New Brakes--Need a technical opinion

I need new brakes for my 99MY and am considering going with the big red calipers. Does anyone know if the red calipers from a 2006 model will bolt up to the 99MY.

Why do you need new brakes? The brakes on the 99 996 are MORE than ample--even for the track. It may be pads that you are after. Question is why would you want to go to larger brakes and add more unsprung weight. Just trying to get some more info about your request.

I don't know about the 997s, but if they are 330mm brakes like those used on the 996, they will not bolt up to the 318mm fronts withouth changing out the wheel carriers and a lot of other stuff--about $1K per side not including install. I have heard that the rear 996 330mm brakes will bolt up, but then there's the question of unsprung weight that Dell brings up. Are you looking for more brake torque or more heat dissipation? Pads will solve the former. Ducting/mass (bigger brakes) will solve the latter. I'm actually looking to find/build 2-piece, stock-sized rotors to cut down unsprung weight (back burner project). If it's only red color you want, you can paint them or get red factory versions from one of the board sponsors (I usually use Sunset). Gert has pictures on the Carnewal site.

For LVDell and arenared, Whew! Lot's to consider. My reasons for making this change were simple. I have an opportunity to buy a complete set of brakes (rotors, pads, calipers, sensor's etc.) for just about $500 more than a complete brake job would cost at the local dealer as I will definately need rotors, pads and maybe even caliper rebuild kits for my existing brakes.. This set is a take off from a new 997--the guy evidently has replaced them with the ceramic system. I figured that the extra $500 would be money well spent.......I'd get big reds....better braking....and another mod completed. I don't intend to race the car, probably won't track it more than once or twice in my lifetime, but do want a good solid brake system....which I think I already have. I never considered the unsprung wieght issue that both of you brought up and honestly have to tell you that I am unfamiliar with the ramifications of this matter. I would be interested in reading more about how unsprung wieght affect the performance and handling characteristics of the vehicle. If you can direct me to some reading material I'd appreciate it. Thanks for taking the time to respond to my request.

Hi Chrisp3. Thanks for the very courteous reply! I don't have any good references for unsprung weight discussions, but I'm sure there are a lot out there. Try Googling. Basically, the heavier your wheels/tires/brakes/etc., the more difficult it is for your tires to respond to and follow road surface changes--thus less grip and response. If I recall, the steel 350mm brakes would be like +10lbs per corner for the rotors alone, not including the weight of the bigger calipers, pads, wheel carriers, etc. That made me think twice. Non-technical, though, more unsprung weight feels "heavy"--like you strapped weights on your tennis shoes. Most likely the 997 brakes won't fit if you say the prior owner upgraded to PCCB. At least in the 996 vintage, the 330mm and 350mm (steel or ceramic) both use a wider bolt pattern, 140mm I think. The smaller brakes use a 130mm pattern. I see a lot of TT brakes (330mm F&R) on eBay for around $1K to $1200. Depending on what the dealer charges for a "complete" brake job, I don't think +$500 sounds like an especially good deal if the fronts don't fit. They should know though. The stock brakes are pretty solid unless you do pretty hard road racing. If you want, try playing with some different pad compounds. Everything is a compromise. Initially, I was jazzed up about putting on "big brakes" until I did a lot of research and found out the compromises weren't worth it to me.