Planet 9

Freestyle · #1 03-24-2008, 05:34 AM

I was one of the first Cayman S owners and traded to a C2S after about 18 months ownership. The 911 is fantastic - powerful (probably a little too much for practical use!) and sounds great, but given we're getting nailed by the government - fuel, congestion charge, road tax etc. - and (get this) I miss the practicality of the Cayman (2 sets of golf clubs in the back) and the noise from the engine Im going to order a facelift Cayman - the extra 15bhp will do nicely.

So, to my question. I'm considering speccing the car as a real racer - PASM, sport exhaust etc etc. Has anyone got a Cayman S with PCCB. Is it worth it? Do you loose the 5k on trade in? Does the 20k lighter load make any difference to performance?

**K-Man S** · #2 03-24-2008, 07:32 AM

While I am sure that the PCCB's do have some performance advantage on the track, I suspect that most of us here don't have the driving skills to make use of that difference. I wouldn't mind having fade free and lighter brakes on the track so if I had the extra $$$ laying around I would go for them, but that's just me.

Nitro8472 · #3 03-24-2008, 07:49 AM

but IMHO, you'd better save the $$$ on the Sport Exhaust and get a Borla or a Capristo... But then again, its just me!

________________________

"Sir! We're surrounded!" - "Excellent! We can shoot in any direction!"

A good car will get you from point A to point B. A great car... will just get you into trouble!

Chops · #4 03-24-2008, 07:52 AM

I had a 997 S trying to keep up with me at a tight twisty track (tgprace.com) and he couldn't keep up when I was by myself. When I had a 250 lb passenger, he started to creep on me until his brake pedal went mush on him.

My pedal feel never changed from start to finish for the entire day.

It does take a lap or two to heat them up, but it's nice to drive hard and never think about the brakes.

I think it's money well spent if your just a "once in a while" track guy like myself.

intubator · #5 03-24-2008, 11:59 AM

I have the PCCB's on my Cayman S and love them. They are far superior to the many brakes on other 911's I've tried (been driving 911's for about 20 years). The main positive aspects compared to steel systems is they rarely fade under hard conditions and they weigh close to half as much so unsprung weight is lost and handling improves. Also, they have a lot less brake dust, and they have cool yellow calipers! It seems that not many cars are equipped with them so the rarity may make it a good investment. I have not driven another Cayman S with standard brakes hard enough to compare but you can't go wrong with either IMO.

chows4us · #6 03-24-2008, 01:05 PM

How much is it going to cost for new pads and rotors when the time comes for new rotors?

intubator · #7 03-24-2008, 04:12 PM

Thats a good question, anyone know of supply sources other than the dealer?

Chops · #8 03-24-2008, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by chows4us

How much is it going to cost for new pads and rotors when the time comes for new rotors?

There was a post on here awhile back about a DE program where they were getting 3 weekends out of a set of steel rotors and getting a full year out of the Carbon rotors.

If they do need replacing you can always go to steel.

I rather spend the money on the brakes than things such as crests in the headrest, painted interiors, all leather......

edit - pads for PCCB are about $700

oh, and did I mention there is hardly any brake dust.

intubator · #9 03-24-2008, 05:55 PM

I agree on your philosophy. I heard a while ago that Porsche recieves the parts for PCCB's from Brembo. If this is the case then maybe they could be obtained from a Brembo dealer. I have a feeling it may be a good idea to have the folks with PCCB's keep their eyes out for periodic specials (wherever they may come from), even if one may not need a part at that particular time it may the kind of thing where it would pay off to get it before hand, especially those beautiful disks!!

chows4us · #10 03-24-2008, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Chops

There was a post on here awhile back about a DE program where they were getting 3 weekends out of a set of steel rotors and getting a full year out of the Carbon rotors.

I would agree that the performance items are more important than bling (a personal preference) but a year or so ago I thought I read that while the initial cost was $8K, to replace the 4 rotors was more like $20K. Maybe they have gone down ... or not?

Perhaps with no trackdays they last the normal life of the vehicle?

intubator · #11 03-24-2008, 07:07 PM

Oh S**T, at that price I should take these off as soon as possible for preservation, and replace with the steel set up!! Can anyone verify or justify (unless your racing on a multi- million $ team) paying 20K for a set of disks. I'm suddenly having a 'Pulp Fiction' moment...

**smounic** · #12 03-24-2008, 07:16 PM

I remember reading the same thing on these forums many times. It may have changed with the new revision that are on the cars now. I'm sure someone will chime in, but I would call Suncoast and get the numbers from them. That cost is one of the reasons I wouldn't have considered it had I speced one out.

Originally Posted by chows4us

I would agree that the performance items are more important than bling (a personal preference) but a year or so ago I thought I read that while the initial cost was $8K, to replace the 4 rotors was more like $20K. Maybe they have gone down ... or not?

Perhaps with no trackdays they last the normal life of the vehicle?

Chops · #13 03-24-2008, 08:02 PM

If it came down to replacing a rotors I would probably go with steel if I had to do all four. I sure would hate to give up the carbons!!!!

I wonder if you can convert the PCCB calipers over to steel?

chows4us · #14 03-25-2008, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by intubator

... Can anyone verify or justify (unless your racing on a multi- million $ team) paying 20K for a set of disks.

As someone suggested, I would call your local Porsche parts department and ask. They are not cheap

See PCCB For Sale - Rennlist Discussion Forums

If you google around, you'll find lots of references to $20K or so for 4

beez · #15 03-25-2008, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by smounic

I remember reading the same thing on these forums many times. It may have changed with the new revision that are on the cars now. I'm sure someone will chime in, but I would call Suncoast and get the numbers from them. That cost is one of the reasons I wouldn't have considered it had I speced one out.

The PCCB rotors are indeed nearly $6k each for the 2nd Gen. Porsche makes the rotors themselves from what I understand, so you're not going to get them elsewhere... the calipers, etc. are sourced from Brembo, just like the non-PCCB Porsche brakes. The PCCB rotors are a different thickness than the steel ones, and you can switch from carbon composite rotors to steel and use the yellow calipers, but you can't go the other way... I've heard the 2nd Gen rotors are less prone to discombobulating than the 1st Gen on the track, but if they do, you're on the hook to replace them for a very, very large sack of money.

brad

chows4us · #16 03-25-2008, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by beez

The PCCB rotors are indeed nearly $6k each for the 2nd Gen. Porsche makes the rotors themselves from what I understand, so you're not going to get them elsewhere... the calipers, etc. are sourced from Brembo, just like the non-PCCB Porsche brakes. The PCCB rotors are a different thickness than the steel ones, and you can switch from carbon composite rotors to steel and use the yellow calipers, but you can't go the other way... I've heard the 2nd Gen rotors are less prone to discombobulating than the 1st Gen on the track, but if they do, you're on the hook to replace them for a very, very large sack of money.

brad

I guess then I see no reason to ever order these on a car while the prices are so high. From what is written about them, they add no value whatsoever for street driving because the benefits of lighter unsprung weight or no fade mean nothing. If you can't use them for fear of having to replace them for trackdays, then it seems to me they are just a means for PAG to make money

Then again, $3K for a GPS is also kind of silly.