Update on PCCB

[bobfair]

I recently attended a test day at Millbrook where I was able to drive two 997 Turbos neither of which had PCCB. My Porchse driving consultant (DC) ws a professional driver and was genuinely thrilled and excited by the car (Bit like Plato in the Fith Gear review) My DC has won many races in 911's and has huge experience so I valued his opinion. I asked him if it was his money would he spec PCCB. He replied:
1. If the car was just for road use then no. The 350mm, 6 pot caliper steel discs are very good and given the cost and limited speed potential on public roads the cost of the PCCB could not be justfied
2. If the car was going to be used on the track then yes. The lower weight, better handling and fade resistance and increased durability make them worthwhile.

No I know professional drrivers are used to looking for hundreths of a second and I am not but I appreciated the honest and frank response. I understand the PCCB currently being fitted are a Mark 3 version in an attempt by Porsche to solve the previous problems of premature failure.

I would be interested in the forums views on:
1. Have Porsche now solved the PCCB issues with the Mark 3 version and are they now what they should be
2. If the technology is now cracked (no pun intended) will PCCB become a must have in the second hand market for the higher value 911's such as Turbos and GT3's

 

[bobfair]

Looks like this post was a real winer then with zero response. I am surprised no one has any views on ceramic brakes. Other forums have very mixed views from "dont touch with a long pole" to "great if you can aford them but very expensive to replace" Looks like it will have to be the steel discs

 

[Rotorhead]

At the moment, views on PCCBs seem to be polarised between those who have had a bad experience (or heard of bad experiences) and those who have had good experiences or are sold on the engineering benefits.

Porsche have never accepted that there is a problem with PCCBs, although the latest models are now using a third generation application with claimed improvements in durability, cooling, front/rear bias and lightness.

There seems to be a body of opinion that PCCBs are better for road use than extensive track use, and several journalists, including Autocar's Chris Harris, reckoned that the 997 on PCCBs was a nicer packaged road car than the 997'S' on standard brakes, largely because of the benefits of the lower unsprung weight (and the 18" wheels).

I've done my own research and I will definitely spec them on my next new Porsche, but I fully accept that some people have reservations about the significant extra cost.

 

[Rodney Naghar]

I'm sure there are lots of threads on the GT3 forum about PCCBs.
If not try this 5 page thread on Pistonheads posted recently

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=297504&f=48&h=0

 

[garyw]

I was advised by the OPC salesman not to go for them, due to how easily they could be damaged by a simple stone stuck against the disc..

I would like to spec them and have read various reports including that for road use they would possibly never fail on you- unless due to bad driving techniques (always a get out clause isn't there[:'(])
But the potential on track is that they will likely crack. The opposite to what you have been recommended...

As far as second hand residuals, it will be down to time, if they work then your in luck, if they don't you could have a white elephant...or change them to steels.

Oh! and then there's the 5k+ cost. but the lack of brake dust does sound nice [8D]

garyw

 

[sawood12]

Surely the astronomical cost of them would put anyone off. Yes they may be better on track but surely even those who are intending to track their car are not going to drive the cars anywhere the limits of the 6-pot steel set up. My experiance of trackdays is that those in the really expensive cars don't tend to drive them that hard for fear of sticking their car in the gravel. At may last track day I was smoking a 996TT! Obviously it was because the driver was too scared to take the rev counter much above 3k rpm. So you've got to ask yourself is the cost of them actually worth it even if you intend to track the car? I've read that Porsche would fit PCCB as standard if they could slash the manufacturing costs so they are obviously committed to the development of them.

 

[m33Porsche]

Interesting approach the OPC's have on this topic.

Mine positively discouraged me for looking for a PCCB equiped used car on the basis that cannot be sure of history and hence probability of need to replace. In my view PCCB's are likely to be a double whammy, 6k on purchase price and negative impact on re-sale.

Absolutely buy the benefit though, for road not track use, lighter unsprung weight means quicker responses and smoother ride.

M33