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Front Disk replacement + waer limits on S

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Hi all, just had my 20K service (2 years old). My OPC tells me I need new front pads AND disks !!! (I have done a couple of tracks days - but still somewhat suprised I need new disks)........is this normal ?.

I've also been quoted around £500 by my OPC to change disks and pads - seems a tad expensive - any words of wisdom out there ?

does anyone have the wear limits for front disks - I can stick my vernier throught the from wheel to easily check the thickness :) -

cheers Graham
 
Boxster S front discs are 28mm thick when new - the minimum is only 26mm!
The rears are 24 new and 22 minimum.

The discs these days do seem to be made with a "softer" material than the ones we are used to from our past - 100000 miles on a disc and 4 sets of pads.
The softer material allows for better performance (I'm told) however the tendancy is that the discs and pads needs changing at the same time because of this.

The specs for the standard Boxster for those that are wondering are front 24mm new / 22 minimum.
Rear 20mm new / 18mm minimum.
 
Thanks for the feedback - the reason for replacement is wear - I think they quoted it at 26.5mm.........they recon just a few months more wear........while the pads only have a few mm left in them (warning light has not yet come on)

has anyone had the same work done ? - what sort of cost were you charged ?

Having replaced disks etc on other cars, is it a job easily done yourself, or is it tricky ?

cheers Graham
 
There was an article in a very recent 911 & Porsche World where Peter Morgan replaced the discs on his Boxster.
It is basically a case of removing the caliper, and undoing the 4 or 5 bolts that hold the disc on.

Should be easy for most people who know one end of a socket set form the other. Make sure the car is well supported (not just on a Jack). This is probably the difficult bit - finding where to put axle stands...

General warning for all:
As with all work on safety related items on the car - you work on them at your own risk. Make sure you know what you are doing beforehand. Read up and ask questions. Make sure your car is well supported if you are going to work under it (even just having your head inside a wheelarch can hurt - bad - if the jack collapses...
The club, it's members and Officials cannot be held responsible for any advice given on these forums should a mishap occur.
 
I bought my own discs from Porscheshop along with EBC Greens.

It was less than £500 for all four corners. It is a simple operation to fit them yourself - just follow the usual precautions when jacking up and working under your car.

JCB..
 
I was thinking of putting some EBC greens on as well - Can you tell any difference from the standard pads - Cheers
 
Gary

Yes - they need to be warm to really bite so they are not ideally suited to pottering around on Sunday afternoons. You get a lot less dust on your rims too.

FYI I was quoted £159 + vat to replace my front pads only at Lovetts in Bristol 2 years ago.

I had them supplied and fitted by Protyre for £69 all in.

JCB..
 
This is great info thanks everybody. If I buy Porsche or OEM disks or pads - is there an issue ? - if I but from Porscheshop of one of the other major outlets ? - they are half the price of the OPC :)
 
It depends what you want from the pad - the EBC greens are certainly reputed to be better than the stock pads, giving better bite and less dust, but I've been told not to use them on track as they can't cope and can deposit material onto the disk, causing the "warp" effect - warped brake discs is a myth by the way, it's usually deposit from the pad which is the problem...there's a good article here:
http://www.stoptech.com/whitepapers/warped_rotors_myth.htm

If you intend to track, or like to drive hard and fast, you might want to try Pagid pads - sold by www.design911.co.uk amongst others. There is a reference page to the pads here: http://www.pagidusa.com/characteri.html

Pagid are supplied on 911 race cars and by BMW as stock, and are THE pads to have for any sort of performance driving, although the box will state "not for road use" as they tend to work better at higher temperatures.

There are some very good instructions on how to change the pads here http://www.bombaydigital.com/boxster/projects/brakes/change_pads/ and discs here: http://www.bombaydigital.com/boxster/projects/brakes/change_rotors/ it doesn't seem too complicated a job.

If you go for the standard pads and discs from http://www.type911.co.uk they can sell a full set of discs and pads front+rear for around £240+VAT
 
Hmm, the plot thickens, I thought I'd check the disk width with my own digital verniers !. Both disks read 27.4mm, at least 1mm thicker than my OPC reported - the pads also look to have a good 5mm of pad (at least on the outside).

would my OPC measure the disks in some more scientific way ? = I'm not measuring the 'lip' on the disk, and they look completely flat......

confused !!

cheers all Graham
 
Graham - I would take the car somewhere else for a 2nd "expert opinion". Is there another garage you can go to, even Kwik Fit!! I had a VW Polo serviced and was told that new pads were needed only to remove the pads and find they were approx 30% worn.

I haven't been back to that delaer since.
 
The garage may be over-exaggerating the wear on the discs, it's not unheard of. What the garage have to consider is "will these brakes last another year?" which is the next time they will see the car. If there isn't a years worth of wear left then they may recommend change. This is due to the large number of people totally dependent on the garage for all maintenance.
 
It depends what you want from the pad
Click to expand...
........etc

Thats a great post GreigM! Ive learned a lot about discs and pads, which ones to get, how to fit them myself, and where to get them cheaply!

Thanks!
 
You are advised to use Reds or Yellows if you are using EBC Turbo Groove Discs on the track.
 
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