Discs and pads on a 2003 facelift S

[MHAK]

Hi, my 2003 facelift S needs discs and pads all round. I usually use the excellent JZ Machtech but unfortunately it's proving difficult to get a convenient slot - entirely my fault, rather than JZ's! Can anyone recommend another excellent specialist or brake fitter in the London area? Also, do you have any experience of "Serbo" replacement discs and "Textar" pads - design911 is selling discs and pads kits (front for £179 and rears for £255) significantly cheaper than the main dealer, is this a false economy?

Thanks

 

[Bluebox]

Hi MHAK,
I replaced my own discs and pads on my 2003 986, a very easy job.[]

Don't forget to check if the wear indicators need replacing, there easy to break, but if you are replacing the discs at the same time then just remove the whole calliper then remove the indicators.

I bought new discs and pads from my local OPC and I'm very happy with them, the OPC pads are made by Textar.

The design911 kits look very good, but I didn't take the risk of not been happy with them and maybe having them damaged by sending them through the post.

Another Tip: Fit damping plates to the back of the Front discs to stopping brake"clicking" when removing your foot off the brakes (drove me mad with the roof down) with new discs.

Regards,
Chris

 

[MHAK]

Thanks Chris. I'm not sure that I feel comfortable with that risk either but the price difference is enormous! May be the best compromise is to buy the parts from Porsche and find a good specialist to fit them.

Damping plates are definitely a good idea - i had the clicking noise on my 944 S2 and it drove me mad.

Cheers

 

[Bluebox]

I would ring or mail design911 and ask them if the Serbo discs are the same as the OPC supplied discs ?

Also the 986 SPORTS DISC + PADS FRONT PACKAGE looks good.

 

[911sse]

Having seen the Design 911 pack and awaiting to install them for the front & rear.

I am more than happy...........

The hub is even painted like the OPC disks.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

I use the Sebro disks and they are fine. They certainly look EXACTLY the same as Porsche disks as 911sse says. My indy says they are the same too. Textar make the pads for Porsche, so you can't go wrong with them. No point in spending the extra money for Porsche cardboard boxes if you ask me.

 

[Bluebox]

"The hub is even painted like the OPC disks"

a) Thats why I thought that the Serbo discs maybe the same as the OPC supplied discs, but if you look at the price list there's a separate section for the "ORIGINAL PORSCHE" discs ?

BOXSTER 2.5L /2.7L (986) BRAKE DISC ORIGINAL PORSCHE
ID98635140105F 986 2.5/2.7L BRAKE DISC OE FRONT L or R £ 69.00
ID98635240104F 986 2.5/2.7L BRAKE DISC OE REAR L or R £ 79.00

b) I assume the above prices are per disc not for two ?

c) I was thinking of painting my hubs in heat proof silver paint to match the wheels, I have seen it done on a GT3 with the hubs painted and they look very cool, the OPC discs hubs do rust after a while.

I still think the 986 sports disc + pads rear package is very good value, but it does depend on the disc quality.

@Richard: Got my 09 crimps today, so I may have it working tonight...

Regards,
Chris.

 

[MHAK]

Hi All

I have just spoken to Design911. As Chris spotted, the original Porsche discs are not manufactured by Serbo. The prices from Design911 are as follows:

1. Original Porsche - £707.73
2. Serbo discs and textar pads - £527.34

in each case, it's for front and back and includes sensors, shims, caliper mounting bolts (x8 - is that the correct number for all 4 calipers?) and brake disc mounting screws (x8 - is that the correct number for all 4 discs?), and including VAT.

My local Mercedes/BMW specialist who replaced the discs and pads on my 1997 SL 320 a few years ago will take £100 plus VAT to fit them. A naive question i'm sure, but any reason why a competent (non-Porsche specialist) mechanic couldn't do this?

Thanks

 

[MHAK]

One more question - are the discs and pads the same for all model years? I've assumed that the 2003 facelift has exactly the same brakes as the earlier cars and v.v.

Thanks

 

[Bluebox]

I'm sure my Original Porsche Discs, Pads, dampers, sensors, caliper mounting bolts (x8) didn't come to that much (but my car's not a 'S' version).

You can get 10% of the OPC prices [] if you Join the PCGB and you get a great monthly mag called POST !

Don't think you will need to replace the "brake disc mounting screws" x8, but its worth replacing the caliper mounting bolts as they are stretch bolts that should only be used once (only a few pounds each).

Regards,
Chris.

 

[MHAK]

Thanks Chris. I will call my local OPC and enquire about prices; I'll let you know. I am a club member so should get the 10% discount. I have emailed the club to ask why i am being identified as a non-member!

