Brembo Caliper Upgrade

I still have a couple sets (front and rear) of 996TT calipers and a couple people have installed these with the stock upright with great results.  Similar sets are $1,400 on ebay (maybe able to find them for less?), I just want $800. 

I stopped in last year to SACO and spoke to the young guy at the counter and he assured me that someone would call me and get me hooked up.   I left my name and phone number and didn't hear anything.   Then I gave a ring on the phone a few weeks later and that same young guy answered and I asked if the calipers, CV's, and rear uprights were available - oh yes was the answer and that I should expect to get a phone call - but I never did................

I am interested if these really do exist - but I would like to know a couple of things before I pay up for anything.   Can the CV axles be made up in 300M material and what are the choices for cages and rubber boots?   Is it possible to have the transaxle bolt pattern be the Porsche 930 output shaft pattern and the upright end fit the axle that will fit in your upright?   Also, can the rear Pantera uprights be had in 7075 material?   I'm a serious buyer - so if this is possible that would be great - thank you,  Mark

I'm probably the person who should have been given your information so I could have responded to your questions. I'll try my best to help you make the best decision for your requirements. Answering your listed questions: Yes the axles are available made with 300M at a cost 60 percent higher than 4340 Chro-Moly. 4340 is more than capable of handling twice the torque capability of a ZF transaxle. Output shafts from ZF transaxle to 930 CV Joints are available through SACC, RBT or possible others I don't know at this time. 4130 Chro-Moly cages almost double the strength of a standard 930 CV joint (discovered through off-road racing). 7075 uprights are available at a significant cost increase and was considered years ago when the uprights were redesigned for weight reduction. I can be reached at burrid1@netzero.net for additional information. Thanks for your interest. I had forgot about PI forms for 10 years, and glad to once again become a reader.

These are the Brembo brakes on the stock uprights.  Ed, Ken, and Ike did a great developing this option for Pantera owners.  

Jimmym, do you have a picture or description of the bracket for the rear caliper. Thanks 

Ike, I don’t have a picture of the rear caliper bracket.  I do have one for the Ipsco emergency brake though.

Where did you get the bracket for the rear caliper? The original brackets from SACO (designed for Brembo calipers) position the calipers at 9 o'clock on the rear, Yours appears to be clocked at 10 o'clock

These are photos of a 996TT rear caliper mounted to an upright using the SACO bracket

Ike, I got the front and rear brackets, as well as the rotors and hats from Ed.

Thanks for the education. Ken straightened me out yesterday. Haven’t worked on the systems in years. Another autism moment 

Just in case if some of you were wondering about the cost of this set up, it was very reasonable.  I purchased my calipers from European Auto Recycling for $1175.  Ed’s kit came with caliper brackets, rotors, and hats for $1430.  I purchased the brake pads from Renn Part for $195.   Total is $2800.  This could done cheaper with Ken’s calipers or if there are any deals on Ebay.  If you wanted brand new calipers Sunset Porsche is one of the dealers who has better prices.  The calipers are from a 996 TT.  Mine are from a 997 Carrera S which has the same part number as the 996 TT.  

All this was purchased in 2017 so I am not sure what the current prices are.

Thanks for your help. Your information is extremely helpful. Ed died in July and I’m trying to get the components together for other Pantera owners. I’ll also need your information with pictures of the emergency brake. Thanks again, Ike

Here are a couple of pictures of the Ipsco e brake

Sincere thanks. Owe you at least a couple of beers in the future

Jimmy,

What sizes of rotors are you using? Are the rotor hats the standard Wilwood Pantera hats? 

Thanks. 

My recollection is that the SACO hats have the same specs as the Wilwood "Pantera" hats.  We ordered Coleman rotors, I have the details.  The front are 13.1 by 1.25 and are a really good fit, but the Coleman catalog just lists a 13 inch, but I found out that they could finish them to 13.1.

Wilwood hats I believe are cast aluminum distort easier than the SACO 6061 billet aluminum 

Jimmy,

What master cylinder did you choose to work with the Porsche calipers? Do you know what sizes the bores (F&R) are? Are you still using a PB booster? Are you happy with the pedal feel and effort? 

Thanks.

@davidnunn posted:

Jimmy,

What sizes of rotors are you using? Are the rotor hats the standard Wilwood Pantera hats? 

Thanks. 

