Before you opt for PCCB, read here:

http://forums.********.com/rennforums/showthread.php?t=97985&highlight=pccb+problem* People have had many problems with these brakes but what's more disturbing is that Porsche probably will not warranty them for you. Sad considering the only reason you would ever need PCCB would be on track, yet if you track the car PCNA claims that voids the brake warranty. Sad, but even sadder still is that each rotor costs over $5K to replace!! That's a $20K plus brake job not covered under warranty. The stock brakes with some Pagid pads or the like should be more than adequate for track work with street tires and even R comps. The only reason I would consider a further upgrade (like some Stoptechs) would be if you ran on slicks.

Are You really sure this is still valid? I mean there has been a lot of fuss around these PCCB brakes, and Porsche is said to have upgraded them since a lot of criticism has been put forward. I am also interested in this issue and I hope sombody could clere up the case once and for all. Anyone who might have some good connection within Porsche and could tell us what is true and not? Edited by - Coupé on 09/16/2005 8:32:39 PM

Porsche came out with a Gen II disk for PCCB (which is on the new Boxster S and Cayman S ) yet the problem is still cropping up with people that track their cars. The scary thing isn't really the cracking. It's the fact that Porsche is REFUSING to warranty the problem. PCCB may only cost $8K as an option, but to replace a disk is over $5000 per disk! That's insane and I don't know about you, but I can't afford $20K + brake jobs after every couple of track days. I would order PCCB if that wasn't the case, but I confirmed it with my dealer's techs. 'Good luck getting Porsche to cover it' they told me and that is coming from a very racing/mod friendly dealer.

I think the odds of Gen II PCCB 's failing are much slimmer than Gen I, especially as used on a Boxster/Cayman vs. the 996/997 cars because there is less weight and better cooling, in fact the Cayman has the special cooling channel the Boxster has, take a look: Additionally, if you are going to track your car with PCCB's don't tell your dealer if/when a problem occurs. Tell them you were on the way home from work and heard a funny sound when you applied the brakes, unless you have posted pics/videos otherwise, who is to know? :drivingskid:

I read (can't remember where) there were different PCCB pads for track use. Anybody else heard that?

Yes there are. They are the Pagid P50-RS14 (green).

Makes sense they won't warranty your $8k brakes if you takes them to the track with the wrong pads.... I am very concerned about that thought since I've already ordered PCCB !

Why not just run the stock factory pads? From what I hear the Gen 2 pads/rotors are more than sufficient for anything you throw at them at the track. FWIW, I had a buddy with a 2000 Boxster S with Pagid Orange pads and I ran another 2000 Boxster S with the stock factory pads and we never saw a difference on the track. I got a bigger difference running super blue brake fluid vs. stock brake fluid and a good bleading. I think if you take your PCCB 's into the dealer with different pads on them you are just asking for them to disclaim the warranty, at least switch back to the factory ones! :dance:

Because I'm hearing the stock pads break rotors on the track. But hell yeah, I'm with you... 'I was just driving home from grocery, getting milk forthe baby,heard anoise, and they brakes just stopped working... Gee, I have no idea what could have happened'

Well if I had an extra 8K to spend I would get the PCCB 's and I would run them on the track in stock configuration and if anything happened it would be the 'on the way to grandma's house' story. I'd really like to get PCCB 's but I don't have an extra 8K to spend. Hmmm let's see 300 members here, divid 8K by 300 and you get $26.66 each, ok everyone quick send me $25!!! Call it the PCCB fund! :thanks:

Well, keep in mind that Porsche now only claims PCCB is good for 1500 track miles. So if you are like me running 200-300 miles per track day you will wear out your rotors in as few as 5 track days. That would mean 3-4 months for me. Can you trick Porsche into replacing your rotors once? Maybe. How about twice or more? I bet it's going to start getting pretty hard. A bigger question is why get PCCB in the first place? They don't stop any better. Yest they do cut the unsprung weight of the car a lot, but that will only really be noticable on track in terms of a few 10ths of a second. It's just not worth it in my opinion even if they did last 200,000 miles!!

