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Writer/Teacher
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Upgrade brakes next??
Well, I have done a bit of suspension work over the last year or so, and I think the next project to tackle would be the brakes. I don't want to go extreme - as I can tell, 944 Turbo/928S4 brakes would be a viable upgrade and seems to be a popular option.... and I might be able to buy a used pair of calipers for relatively cheaply. but I have a few questions:
1) I replaced front rotors last winter. Would I be able to use the same rotors with the new calipers? 2) I would probably buy a caliper rebuild kit before installing the calipers. How much do these usually run, and how difficult of a process is it for a novice DIYer? 3) What else would you recommend as long as I'm doing the calipers? New (steel-braided) lines? 4) *edit* I believe these are two-piston calipers. Are there any adaptations that need to be performed in order to install them on the front of a 1983 944? This is all hypothetical for now, so just bear with my ignorance... at this point, I know considerably less about the braking system on this car than, say, the suspension.
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. Last edited by CJFusco; 10-06-2005 at 08:03 AM.. |
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10-06-2005, 07:58 AM
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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 4,530
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Uhmmm you have the steel control arms on your early....
Well......... You would need -control arms, rotors, hubs, spindles, struts, calipers for the fronts.... I am not sure if its really worth the effort. JustinL has used his NA in high speed courses.....and the brakes really don't give out. Maybe in hour long sessions..... but not for most DE, Autox events. As he would say..... pads and good brake fluid is the best investment.
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Alex - PCA Polar Region - Boxster Muncher 86' 944 Turbo - Megasquirt - 326 rwhp/340lbft @ 18 psi SOLD www.edmontonhomelife.com www.edmontonrealestate.ws |
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10-06-2005, 09:00 AM
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Writer/Teacher
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Ouch. Well, there goes that plan
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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10-06-2005, 09:03 AM
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Parrothead member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Monmouth county, NJ USA
Posts: 13,842
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Personally i think thr stock brakes are great on the car, just get some high quality pads. the steel brake lines make a huge difference also. Save your money on the other stuff
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Vinny Red '86 944, 05 Ford Super Duty Dually '02 Ram 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually, '07Jeep Wrangler '62 Mercury Meteor '90 Harley 1200 XL "Live your Life in such a way that the Westboro Baptist Church will want to picket your funeral." |
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10-06-2005, 09:52 AM
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That Guy
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Stock brakes are adquete for street use, unless you are doing 120mph to 0 stops constantly on the expressway. I think the best alternative to changing the brakes is Rennbays solution.
http://www.rennbay.com/big-brake-kits-c-49.html?osCsid=a0c4c4ba8434ddd41d9c072d3eef02aa but still, unless you are doing some serious track duty i dont think you need to upgrade your brakes short of a more aggressive pad compound.
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Jon 1988 Granite Green 911 3.4L 2005 Arctic Silver 996 GT3 Past worth mentioning - 1987 924S, 1987 944, 1988 944T with 5.7L LS1 |
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10-06-2005, 09:56 AM
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Writer/Teacher
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yeah i saw those Willwood brakes... but I don't understand why these are bolt-on but the 951 brakes require the entire front to be changed...
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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10-06-2005, 10:13 AM
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That Guy
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The mounting points are different for the calipers.
I am pretty sure the Rennbay kit comes with a custom adapter for the caliper.
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Jon 1988 Granite Green 911 3.4L 2005 Arctic Silver 996 GT3 Past worth mentioning - 1987 924S, 1987 944, 1988 944T with 5.7L LS1 |
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10-06-2005, 11:43 AM
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Custom User Title
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Barrie, Ontario Canada
Posts: 2,954
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If you are looking to spend some money on your 944 why not do something about those seat covers?
I dropped in to an upholstery place and was kind of surprized when I was quoted $125 for replace the worn through drivers seat Bolster. Its on my list now. |
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10-06-2005, 02:18 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Central Washington
Posts: 457
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Renbays Willwood kit upgrades the na brakes to a performance level similar to turbo brakes and looks great too. One commonly overlooked bonus is a sizable unsprung weight savings. Worth a little over 700$? Thats gotta be up to the owner.
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10-06-2005, 03:01 PM
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Non Compos Mentis
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Off the grid- Almost
Posts: 10,597
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I'm not sure if you can go to four-piston calipers without changing the master cylinder. Anybody know?
