GT4 fast road brake pads - PFC's and which compound

[lotusgeek]

Apologies there are probably many threads about this subject but I don't rate the forum search and couldn't find exactly what I am looking for.

718 GT4 with iron discs.

I want to replace the OEM pads, which I've used for one track day and were terrible. I don't intend to do many track days so I need a setup that works well for fast road driving as I go to the Alps etc but when I do go to a track they need to work.

I'm thinking PFC's but has anyone tried them and if so which compounds? Options in stock are 331/332 and 11's.

I'm not overly concerned about disc wear but I'd like to avoid break squeal so my Wife will still entertain road trips etc.

Input and recommendations welcome. Thanks

[Discombobulate]

lotusgeek said:

Apologies there are probably many threads about this subject but I don't rate the forum search and couldn't find exactly what I am looking for.

718 GT4 with iron discs.

I want to replace the OEM pads, which I've used for one track day and were terrible. I don't intend to do many track days so I need a setup that works well for fast road driving as I go to the Alps etc but when I do go to a track they need to work.

I'm thinking PFC's but has anyone tried them and if so which compounds? Options in stock are 331/332 and 11's.

I'm not overly concerned about disc wear but I'd like to avoid break squeal so my Wife will still entertain road trips etc.

Input and recommendations welcome. Thanks

Can only speak for 11s. Great pads but dusty and squeaky.

[lotusgeek]

Discombobulate said:

Can only speak for 11s. Great pads but dusty and squeaky.

Thanks very much.

[cseven]

What was the issue with standard pads? Doing Snetters next month, 1st time on standard brake setup so interested to know the shortcomings of stock pads

[TDT]

Use the OEM pads up and then change for something else more focused for track work if you do a lot days.

[Redline88]

cseven said:

What was the issue with standard pads? Doing Snetters next month, 1st time on standard brake setup so interested to know the shortcomings of stock pads

I’m also interested in this. I’ve found the standard pads to be great.

[lotusgeek]

cseven said:

What was the issue with standard pads? Doing Snetters next month, 1st time on standard brake setup so interested to know the shortcomings of stock pads

My car is a 2023 model and I suspect the compounds have changed to meet some legislation and have less copper in them. So you might not have the issue or I could be wrong and maybe they are all the same. I've had issues with the pads binding to the discs.

Fine on the road but on track they didn't feel good at all. Vibrations and a terrible grumbling under hard braking. I've read somewhere else that someone had the same issue. A friend drove the car and he was really struggling to feel confident.

If you never track the car I'm sure it's fine but even for one track day I wouldn't use them again.

Enjoy the track, the car is great.

[G40R_JL]

Also had a 2023 GT4. Did a track day at Snetterton and stock pads weren't up to it. I strongly suspect compound was issue and pretty sure there was a Rennlist thread on it being an issue on later builds. I’ve done Snetterton a lot in a modified 987 and although fast road pads are better than stock the stock pads didn’t suffer any thing like in the way the GT4s did but the GT4 is faster so they have more work to do!

[Discombobulate]

Discombobulate said:

Can only speak for 11s. Great pads but dusty and squeaky.

Just to add, I only ran PFC discs and pads on the front when tracking my GT3.The standard set up was fine for the rear. May be different for the GT4, but try changing the front first possibly?

[lotusgeek]

Discombobulate said:

Just to add, I only ran PFC discs and pads on the front when tracking my GT3.The standard set up was fine for the rear. May be different for the GT4, but try changing the front first possibly?

Thanks.

[lotusgeek]

G40R_JL said:

Also had a 2023 GT4. Did a track day at Snetterton and stock pads weren't up to it. I strongly suspect compound was issue and pretty sure there was a Rennlist thread on it being an issue on later builds. I’ve done Snetterton a lot in a modified 987 and although fast road pads are better than stock the stock pads didn’t suffer any thing like in the way the GT4s did but the GT4 is faster so they have more work to do!

Sorry you had the same problem but glad it isn't just me and reassuring you think the same. I reckon the rear pads wore by over 50% in one track day!

[gtsralph]

PFC 331 front and 332 rears

[NS13]

Parr have just swapped the PCCB’s on my 4RS for a full steel PFC disc and pad set up plus track geo. The PFC’s were excellent at Silverstone 2weeks ago. Give Parr in Crawley a call and ask to speak to Laurence and I am sure he will give you some advice.

[TDT]

I loved the performance of the PFC rotors on my 981 GT4.
Only slight issues were:
1- sometimes disruption in supply when trying to get hold of replacement friction discs… so I managed by ordering well in advance of requiring a change.
2 - they use a single retaining spring… either 2 coil or 3 coil…. After a few heat cycles the spring gets weaker and you’ll get a rattle as the friction disc is fully floating (radial & axial). Most prevalent in the 2 coil spring version. Can be an annoyance on the road.
They have subsequently rebranded these as the ‘race version’ lol.
So just check what you have.





Product marketing 101: Turn an issue into a feature!

Edited by TDT on Saturday 27th April 09:54

[Snowy999]

RPM and JZM both recommended standard porsche steel discs and RSL29s all round for fast road, sprints and occasional track days. I found them to be excellent.

[ChrisW.]

That's very useful to know ... I have been recommended some Ferodo pads ... I'll ask which !

The problem with the 410mm PCCB disc on the 20" wheels is getting stones trapped between the calliper and the rim ... I'm surprised since Surface Transform have simply replicated the size of the PCCB but also fit in place of the 380mm steel discs, that they didn't just make the front disc a little smaller and the same size as the rear ??

[TDT]

Ref STs.., as you know… Primary Porsche audience is PCCB replacement… so why not produce at the same size as OEM
The development costs are then amortised further by being able to resolve for Steel upgrade also, with just adding calliper spacer rather than having to calculate if 380mm CCST would work…
Also they probably don’t see calliper down spacing as their problem… so fine they make a smaller spacer for Steel rotors… for say a 400mm rotor for the front… probably not worth it in their eyes… seeing as they seemingly wont even help at all with spare bells for people to convert from ‘Turbo hub’ to ‘GT3 Hub’ which might be a larger use case and actually would cost them nothing, apart from advice, and would be some additional revenue/product line.

Just boils down to business.

The main issue with 9x1 and prior steel rotors is the cracking due to full cross-drilling. So you ‘might’ end up needing to change them frequently, in a heavy track usage scenario.
The 9x2 rotors such as on 992 GT3/RS and 4RS are only dimpled… so cracking risk is heavily reduced and the rotor much more durable.

Brakes (pads/rotors) are a consumable, so just depends on how/when you want to spend.

Edited by TDT on Sunday 28th April 10:03

[lotusgeek]

gtsralph said:

PFC 331 front and 332 rears

Thanks, this is what is now on order anyhow.

[lotusgeek]

NS13 said:

Parr have just swapped the PCCB’s on my 4RS for a full steel PFC disc and pad set up plus track geo. The PFC’s were excellent at Silverstone 2weeks ago. Give Parr in Crawley a call and ask to speak to Laurence and I am sure he will give you some advice.

Thanks, I'm going to do the same when my discs need replacing.

[lotusgeek]

Snowy999 said:

RPM and JZM both recommended standard porsche steel discs and RSL29s all round for fast road, sprints and occasional track days. I found them to be excellent.

Cheers, gone PFC now but maybe Pagids if they don't work out