Brembos on an early 944?

[UomoBello]

I happened on this car doing google searches for parts: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/358773 the owner claims to have fitted a brembo big brake kit to his early '83. I noticed all of the big brake kits for sale are for turbos or at least fore the late 85.5+ cars. Is there any reasonably simple way to retrofit my '83 to big brembo brakes, say from a 968 or 928s4? Or does it involve being a mad scientist?

[marksport]

Easy conversion. You need the '86 turbo calipers/pads, the spindles with hubs and brake rotor, and the struts unless you modify the strut mounting points on your '83. Rear is as easy as changing the caliper/pads and rotor. I think rennbay makes a wilwood kit for the non-turbo cars that is a good improvement over the stock setup.

[Techno Duck]

You also need to drill a hole through the spindle to fit the speedometer cable. My friend and i did the same conversion on his early '85.

[UomoBello]

Thanks guys, one more thing, would i need to get 16" wheels for the bigger calipers to fit?

[JivenJim]

I would have a machinist who knows those spindals do the drilling. (And I like doing things myself) Also give them both the new Turbo, S2 or 968 Spindal with the old spindal as a reference when they are to drill.

I had mine converter to The Turbo Big Black Brake setup. Awsome for the Track.
And since the Calipers are lighter, it's about equal in weight when compare to the larger rotors.

16's needed for Big Blacks, and fuches are said to not fit!
17's for Big Red's, I believe is required.

[manbarepig]

for the wilwood brakes on rennbay, they say you can use your factory 15" wheels, but the brembos definitly need at least 17" wheels, im thinking about doin the wilwoods on my 83 944 with cross drilled rotors soon, also getting 18" wheels, then getting the turbo calipers for the rear

[JivenJim]

Manbarepig,

The Willwood are a good improvement over the stock for track applications. Not as good as larger rotors and Turbo Brakes. Brakes need to be ballanced so the fronts brakes don't over brake the rears on hard stops. Even the stock pads and rotors will do that at max brake, a few times. The Difference is when they get hot from repeat use. 944 Spec racers use those brakes with a slight improved Racing Blue Fluid and Hake Blue Pads. The Willwood and turbo rears mix would probably move too much brake bias to the rear and increase braking distance, in my opinion. It has to do with size of rotor and suface area and coefficient friction of pad.
This is why normal pads are larger in front than rear, to promote ballanced bias. (since more weight is shifted forward during braking)

I remember reading a swap where max brake for street was used and the turbo's stopped about 3 ft shorter. On the track I'll definately take the turbo's but on the street good working brakes are more than a match. (unless you want to pay $1000 for the 3 feet)
Again my opinion.