BRAKE Performance on Track

[aardvark1614]

Whilst at Bedford Autoboredrome yesterday breaks required big push to work with little feedback after nthird track session. In fact went offroading as the surprise of little breakforce realised to late.

I know I have lots of pad left and discs are only slightly worn. Also realise Bedford is hard on breaks so did not exceed four laps per session.Peddle very on/off

Car completed 8000 miles to date( incl. 4 track days )

Any advice on cause and remedy as breaks been outstanding at Donnington, Silverston etc?

 

[sawood12]

Yes, smoothness is the name of the game. It certainly is for karting where you havn't got the power to accellerate out of corners so it's all about carrying the speed through the corner, maintining momentum and maximising your exit speed.

However Stirling Moss used a technique that goes against the accepted text-book techniques explained earlier. He was still applying the brake well into the bend/corner and right upto the apex. If done correctly this throws more of the cars weight onto the outside front wheel therefore greatly increasting the grip on that wheel and improving turn-in allowing more speed to be carried to the apex. I believe it is a technique that can be employed with 911's that have a relatively light front end and understeery handling characterisic but I imagine you have to be very smooth in the way you apply your brakes through the first part of the corner or you will very quickly come unstuck.

 

[Guest]

I had the same issue at Bedford last month.
I changed to vented discs, braided hoses and uprated brake fluid. I also followed Melvin's advice about braking harder and later.
All this allied to a sensible cool down lap (or half lap at Bedford seeing as it's 4 miles) meant I had no braking isses at all when I was there last weekend.

Problem solved - for me anyway

 

[nsm3]

Not exactly on topic, but I had the front O/S wheel off my 997C2S for a refurb recently and cleaning the brake caliper, I noticed that although it has Porsche written on the front face, it has "made in italy" and "brembo" cast into the housing.

This is good news as brembo are well respected (especially in motorcycling) and explains the braking performance. I was a bit surprised though as I can't recall brembo being mentioned anywhere in the technical blurb on the website- I assumed that they would be Porsche developed brakes?

 

[sawood12]

Brembo have made calipers for Porsche for decades. My 944 4-pot calipers are Brembo. They are also designed specifically for Porsche so are not available on other makes of cars.