 

[Bluebox]

Not sure about the part number differences between model years, I'm sure Richard can help you there.

Take a look at Porsche parts list for the 986: https://techinfo.porsche.com/techinfo/pdf/en/catalogues/E_986_KATALOG.pdf

 

[Mark_Bennett]

ORIGINAL: MHAK

Thanks Chris. I will call my local OPC and enquire about prices; I'll let you know. I am a club member so should get the 10% discount. I have emailed the club to ask why i am being identified as a non-member!

Did you read the email you got when you registered on the forum ? []

 

[MHAK]

Have to confess i probably didn't ...[]

Price from the OPC (including PCGB discount) is £827.49 (including VAT). This, it seems, is for everything - discs/pads/sensors/caliper bolts/shims etc. Approx 15% more than Design911 which is a smaller uplift than i expected.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

ORIGINAL: Bluebox
Not sure about the part number differences between model years, I'm sure Richard can help you there.

They are the same for all model years.

You might also want to check www.eurocarparts.com. Prices for 2.5 & 2.7:

Front disks:
Sebro - £37.60 each
Genuine - £77.26 each

Rear Disks:
Sebro - £34.76
Genuine: £87.55

(It's Sebro, not Serbo [])

BTW, the caliper bolts are not stretch bolts, but Porsche do recommend changing them when removing the calipers. At £1.51 each (OPC) they won't break the bank. They can be a real pig to get out on occasions, especially if they weren't assembled with aluslip or similar.

ECP also offer a cross-drilled option for the Sebro disks for 2.5 & 2.7's.

(No affiliation - just a satisfied customer)

 

[Rodney Naghar]

You don't need new sensors/caliper bolts or shims. If you want to go by the book, by all means. But unless your sensors have been triggered they will be as new, so why replace them?. The caliper mounting bolts are not stretch bolts, no need for replacement. And you don't need new disc mounting screws.

Try www.eurocarparts.com instead, they may be cheaper.

Anyone can install your disks and pads, it just depends who you trust with your wheels. It is a simple job (I've done it myself several times)


Edited to add: Rich, you beat me to it this time....but I'll be back![]

 

[Bluebox]

I was told by OPC that the caliper bolts were stretch bolts, I know they have lock tight on them.
The OPC said that they had two brake off after reusing them.

But I belevie Richard and Rodney more that the OPC, my Dad (Aircraft Engineer) said the same...

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

I'm not 100% sure, but I think that is anti-seize, not Loctite. I think that's why they replace them - the OPC technicians might get their fingers greasy with aluslip! [][]

 

[Bluebox]

1) OPC technicians always use gold spanners !

2) I wrong about the stretch bolts [] (my dad said I was wrong), but I think I'm right about the Loctite, you can tell by the colour of the bolt (blue coating) it used as thread locker to prevent the bolts from loosening, they use it because its more effectively than a locking washer (save cost ha ha), many of the bolts on the 986/996 have blue thread locker on them, thats why you should only use them once or just put your own Loctite on after cleaning the bolt thread.
Anti-seize is like copper grease thats makes it easier to remove the bolts, thats why you should NEVER put copper grease on your wheel nuts, I use Joining compound on the edges of my wheel bolts and the face of the wheel, this stops chemical reaction between the aluminium and steel parts.

3) This is how much I payed for my OPC brake parts:

986 351 401 05 Front disc £140.64 (2)
986 352 401 04 Rear disc £173.54 (2)
986 351 939 15 Front pads £67.95 (2)
986 352 939 10 Rear pads £64.16 (2)
999 067 041 09 Caliper bolts £10.88 (8)
986 612 365 00 Rear wear sensor £15.94 (2)
996 612 365 00 Front waer sensor £12.60 (2)
996 351 088 01 Damping plate £17.76 (2)

FUNNY - The Damping plate is not called up on the 2.7L !!!
But you will need them if you like your brakes silent and just love to hear the sweet engine sounds [8D] instead of the brake tapping each time you remove your foot off the brake pedal.

Total cost £503.47 (inc 10% discount) + vat = £591.58

Note. The above parts are for a 2003 2.7L (not 3.2 S) and the discs are not cross drilled (I hate drilled discs they crack and eat brake pads).

4) One big thing that helped my brakes, was when I replaced the brake fluid made a big difference even though the old fluid was clear.

5) Also worth a try is Berlyn Services (Independent supplier of Porsche parts) http://partsforporsche.co.uk not sure if the brake discs are OPC ones.

Regards,
Chris.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

I think we'll have to agree to disagree about this. If you don't lubricate the thread, and it is dry metal-to-metal contact, then the friction will effectively reduce the effect of the torque applied.