adjusting the bias. http://www.carnewal-europe.com/cpx_p96172.htm

- Get a bracket made up to move the rear calliper to fit a 330mm OEM disk. (cheapest option, but you'd need faith in the machine shop that makes the part!)

- Get the alcon 350mm steel disks for the rear and front keeping your ceramic callipers. Disks have a slight premium as they are on a seperate floating hat (and may rattle due to this, but I think you can specify to have a lesser amount of float for less noise). You then just replace the rotors when they wear out, and don't have to change calliper leaving you ready to put ceramics back on when the prices get sensible.

I favour the latter when my ceramics wear out. In the uk the place I know supplying them is called JZ Machtech. ( http://www.jzmachtech.com/ ) Dunno who would supply in the US.

DanH

Any chance you can post a picture? Be interested to compare with how mine look. I bought my car with 4k on the clock and you can see the have some wear.

I'm told it may depend on the track and how much heavy braking it forces.

One chap in the UK has had to have them replaced on his CGT

AW

Is Porsche actually talking about PCCB generation and the fact that the 997 or whatever other model is equipped with generation 2. While I suspect that Porsche indeed improved PCCB, I'm wondering if Porsche officially acknowledged a change in PCCB. The Porsche web site doesn't introduce 997 PCCB as generation 2...

Has anyone tracked a 997 with PCCB yet?

AW

03-turbo911

I tracked my turbo S. No wear or flacking showing, nor do I have cracks. I'll be going to another track day pretty soon as well and will update. Impressions are that these brakes are phenomenal with excellent fade resistense. Only time will tell if these Gen II's life is markedly metter than Gen I's.

9Eleven

I hope and I've been told, that the later model GT3's (February 05 and later) have the Gen II. Mine was built in May 05, the new 997s were out with the PCCB's before that. So far my brakes show absoultely no wear. Street use only and 2500k on them, so I guess they've got a long way to go yet to prove that they will hold up. You are right, there isn't any offiical word from Porsche on when this change ocurred.

NJ-GT

On this month Christophorus, there is an article on the GT3Cup PCCB brakes.

They mentioned that front steel rotors lasted 150-175 miles (about a weekend's worth of driving), and rear steel rotors about twice the fronts. The more wear-resistant ceramic disks can last ten times as long . The higher cost on the PCCB amortizes over time for the race teams.

In my opinion, this is nothing else than marketing. It reminds the famous 180,000 miles life on PCCB Gen 1. It feels suspicious to me that they took off the ABS from the GT3Cup by coincidence when they switched the GT3Cup to PCCB.

Let's see, increased cooling through the rotors (notice openings on the 997GT3Cup spoiler lip), ABS removed, increased cooling on the rotors themself, new construction process (Gen 2), a 15" front rotor instead of the 14" on the 996GT3Cup, a 14" rear rotor instead of the 13" on the 996GT3Cup. If they last 10 times more, then the cost can be 10 times higher.

In my opinion, Porsche sold the GT3 and GT2 with a deffective PCCB by design.

TM

Hi,

IMHO PCCB is fine for road use. I tried 1st and 2nd generation PCCB on the track and switched to cast iron. The wear of 2nd generation PCCB was sort of ok though it was eating pads quite quickly. For cost efficiency I switched to cast iron.

Cheers

roberga

Front pads today. 26,008 miles on car. 6/03 build at least 1/2 on track.Pads <40% cracked and bad shape. Someone on the board suggested that if you track PCCB then get rid of the pads at 50%. Great advice.

By the way rotors are like new. Shop said smooth as glass and not even the hint of a ridge at the edge.