Ceramic or Steel

[SteveJC]

I have just sent my specification off and placed an order for a Macan S, nice spec including Ceramic brakes. The dealer mentioned to me that it didn't need the Ceramics and that the steels are good enough and come resale time makes little difference in price. I've seen lots of debates regarding which is better etc on the 911, Boxster and Cayman cars and wouldn't personally spec a new one of those ranges without them, but as this is a daily driver and predominately for work etc ( although I have noticed Mike's French tours) it has put a little doubt in my mind, only a little one as I'll probably still go with them but what experiences have others had with either on this type of car. My current daily doesn't have them and don't even know if Range Rover offer them.

 

[wilkey]

I have just sent my specification off and placed an order for a Macan S, nice spec including Ceramic brakes. The dealer mentioned to me that it didn't need the Ceramics and that the steels are good enough and come resale time makes little difference in price. I've seen lots of debates regarding which is better etc on the 911, Boxster and Cayman cars and wouldn't personally spec a new one of those ranges without them, but as this is a daily driver and predominately for work etc ( although I have noticed Mike's French tours) it has put a little doubt in my mind, only a little one as I'll probably still go with them but what experiences have others had with either on this type of car. My current daily doesn't have them and don't even know if Range Rover offer them.

Are you going to use your Macan for regular track days? If not, the steel brakes are more than adequate (as indeed are they for all Porsche models being used mainly on road). I am fully aware of all the advantages of ceramic brakes, but for every day road use, I don't think they are cost-effective given that replacement costs for pads and rotors are (I understand) approx £5000/corner. Final question, have you experienced the true stopping power of Porsche brakes at the Silverstone Experience Centre? If not, then I thoroughly recommend the experience and you will quickly realise that steel brakes are more than adequate. I speak as a PDC!

 

[SteveJC]

You'll have to explain what you are as a PDC!.
The Macan will not be tracked, and yes I know the steels are adequate but I prefer Ceramics but would like hear of other peoples experiences of both if possible, cost is one element longevity is another, cleaner wheels is another, they look better and they stop better except when you have been through deep water ( they take longer to come back).

 

[wilkey]

You'll have to explain what you are as a PDC!.
The Macan will not be tracked, and yes I know the steels are adequate but I prefer Ceramics but would like hear of other peoples experiences of both if possible, cost is one element longevity is another, cleaner wheels is another, they look better and they stop better except when you have been through deep water ( they take longer to come back).

PDC = Porsche Driving Consultant at the Porsche Experience Centre. FYI, I also own Macan.

 

[oliver]

I'm a big fan of ceramic brakes and I've had pccbs on all my sporting Porsches since 2004.
I actually find most of the many benefits are enjoyed in road use, rather than pn track..
However, I also have a Macan, and would be less inclined to spec them on an SUV. Nice to have, no doubt, but less of a priority, IMO.

 

[Lancerlot]

Steve dear boy,
Spec the standard stoppers and whisk Helen away to the Caribbean for a break with the saving.
It'll do you both much more good! []
Regards,

Clive

 

[SteveJC]

Steve dear boy,
Spec the standard stoppers and whisk Helen away to the Caribbean for a break with the saving.
It'll do you both much more good! []
Regards,

Clive

Nice idea Clive and certainly thought provoking but we will have to wait and see. I do like the look and certain benefits from the Ceramics and over a 3-year ownership it’s not that bad but it is getting serious money when you start ticking the extras boxes and still cheaper than the Range Rover Sport equivalent.

 

[Lancerlot]

Ceramic brakes or Caribbean breaks - tough choice! [] []
Regards,

Clive

 

[924Srr27l]

STEEL ? Do you mean Iron ?

R

 

[924Srr27l]

[h2]Steel[/h2]Is prone to warping from excessive heat. The metal expands and contracts more than iron because of its lower coefficient of friction. Some Motorcycles use thin
Steel brake discs but with floating buttons to decrease their tendency to warp.
[h2]Cast Iron[/h2]If the brake material is kept in temperatures that are within its normal operating range, iron is less prone to galling and irregular wear from friction. Cast iron rotors wear better. They also have more internal damping in them which reduces squealing sounds and does not warp.

Iron brake rotors provide more braking power than steel rotors. They also have better brake force modulation than their steel counterparts. Iron rotors have better heat management and will not warp as easily as stainless steel rotors.

R

 

[Lancerlot]

Steve,
As you know I'm a great advocate of PCCB's and have had them on all of my last 5 cars, but the standard brakes of the Macan S are perfectly adequate - even for hard driving.

They do take some stick, particularly the fronts, due to the body weight of the car, but still work well even under the most arduous conditions - such as the Lancerlot left foot! I replaced the fronts on mine just recently at around 35k miles and did so for well under a grand for new pads, rotors, fasteners and senders. So for me, it's a no brainer.

Notwithstanding the cost, the PCCB's are superb in the Alps and for really spirited motoring, but are much less advantageous day to day due to their initial lack of bite and poorish retardation when cold in wet conditions. They can also be quite noisy as they wear and this can really be very embarrassing at traffic lights as you frighten pedestrians out of their wits! [] The latest level seem slightly less prone to this, but they all do it to some extent.

I'm sure whatever you finally decide, it'll be a great car and you'll thoroughly enjoy it.

Regards,

Clive

 

[SteveJC]

Thanks Clive, I understand where you are coming from, at the moment head is steel heart is Ceramic, hopefully head will win.

 

[924Srr27l]

Cast Iron come on guys get it right.....! Your Porsche owners


R

 

[Motorhead]

Come on Roger, get it right..! It's "You're Porsche owners" not "Your Porsche owners".

Agree with your comments about cast iron rather than steel discs though. []

Jeff

 

[924Srr27l]

Come on Roger, get it right..! It's "You're Porsche owners" not "Your Porsche owners".
Agree with your comments about cast iron rather than steel discs though. []
Jeff

Excellent ! Yes Literacy often lets me down against anything factual...

R

 

[Lancerlot]

I'm sure we're all grateful for the education, but isn't this slightly off topic?

 

[924Srr27l]

I'm sure we're all grateful for the education, but isn't this slightly off topic?

Huh ? correcting several references of "Steel" brake discs which is not the correct material...

R

 

[pwebb]

Back on topic...
Steve, I have steel/iron on the Cayenne and even on the recent French trip with the occasional burst of spirited driving and never felt them anything less than strong and reliable.
Also - I have ceramics on the 992 and they are much quieter, in fact no different to normal brakes but with the reassuring feel you get with them. The GT3 by contrast had an aggressive, gritty feel at slow speeds and squealed quite a bit.
So, no help there.

 

[stevebu]

We recently had our Macan's first MoT. As this occurs at the third anniversary of the car's first registration, the Porsche warranty expired at the same time so we also had the 111 point check performed in anticipation of extending the warranty. Whilst our car passed the MoT without problem, we were told that the front discs were below acceptable thickness limits to pass the 111 point check and would require replacement at £1300 inc pads for both sides in order for them to allow the warranty to be extended. Our car had done 36000 miles at the time. Braking performance was/is fine and no audible indications of excessive wear. I'm sure if we had PCCBs this would not have been the case. Food for the OP's thoughts perhaps...

 

[SteveJC]

Thank you for all your replies, it has been very useful and can confirm that I have now locked the Macan specification with ------ Steels ( Iron if you prefer ).
Looking forward to a September delivery.