I have stock NA brakes on my race car, and they perform very well. I can consistantly out-brake everybody else except the other 944s I play with. Towards the end of a race it gets better. Other car's brakes are fading, and the 944s keep going strong. I have removed the fog lights, and use the openings for cooling ducts. The pads last much longer that way. |
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10-06-2005, 04:53 PM
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That Guy
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Dantilla, i am pretty sure the Willwoods are 4-piston, they are completley bolt in, no changes are needed to anything other than brake lines (which are provided).
I only autocross my car, however that dosent make me very tempted to buy the Rennbay kit anyway! After driving my buddies Evo with those Brembos...man those brakes bite hard. I am running what i believe are OEM pads, i hope to go with something a little more aggressive for the street like the Hawk HPS. That hopefully gives me that similar initial bite.
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Jon 1988 Granite Green 911 3.4L 2005 Arctic Silver 996 GT3 Past worth mentioning - 1987 924S, 1987 944, 1988 944T with 5.7L LS1 |
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10-06-2005, 05:11 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Central Washington
Posts: 457
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Renbay and Willwood developed these, they claim they work great with the stock master cyl and proportioning valve. I just happened to be talking to the fella that runs Renbay a few days ago (name escapes me at the moment) he said the balanced is shifted very slightly to the front, but the stock balanced is slightly heavy on the rear. At a given line psi larger pistons at the front will increase clamping force on the front rotor.
http://www.rennbay.com/944-big-brake-kit-p-83.html |
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10-06-2005, 05:30 PM
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Writer/Teacher
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I don't want to steal any business away from Rennbay, but I believe I saw those same Willwood calipers for sale brand new on eBay for a bit cheaper... of course, with eBay, you are taking a sizeable risk...
I believe those brakes just made it onto my wish list.
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Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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10-06-2005, 05:35 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Central Washington
Posts: 457
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I saw them on Ebay too, The ones I saw were the same setup being sold by Iean from 944 online.
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10-06-2005, 05:47 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 146
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Hey guys,
Saw the Wilwood chatter and thought I would drop in. They are 4 pot calipers and were designed to work with the stock MC and bias. They do shift the braking a bit to the front which is a much needed adjustment from running stock calipers on all 4 corners. Unsprung weight is reduced by 7.5 lbs per wheel, they are bolt on and they do use the stock rotors. Pad compounds available range from the most aggressive pad available (Polymatrix A class) to the dust free street pads (Polymatrix Q series). The ones on ebay are being sold by me but Ian does have a set in stock right now as well. Just let me know if you guys need any specifics on the kit. I am happy to help out. Travis |
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10-06-2005, 08:52 PM
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Writer/Teacher
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Looks like a great kit you are selling, Travis. They are on my Xmas list
__________________
Current Stable: Black 07 Porsche 987 Cayman S: Long-Tube Headers; FabSpeed Exhaust; VividRacing ECU Tune; IPD Plenum; 997GT3 Throttle Body. Blue 1983 Porsche 928S. 1985.5 Porsche 944 Rat Rod. 2011 Acura MDX. 2008 Mazda 3. Gone But Not Forgotten:Garnet Red 86 Porsche 951("The Purple Pig"). Alpine White 83 Porsche 944 ("Alpine Wolf"). Guards Red 84 Porsche 944. |
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10-07-2005, 05:38 AM
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Yeah...I say go for the Wildwood brakes. But why wait til Xmas??!!
Get them now, and have a CT party to install them!!
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10 E92 M3 13 Jeep GC Limited 98 Jeep Cherokee 87 951 C3 Stingray |
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10-07-2005, 05:42 AM
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Non Compos Mentis
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Off the grid- Almost
Posts: 10,597
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Quote:
Is it 7.5 for all four maybe? |
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10-07-2005, 09:17 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 146
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Your stock calipers weigh in at 12.5 lbs EACH. including pads. (cast iron)
The Wilwoods, including pads and adaptors weigh in at 5 lbs EACH. This caliper is made to be as light and as strong as possible by using a forged core that is then machined to spec. You will not find a lighter caliper of its size on the market. I know its hard to believe but true. When we went looking for a caliper to use with the kits, Wilwood was the obvious choice when compaired with Brembo and others. |
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10-07-2005, 09:55 AM
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and my Christmas wishlist grows a little more
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1983 944 - Sable Brown Metallic / Saratoga / LSD : IceShark Light Kit |
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10-07-2005, 11:02 AM
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2007 Porsche Cayman S
The Viridian Falcon
SOLD! -- The Purple Pig
SOLD! -- Mighty Mouse
SOLD!! -- Alpine Wolf
The Kraut Burner
The Bratwurst Burner
Das Boost
951
Jeep XJ
M3
Baby Hauler
C3 Stingray
1983 Porsche 944 2.5 NA
