[s-cars] Big Red (Black) Installation

[Steve Powers]

Sean -

On 6/30/05, Sean Douglas <quattro20v at telus.net> wrote:
> I finally got around to laying out the cash for the front brakes. I have
> the 993tt big blacks (928 GTS actually) and am using the A8/S8 rotor,
> 323 mm x 30 mm with the RS2 brackets. I also have OEM Textar pads,
> damper pads and wear sensors.
> 
> 1. do I need to swap calipers from left to right? The leading piston
> should be the smaller one, therefore it is ontop, right?. If I arrange
> it this way, the bleeder screws are pointing down. Do I reverse the
> bleeder screws and connecting pipe?

there should be a direction arrow on the caliper. follow it. (there is
on the 993TT Big Reds) on the Big Reds, they just bolted up - granted
the right Porsche brake fits the Audi left wheel (and vice versa) but
no fiddling with the bleed screws or crossover tube was required.

> 2. I've read that its best to use a brake hose with a banjo fitting
> where it attached to the caliper, or the brake hose sticks out and may
> interfere with the suspension. Anyone had this issue? I was planning on
> using a OEM rubber brake hose from a MkIV Golf which is 435 mm long and
> has the banjo fitting.

I use the banjo fitting as it offers more flexibility as to which
direction the line exits. Others have used standard fittings. Both
work. Your choice.

> 3. I'm told that since the caliper is designed for a 32 mm thick rotor
> and I'm using 30 mm thick ones that the bracket needs to be machined by
> 1 mm to center the caliper over the rotor - is there an issue of not
> doing this?

most people don't. I use 993TT rotors w/ BIRA hats, so I don't have
the problem you speak of. As I understand it only becomes a problem
near the end of pad life. If you watch your pads you will likely not
have an issue.

> 4. How did you hook up the wear sensors? Did you just cut the white plug
> off and splice into the Audi plug? Or did you find the mating half to
> the Porsche plug?

wear sensors? I got rid of mine long ago, cutting the pigtail from the
pads, shorting it and reconnecting it to the harness.

> 5. How does the large wire clip hold the pads in? It looks like the
> unhinged side has to clip under the metal plate, but I can't figure out
> how to get it under.

it rides on top. the ends of the bail (wire clip) hook back into the
caliper. (I have heard and assume the Big Blacks are the same as Big
Reds)

Steve Powers