Give Your Porsche a Brake

Upgrading Your Braking System: Why a Brake Kit is Worth It

When it comes to upgrading your braking system with the right Porsche performance parts, it is crucial to know why a brake kit is really worth all the fuss. This breakdown gives you all the info you will need to make the right decisions.

Performance:
Performance driving requires quick stops and turns at high speeds. This puts tremendous pressure on your Porsche’s brakes so it may be best to invest in upgrading this important part of your car. Almost every car built after the 1970s has a brake system in the front. These systems were found to be the most effective to keep drivers safe when braking. Therefore, most of the kits are to replace your front brakes because the front brakes are the ones that wear out the quickest. They take 80% or more of the pressure from stopping. Putting a high performing brake system on the rear of your Porsche will cause your brakes to lock and create slow stops, skidding and an overall loss of control. Therefore, it is best and the most cost effective to put high performance brakes on the front.

Here’s what you can expect from your high-performance kits:

Physical Items:

• A bigger brake system
• Caliper rebuilds
• Discs
• Brake lines

Results:

• 20-30% consistent reduction in stopping distance
• Cooling systems that prevent overheating that causes brake deterioration and failure.
• Maintain control even when braking hard
• Works with the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) to help maintain control.

Although the cost of buying one of these kits range from $1,500-$3,000, it is an important investment to make when considering both the safety and performance of your Porsche. While it is not advisable to replace only your back brakes, it is necessary to get them inspected and checked for their responsiveness.

Safety:
Buying performance brakes not only helps your vehicle to perform, makes the car more enjoyable to drive, and increase efficiency, but also makes your car safer. For every 30,000-42,000 miles you drive, you should check your brakes for damage. You can either do this yourself with a brake kit or get it done professionally. Especially if you are using your car to perform, safety is of the utmost importance because of the high speeds you push yourself to go.

Here are some tips about when you should check your brakes:

1. Close to winter and summer. Temperature changes can damage breaks and decrease their effectiveness.
2. If you hear a high-pitched screeching noise or a harsh grinding sound. The screeching sound indicates that the brake pads are beginning to wear down and that they need to be checked. The grinding sound means that the brake pads are completely worn through and need replacing immediately.
3. If you feel that the car takes longer to stop than it used to.
4. If your brake pads are less than a quarter of an inch thick.
5. If ABS comes on regularly for no discernible reason.
6. If you need to press the petal to the floor before the brakes engage. This is also known as a “mushy pedal.”
7. And most importantly, if your brake light comes on, you obviously should check out your brakes.