[s-cars] Front brake research continues...

[Taka Mizutani]

More comments inserted inline:


On 2/8/06, Eric Phillips <gcmschemist at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On 2/8/06, Taka Mizutani <t44tqtro at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Eric-
> > A couple things about your post:
> >
> > The Porsche/Brembo brake calipers used in the 986/996/997/Cayenne
> > applications are "monoblock" calipers- there is only one piece, so there
> is
> > no carrier- the whole thing does
> > not come apart, that's why it's very rigid.
>
> [snip]
>
> Your comment about Monobloc calipers is the reason I'm look at them -
> and am hesitant about the 993TT calipers, which are not Monobloc
> (IIRC).


I wouldn't worry about the calipers when you're talking about 993tt and 996.
The 993tt calipers are perfectly fine for your Audi and they work very well.
The contour of the caliper is also much more suitable for use with 16"
wheels, having much more of a curve in the "top" contour of the caliper. The
993tt caliper also gives you more pad choices than 996.

> $1500 for a pair of calipers is ridiculously expensive, they should cost
> > more than $400 each for the most expensive (996tt).
>
> Again, my fault for not writing clearly.  My apologies.  The $1500
> number is for the whole magilla - calipers, adapters, pads, rotors,
> lines and fluid.


IMHO, $1500 for the whole kit is not bad. As Dave mentioned, you can piece
it together for less as long as you can get the brackets for a reasonable
price.


> > Are you certain that the 986S/996 and 996tt calipers will clear 16"
> wheels?
>
> That's what BIRA says.  I'm assuming they know what they are talking
> about.  I'll ask when they contact me about my membership particulars.
>
> They specifically say on their website that the Sys3 uses 996 Carrera
> 4-piston Monobloc calipers, and that they fit under 16" wheels.


I know what BIRA says, but IME, 996 calipers are really really tight with
16s. In my particular application, the caliper is spaced pretty far out,
which doesn't help, but radially I didn't have the clearance.

S3 uses a smaller rotor- that 314mm rotor may afford enough clearance- it's
going to be very close.


> When I did some test fitting for S2UFO using 996 calipers, it did not
> appear
> > that there was any way that a 16" wheel would clear radially- the
> caliper
> > was simply too tall. This was sitting on a 320x30mm rotor, so not an
> > extremely large rotor, even.
>
> That's the size rotor they say they use.  Maybe it's a mis-print?  Or
> maybe the Avus wheel will work, and some AM wheel won't?


Depends on the application- S3 and S2 are different, as is S2UFO. The 16"
Avus wheel is one of the few wheels that have a lot of clearance behind the
wheel. Most wheels do not have that much clearance.

On a similar note, the stock Brembos on my STi clamp 320x30mm rotors and
there is no way that a 16" wheel will fit. A bunch of 17s don't fit my car.
My winter wheels have a couple mm of clearance from the spokes to the
caliper.

Taka