Should I upgrade my SC to Carrera brakes? (fronts only)

anthony · 10-07-2004, 07:06 PM

I'm asking because I have an '89 Carrera front suspension in my garage that I bought for a 914 project that I'm not pursuing.

My understand is that the pad size of the Carrera brakes is the same as on the SC and that the only real difference is the thickness of the rotor. Have I got this right?

So, I presume that Carrera brakes on the front of an SC won't upset the brake balance. Is this correct or would I have to also find Carrera rear brakes/rotors to match?

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Ask yourself.....do I have brake fade or issues where I can't stop?

Go with more aggressive pads before an upgrade.....baby steps...unless you have unlimited money....

Rob Channell · 08:15 PM

Thicker rotors is kinda cool. I went ahead and added the rear Carrera calipers and a Tilton brake bias lever to my car. It can stop faster now. Those larger pistons on the rears give a better balance for braking though some people fear rear lockup. The lever makes it adjustable.

I say go for it....... OK, OK, Mike does have a good point about asking yourself if you really "need" it or would the money be better spent elsewhere............

anthony · 10-07-2004, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Ask yourself.....do I have brake fade or issues where I can't stop?

To be honest, no. The car stops well. It's just that I have the '89 front suspension sitting there and this winter I'm going to upgrade the torsion bars and put the thicker sway bar from the '89 on there (I've got a matching rear Carrera sway bar as well).

Anyway, I thought I would start researching whether moving over the brakes at the same time was a recommended upgrade.

anthony · 10-07-2004, 08:20 PM

What would be involved in upgrade the rears? Is it just calipers and rotors or is it more complicated?

KobaltBlau · 10-07-2004, 08:21 PM

If you are outrunning the cooling capacity of your SC brakes WITH good air ducting, then maybe you should.

If you are not, then don't. The Carrera rotors are very notably heavier than the SC rotors => Unsprung Weight, people!!!

The unsprung weight is worth it if you need it, but if you haven't tried proper air ducting to the SC brakes, then don't bother yet.

Oh, and you don't need bigger calipers/pistons/pads unless you can't lock the brakes. You probably can unless you have very big/sticky front tires.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Upgrade one thing at a time....so when something doesn't work....you know where to start....

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

So, I presume that Carrera brakes on the front of an SC won't upset the brake balance

Correct, do not touch the rear brakes other than to maintain them. The only gain here is thermal capacity on a race track.

The Carrera rear calipers are a waste of money! First you pay to put calipers w/ overly large pistons on the back, then you pay for a p/v to compensate(negate) for the overly large rear pistons that you just paid to put on.