1975 Hot Rod Project Brake options

[Duc Hunter]

I have been reading up on improved braking for "pre-power brake" cars. I just picked up a project car that is a 1975 roller with a steel wide body, a 3.6 that has a B&B exhaust, etc....that someone else (at least 2 others someone else's to be exact) never finished. It is a project believe me! So I will have some questions, and this is the first. The brakes are shot and dragging bad! I think the calipers are seized and/or the e-brake is stuck. Everything looks original and never rebuilt.

This will be a STREET car. I like the brakes on my 3.2 Carrera (89), and know the '75 car is noticeably lighter and does not have power assisted brakes like the '89. I have read many of your comments on here (searched) about this and learned many "in the know" do not like Boxster setups. Seems this is predominantly because adding them Carrera sized rotors just makes more heat, and these cars brakes really just need more cooling vs bigger calipers. In my experience better braking perf comes from getting rid of heat, better pads, and more heat tolerant fluid....NOT calipers particularly except for purely aesthetic reasons). I also know I want to maintain balance front/rear as well as master cylinder to calipers.

I will run 17" wheels most likely..I MAY run 16" wheels....so I could run larger rotors under esp the 17's. So what brakes would you put on this car knowing it is FOR STREET USE and is a wide body 3.6 conversion car? The main options seem to be;

• Rebuild what it has and use very good rotors, pads, & fluid?
• Get the "better" Carrera 3.2 calipers (maybe later ones that I think I saw you said are stiffer)? Not sure how they are better, etc.
• I think 930 brakes are VERY expensive now, so they are probably out...but should they be considered?
• I have access to 944 Turbo brakes, know they need modification to fit (which I can get done), and I believe a different master than I have would be required as well.
• Boxster brake calipers & rotors (which rotors would I run)?

Thank you all for your help...and yes I have been searching and reading threads. Most seem 2+ years old, and a lot has changed in the last 2 years (skyrocketing prices for 930 setup for 1). So I wanted to ask again.

[moneymanager]

Nothing at all wrong with the stock ones. You're spot on about fluid and cooling, though neither matters much if this really is for street. I wouldn't do anything but give them a complete rebuild. The late Carrera brakes with the A caliper are way superior to the stock M pad and would be worth doing if you were tracking the car. The main benefit is the 24mm thick rotor, +20% over the M rotor, which makes a huge difference in dissipating heat and doesn't need constant attention.Bigger pads are good too. But again, for street, why bother unless you just enjoy spending money.

[Mick_D]

If this is a street car you are doing fine by using the boxter stuff.

[Duc Hunter]

Originally Posted by moneymanager

Nothing at all wrong with the stock ones. You're spot on about fluid and cooling, though neither matters much if this really is for street. I wouldn't do anything but give them a complete rebuild. The late Carrera brakes with the A caliper are way superior to the stock M pad and would be worth doing if you were tracking the car. The main benefit is the 24mm thick rotor, +20% over the M rotor, which makes a huge difference in dissipating heat and doesn't need constant attention.Bigger pads are good too. But again, for street, why bother unless you just enjoy spending money.

Does the requite the power assisted master cylinder though? I know that is a fair bit or work to make work...pun intended. I also saw in my research that there are different volume manual master cylinders that can "correct" for certain different calipers.

Originally Posted by Mick_D

If this is a street car you are doing fine by using the boxter stuff.

True enough, as a street car is not dealing with the heat. That said....is there a good reason to spend the money above rebuilding what I already have (or moving to the A brakes as money manager talks about, which I think can be had pretty cheap)?

[Mick_D]

Other than asthetics, I can't think of one.

[Ferrino]

For street use, I would stay with the stock '75 brakes - send them to PMB for plating and fresh rotors/pads.