1988 911 Boxster brake upgrade help

[krshome]

Is there a link for how to upgrade a 80's 911's using the Boxster calipers? Also any feed back on this upgrade good or bad would be helpful. Thanks

[Deadeye]

If you buy a complete kit it is pretty straight forward from an install standpoint. The performance upgrade is not that large, but I like the light weight newer technology calipers. Put in a 23mm master cylinder and quality brake fluid for a satisfying outcome. Because you will still be using relatively small Carrera rotors, cooling effort will be rewarded, but the weight savings over big brake set ups is substantial.

[michael lang]

Do your homework before you step up & spend the money. You will spend about $750 for the kit which does not include calipers, pads and rotors (if the Carrera rotors you do have are no longer usable) you will also need a master cylinder plus the cooling kit which will run another $300-400. Plus on top of all that, if you do a search on the forum, you will find many guys that have done this complain about the brakes making a tremendous amount of noise. So in my opinion, the roughly $1900 you will spend for the Boxster brake upgrade would be better spent somewhere else especially if your trying shave off some of your lap times.

[krshome]

Thanks I thought the performance gains would be substantial. I may keep the stock calipers and just rebuild them. Thanks for saving me a couple grand

[Bob Kontak]

I did this and it was less than a grand and I got Carrera rotors.

Where $1900 came from I have no idea.

You interested in what I experienced or are you ok with what you have heard already?

[krshome]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

I did this and it was less than a grand and I got Carrera rotors.

Where $1900 came from I have no idea.

You interested in what I experienced or are you ok with what you have heard already?

Sure I like to hear you experience, if its only a grand might be still an option.

[michael lang]

Boxster brake upgrade kit $750. from our host
Boxster brake calipers front $350. from Potomac German (used)
Boxsrer brake calipers rear $350. from Potomac German (used)
Brake cooling kit $385. from our host
23mm master cylinder $150. from Potomac German (used if available)
Plus whatever pads you want to use. That's where the $1900. came from.

And after all that you only shaved 1/2 a second off your best laptime.

[Bob Kontak]

I got the basic kit. 3.2 Rotors, calipers, mounting hardware. Plus some brake lines. Maybe just at $1k.

Calipers were new, out of the "Porsche" box and the lines and bleeders were upside down vs the 911 configuration. That was a huge part of the noise problem. I put the left on the right and right on the left and did not know the leading piston was the wimpy one. Switched the lines and bleeders and noise reduced by 90% and that is using the fairly hard Boxster factory pads.

Softer pads are available but I am now happy with existing.

The Michael Lang setup is way more extensive and superior to the basic setup. Not really apples and apples for comparing price.

FWIW - I was told by Engine Builders Supply that you can put older 911 rear calipers on to bring the ratio - front to rear - into original specs without messing with master cylinders. This is the basic setup. Don't remember which ones. Also, all of this went down when the Boxster upgrade was pretty new. Late 1990's so lots may have transpired since then, RE better set ups.

Also, I was told you can put Boxster S front and Boxster S rear calipers on with a proportioning valve. Ei-yi-yi I get confused.

All of this said, can you put Boxster rotors on the front of an SC or Carrera? The 3.2 rotors are said to be a drawback as to heat absorption given they are wimpy relative to the Boxster rotors.

DE events are way different than driving fast to Best Buy or the market. Street use, the basic Boxster brake set up grabs nice with a REALLY nice pedal feel. Faster stops, I doubt it vs stock. Faster stops with less effort, yes. But is that really important - the effort?

I would defer to Michael Lang's advice if you are tracking the car.