View Poll Results: Would you get Ceramic Brakes if they were offered?
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Ceramic brakes as an option?
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: Boston
Porsche ceramic brakes have had mixed reviews. They may not be the holy grail of brake systems.
There have been more than a few owners of the "first generation" ceramic brake cars whom have had failures under heavy use (track use).
Replacement rotors have been about $8000.00 EACH, pads (and they run a special pad) are about $600.00/axle. More than a few have replaced the ceramic discs with cast iron ones when faced with replacement.
What percentage of these costs can be attributed to the "Porsche Parts Gouge" one could only guess-they make the $400.00 US Goverment hammer look cheap sometimes-but ceramic disks on Ferrari are north of a $14000.00 option.
One thing I know, you aren't buying this stuff from the Pep Boys.
Porsche has toned down the advertising for the ceramic package as they used to claim virtual invincibility under all conditions. They now claim long life under "normal conditions"; and racing ain't normal boys and girls. (There vill be no warranty for YOU!)
The 'second generation' ceramic rotors are visibly different. More space in between rotors, smoother surface, different pads. So something was lacking on the first try.
Braking feel is not significantly different. The difference is that the ceramic rotors may last 2000 track miles and the cast iron rotors last 1000 miles. It's twice the durability-yes-but cast iron rotors are a fraction of the replacement cost.
If you're a factory race team looking for every edge and have an 'unlimited' budget than ceramics may make sense. If not, it's all Madison Avenue BS, if you are a non-professional high-speed driver.
Be careful what you wish for in your quest for the latest and greatest performance part, it may just come true!
Regards,
BD
There have been more than a few owners of the "first generation" ceramic brake cars whom have had failures under heavy use (track use).
Replacement rotors have been about $8000.00 EACH, pads (and they run a special pad) are about $600.00/axle. More than a few have replaced the ceramic discs with cast iron ones when faced with replacement.
What percentage of these costs can be attributed to the "Porsche Parts Gouge" one could only guess-they make the $400.00 US Goverment hammer look cheap sometimes-but ceramic disks on Ferrari are north of a $14000.00 option.
One thing I know, you aren't buying this stuff from the Pep Boys.
Porsche has toned down the advertising for the ceramic package as they used to claim virtual invincibility under all conditions. They now claim long life under "normal conditions"; and racing ain't normal boys and girls. (There vill be no warranty for YOU!)
The 'second generation' ceramic rotors are visibly different. More space in between rotors, smoother surface, different pads. So something was lacking on the first try.
Braking feel is not significantly different. The difference is that the ceramic rotors may last 2000 track miles and the cast iron rotors last 1000 miles. It's twice the durability-yes-but cast iron rotors are a fraction of the replacement cost.
If you're a factory race team looking for every edge and have an 'unlimited' budget than ceramics may make sense. If not, it's all Madison Avenue BS, if you are a non-professional high-speed driver.
Be careful what you wish for in your quest for the latest and greatest performance part, it may just come true!
Regards,
BD
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,403
Likes: 1
From: Lusby, MD
I agree about the price deal, I think that is wishful thinking for that kind of price. I went browsing at some car dealerships yesterday and was really stunned by the the size and hardcoreness of the STI and EVO's Brembo brakes. I understand our car is not pushing the weight of these cars so that caliper (no pun intended) of brakes are needed, but the stopping force these brakes provide are probably superb.
Also some other irrelevant info., Aren't F1 cars using ceramic brakes now.
Also some other irrelevant info., Aren't F1 cars using ceramic brakes now.
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 42,315
Likes: 45
From: Central Massachusetts
^ Nicely summarized, BD. I'd heard similar noises about failures in the Porsche system.
Until the price drops substantially on these things, I really don't think folks with an S2000 would be interested in this. Particularly if you're tracking the car a lot and have to treat brakes as a replaceable item.
Until the price drops substantially on these things, I really don't think folks with an S2000 would be interested in this. Particularly if you're tracking the car a lot and have to treat brakes as a replaceable item.
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