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Discs and Pads

John Ware

John Ware

New member
My C4 Cab will probably need new discs and pads at the next service in January. I've never known a car like the 996 for poor quality discs. If I park it and leave it for a few days, the discs rust to the pads and there's a noticeable jerk when it moves off. I don't have this issue on my Audi and have never come across it on previous BMWs or VWs (or even my knackered old post-Uni Escort). Are there any decent aftermarket discs and pads which people can recommend or do I just have to put up with it with the replacements?
 
Hi John. I have exactly the same problem and have got involved in a few posts on the subject. I think it's terrible that such a "high-end" car should suffer so easily from this sort of thing. My car is covered "" but kept outside, unfortunately. My big mistake used to be washing the car and not taking it for a spin to dry the discs off. The result was the next time I drove the car I would hear a massive knock as the brakes let go of the discs - this was usually after just a couple of days! I now wash the wheels, taking care not to put the hose directly on the discs (it does help a bit!!), and then take the car for short (slow) spin on a side road where I can stop & start without someone rear-ending me! I then have to take the car back home and clean the insides on the wheels again (Carerra five spoke). This time I do it with a damp (not too wet) duster on a plastic frame that I got from the pound shop. For a pound. Then, and only then, can I cover the car and sleep soundly, safe in the knowledge that the four rounds of Edam that Porsche kindly put on my car - instead of some other sort of steel based material "" will not be completely rotten and mouldy by the next time I drive my precious, and I mean precious, car. In fact, the picture you can see on the left is probably the best they've ever looked "" at around 7K miles!
My local independent has quoted me circa £300 per axle "" although it's only the rears that have suffered - as they all seem to. My tax is up at the end of November and I was thinking of declaring the car SORN "˜till next March but I'm a bit worried that if I do the discs will suffer if not used for so long!! (Does anyone know of anything that could be put on to protect them?) Anyway, best of luck. My independent says that the replacement discs will be better than the originals!
Adrian.
 
Hi John

I have a couple of VW's with aftermarket discs (Black Diamond for anyone who's interested). These work far better than OEM but also suffer from the instant rust problem. As Adrian says, the best policy is to ensure that they don't have any water left on them after a wash, but another trick is to just park the car in gear & don't use the handbrake. The light coating of rust will go as soon as you brake for the first time, but there is no "clonk" when you first set off.
Personally, I don't have a problem with rusty discs if it means better & more consistant braking performance & from what I have been told, the high steel content discs do provide this..
 
I always leave mine parked with the hand-brake off and the wheels blocked. Even then - sometimes - the pads can lock up irrespective of wet weather (prolonged damp such as fog can do it, and the car's garaged). Agreed, it is irritating, but this seems to be about the best it gets.
 
I always park mine with the handbrake off as well yet it still does it!! I guess I'll have to put up with it. [:mad:]
 
Probably true, although even when it was my only car and was being used daily, it made no difference.[:-]
 
Don't you remember the days when the disks on you Mini Cooper or Cortina lasted forever, and never rusted? (You know, it was when the sun always shined during the school summer holidays). I have a feeling that the steels they used with asbestos-based pads was harder and more rust-resistant than the plasticine they use these days.
 
While what you say is true & you're probably right about the asbestos (modern brake pads are much more abrasive & thus wear the discs much more), I really don't think you can compare the stopping abilities of a Cortina to a 911 [8D]
 
Nick - it was a very much tongue-in-cheek remark, and should have contained plenty of smilies! [;)][;)][;)]. I wasn't comparing the stopping ability, just the rust resistance. I don't know for sure, but I suspect the disk material had a higher chromium content. Any metallugists on board?
 
I've heard this before about higher chromium content in the past, due to the previous use of asbestos pads. The problem I have is that my Audi (same age as the 996) and my previous BMW (marginally newer) don't suffer from this issue and clearly didn't use asbestos pads either. I just don't get it.
 
I leave mine in gear with the handbrake off. Every week or so I'll just nudge the car enough to move it an inch or so to discourage the pad from sticking to the disc.
 
JW
Read about chrome content on Porsche discs some time ago - cant recall where.Anyway this article said that the factory lowered the chromium content around 1995 or thereabouts because of complaints from customers re squeaky brakes! Must have been the Yanks.
My discs had the same phenomenon until I had them skimmed - since then much less of a problem. Weird, eh?

JohnC
993turbo
 
Hi John. Put up with the pads sticking to the discs it really is not doing any harm.You can buy much cheaper pads and discs but I guarantee you that you will then be complaining about break squeal and or poor stopping power instead of your current problem. If you really need to save fit Zimmerman discs as an option but you must fit genuine pads and backing shims.Also be aware that the inside of the brake discs can be really badly corroded but the outside where you can see looks fine, so now and again jack up car and check inside this is usually caused by the inside pad sticking in the caliper.
 
As far as I am aware,virtually all modern cars use cast iron discs(and drums for lessor models) including solid&ventillated disc types and this has been the case since they were invented.Additions of virtually trace amounts of Nickel & Chrome improve stability.heat resistance,wear capability,resistance to distortion and give a system where the pads wear out a few times before discs should need changing,using a cast disc which is relatively easy to produce for the foundry,simple to machine and corrosion resistant at an economic cost.
At extremes of performance steel is used to cope with the much higher temperaures and then ceramics.[sm=spanner3.gif]
 
The specs are here: http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=230692

The sensors wear through when there is about 4-5mm left on the pad.
 
Phil,

I believe that the original brake discs and pads are manufactured by Sebro and Textar respectively.

I'm sure you can find suitable suppliers for 996 parts online which will be much cheaper than the Porsche parts and are identical but don't have a Porsche part number.

Jeff

 
Yes my understanding was Textar are OE supplier and they also own several other brands such as Pagid etc

ive been looking at Textar thtoughout for my 997 but they don’t seem to offer rear discs!?! Open to correction.

intrested to hear what you go with and who you source them from.....following.
 
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