I think it could be worth the upfront $8K ifthey did last100K+ street milesAND the replacement cost were only as much as 2X the conventional rotor cost. But as it stands, it is just outrageous. I am hoping that when I am ready to buy a Cayman S in ~3 years, the PCCB option will be $5k and the replacement cost under $1K per disc. Otherwise, no chance. </blockquote> Edited by - FC on 09/19/2005 07:52:10 AM

I think the PCCB remains a technology still in development, not yet ready for prime time as they say. To purchase such an expensive option for the street anticipating longer rotor life is not cost effective nor justifiable through a performance advantage. In terms of track use the cost of replacement cannot be justified even by the advantages gained in performance unless a blank check is available whenever necessary. Blank checks are okay for professional racers and the ultrawealthy, but I'm not sure that applies to the majority of Porsche owners. Right now there is more down than up to the yellow calipers, but that will likely change in time.I am willing to let others beta test for me and stick with the standard, very excellent, steel brakes until the PCCB can be made truly practical.

Keep in mind that PCCB also has ZERO resale value. You'll never get even a fraction of your money back out of it.

Well, if one isn't happy with, or just wants a bit more than the stock brakes and PCCB isn't an option, is there anyone out there yet with a big brake kit for the Cayman ? Stoptech? Movit? Brembo ? Alcon or AP Racing? What are the options, if any? FWIW, I ran a Cayman Club 'forum' search for 'big brake kit' (BBK) and got no hits. Is anyone considering such a move. FWIW, I believe the Cayman 's 'stock' steel system rotors are actually a bit smaller than, for example, just because I'm familiar with the car, the stock brakes on a Mazda Rx8, which is about the same weight. Stock the Rx8 would be slight;y 'under' tired, 225/45 x 18's, compared to the Cayman 's 235/40 F, 255/40 R 18's or 235/35 F x 365/35 R 19s. Edited by - mlpor on 06/26/2006 07:51:31 AM

One more PCCB risk is if you happen to slide off the track. Depending on the run-off, sand, etc, the rotors could get wasted immediately. $$$

PCCB brakes are the ultimate poseur option. The stock red calipers on the Cayman S aremore than you will ever need or make use of on the track, regardless of what kind of tire you use. Brakes do not stop the car. Tires do. Brakes only slow the spinning of the wheels in order to produce the friction between the rubber and the road surface. If you want to stop faster, get more rubber on the road. If you can lock up your brakes and skid, thenthe tiresarethe problem, not the brakes. For decades, Porsche brakes have been the best in the world. Both the racing brakes and the street ones. The Big Red brakes on your car are the same ones that were on the 917 race cars that kept winning Le Mans, except you now even have ABS to boot. Do you really think you need better ones than that for your local PCA DE's? I'll say it again: You want better braking, get stickier tires . The only reason you would need to upgrade from your stock Big Reds is if you are experiencing fading at the track due to overheating. No amateur driver with a 295 hp Cayman will everapproach that issue. Edited by - P-nut on 06/26/2006 08:30:07 AM

There are brake upgrade kits from some of the aftermarket vendors, hopefully one I am speaking to will make a decision to show up here shortly, although I don't know what is involved with their kit.

P-nut, Well said. :cheers: But if one suffers from overheating, brake ducts should be installed.

mlpor What about the stock brakes makes you unhappy? P-nut is spot on. There is no performance reason to change the standard brakes on the Cayman S . As said, if you can get into ABS on slicks (much less street tires ), which you can, the brakes are not the weak link. Unless you ride the brakes down a mountain, you should have no fade in street driving. Depending on driving style and/or the specific track, fade may be an issue on the track. If so, change to a higher temp fluid, track pads & add cooling ducts.

I think both Porsche and VAG are working on the next Gen PCCB . I hear Bently and Lambo use them. AS others say its R+D in process. I know that Aston/Jag have not gone this path even though they want to. Mike/Liverpool

P-nut: I agree with you nearly completely, except: Amateurs tend to overheat the brakes more than an experienced driver (I know what I am talking about as an amateur). I believe that braking is the most difficult thing to learn properly and it is almost the last item to be learned as well. But proper pad, fluid, lines should be sufficient with the big red.

P-nut, I agree whith much of what you said, but, for the record... The Cayman S calipers may be Big and they may be Red, but they are not 'Big Reds'. Cayman S, as all the newer Porsche models (to the best of my knowledge) use a mono-block, single piece Brembo caliper. The Big Reds were of the older 2piece Brembo caliper design.

I agree with p-nut. T minus 66 hours to go for pickupand counting...

I agree with stock brakes being more than enough, but if one must, can't you direct-bolt on the 997S brakes? I believe those are bigger and have 6-pot calipers up front.

Right you are Geza, thanks for pointing that out. My mistake.

Has anyone come up with a conversion kit for using say the 996 or 997 twin turbo brake rotors on the Cayman ? Or, alternatively a complete kit ~ e.g. Stoptech or the likes? Any experience with big brake kit alternatives yet? mike