PCCB issue again
Those interested in the PCCB issue might be interested in a Letter to the Editor which I wrote which appears in the December issue of Excellence magazine:
Stephen
Quote:
I enjoyed your article in the November 2003 issue on the new GT3 entitled "Track Daddy." What a beautiful car! However, I believe you do your readers a disservice when you state that the one option that is a "must-have" is PCCB ceramic-composite braking. I probably have the most road experience so far with the PCCB brake system. They were added to my Turbo at 13,000 miles and I have so far driven them almost 31,000 miles. My use has been almost exclusively on long-distance trips within Europe. The car has been used hard but still within expectations for a Porsche. I have had no end of problems.
There are three main problem areas with ceramic composite brakes. First, the rotors overheat and fail. Second, the ABS system has not been modified for the PCCB rotors which causes less than optimal ABS performance and also damages the rotors. Third, the pads are not able to handle the heat and are quickly destroyed once overheated. The Porsche forums are now filling with complaints as large numbers of GT3 users start to experience these cars.
The lower unsprung weight that these brakes offer is noticeable as is the total lack of fade. And I do believe that ceramic-composite brakes offer tremendous potential. But Porsche introduced them too soon and they are just not ready for consumer use. As you correctly point out, the GT3 is targeted as a track-day car. Track cars are particularly hard on their brakes. And those are exactly the conditions where the ceramic pads and rotors are at the greatest risk from heat and ABS damage.
With the introduction of the GT3, Porsche implicitly ended the promise of long life for these parts (promises which induced me to purchase the system). Now, Porsche adds this disclaimer: circuit racing or similar extreme driving conditions can significantly reduce the overall life expectancy of even the most durable pads and discs. It is therefore important - as with conventional steel high-performance brakes - to have all PCCB components properly checked and replaced, if necessary, after every track event.
Therefore, anyone using the PCCB brakes on the track must be prepared to replace all components after each track event. Cast iron rotors are cheap consumables. Ceramic composite rotors are most certainly not!
Ergo, a track car is exactly the sort of car which should not have PCCB brakes. There are good reasons why you will not find these brakes on any of Porsche's race cars...
Stephen
) than in other parts of Germany, the sun shines more often and due to the many borders and near-by countries (Austria, France, Switzerland, Italy, etc.), we're a little bit more open minded too. 