I think what Ken posted is correct, if I remember correctly.  The sizes weren’t on my invoice.   I think they are about the same as what Porsche used on the 996 TT.  If I didn’t go with the Coleman’s, I would go with Performance Friction or Girodisc.  I found both companies nice to speak with.  One person at PF was willing to run a brake simulation for me to determine braking force with my master cylinder, calipers and rotors.

David, the master cylinder was installed in the early 90s that I bought from my friend who owned Wally’s Auto who used to restore Panteras.  My OEM master cylinder was going bad so he installed the one that I currently still have on the car.  I don’t know the bore sizes.  I thought that my friend who installed the brakes said that it had a 1” bore.  He removed the factory proportioning valve.  It still has the pb  booster.  From the limited amount of driving I have done over the last few months, I feel the pedal feel and effort is appropriate.  

Jimmy,

Wally Baldyga? It looks like you have an OEM master, which I believe has a slightly smaller bore than 1" but should be perfect for your Porsche calipers.  

David, yes that’s my friend Wally.  He lives pretty close to me.

By posting that picture of the master cylinder, I figured you might recognize what it is.  The pedal pressure and travel feel good.

I have a 996tt and I think I have a set of calipers stashed away somewhere. If I can find them, how much are just the adapters? Thanks!

Adapters are $75 each. They are designed to work with a hat that’s 1.63”, top to bottom. Hats made from billet 6061 Aluminum are $150 each but if purchased with brackets total cost is $830.  

Thanks for the reply.

Not terribly priced, roughly the same as Massive Brakes Kit (Lee) for my other favorite marques.

In the event I cannot locate my calipers in storage, please shoot me a PM with the total package price with calipers and the kit you mentioned.

I already have a new GT4/GT5 master from Wilkinson on my bench along with the Corvette master cyl on the car now.  Do you recommend Wilwood or Brembo curved-vane vented, slotted discs?

We don't carry Porsche calipers, only the parts required to use them on a Pantera.

Toured Brembo facility in early 2000 and immediately sold a set of (I believe) Sierra Calipers. Wilwood makes an excellent product and most Pantera owners use them. Don't think you would go wrong with either choice. If you can't find the calipers, Wilwood makes calipers rotors and hats for a matched set.

I've got a set of Brembos from the early 2000's. Both hats and rotors are designed to float. Rotors are drilled, slotted with curved vanes and attach to hats via 10 titanium pins. Pin clearance is based on max temperature of rotor. Rotors are designed to channel ducted air out through the vanes as well as into the hats. Hats are designed to channel air to the outside rotor caliper pads.

Check bore size on mater cylinder for compatibility with what ever system you decide to use. Let me know if I can be of further assistance

I'm pretty active in the Porsche community I'm sure I can piece together a set if I can't locate mine. This looks like a great option as the brakes on the turbo are fantastic. I also know of a guy in the 996TT club who makes longer hardened bolts and machined spacers so you can use 350mm vs 330mm rotors to increase swept area (uses the same pads) his kit would be a reasonable add on at $125.

So if I'm understanding you correctly, the kit you make is only for the fronts and the rears are kept stock? The 350MM works well on the TT because it fights brake fade (larger swept area) and at least purportedly improves stopping power since the area that the pad bites the disc is further from the axis. (I'm no engineer, would have to look that one up) in case I stated that wrong. I'm instaling the upgrade on my TT this weekend with EBC Orange Stuffs.

Sorry, total "metric system induced" brain fart on my part. I was thinking 35mm vs. 33mm width. 350mm diameter rotors is a nice upgrade for a 996TT as it gives better heat dissipation and a slightly lighter pedal. I believe the minimum wheel diameter is 18", for a 350mm diameter rotor.

Please forgive misunderstanding. We make parts for front and rear that use front and rear calipers from 996 TT. Completely agree with your thoughts on brake fade. Please share your thoughts and opinion on EBC Orange Stuff . Cold and hot performance. I used EBC Blue when I assembled the kit in 2011. Cold performance was better than expected. Planed to test at Wilkinson’s against other systems but transaxle failed before it happened.

I'd be happy to. I also have a set of Reds on my bench that I may use if the Oranges prove too difficult to heat up in the street. I drive "briskly" in sparsely populated/policed canyons and use a ******* amount of brake to scrub speed. We'll see. I will be using Sebro Slotted 350mm rotors.

So to confirm the kit you quoted is for 4 hats/pins and brackets?