Brake Job 996 Rotors and Pads completed by me!

[jay04v6]

Interesting and succesful weekend doing my first ever brake job, on my 996 no less. Pelican parts brake kit fantastic, until one little interesting snag. I couldnt get the original brake pads out, until i removed them from the caliper, and found vibration dampers were attached. Why didn't new ones come in the "complete" kit? a call to Pelican came away with "not sure what you are talking about, "we don't offer vibration dampers". Much research on this site and others shows mixed reviews on whether they should be replaced or not (reused). Some feedback said you could reuse, but for the life of me, i could not find a brand or solution to reattach them to the pads. a trip to the dealer came back with more questions, "we don't stock although we replace every time" (then "how don't you stock??"). Listen to this, a call to a specialist up the road in Powell Ohio lead to this "you called at 10:25am on a Saturday, we can have them here by 11:30am" What? possibly the best service i have ever seen. "and when you get here, we have a 996 on the rack getting a brake job, you can go back and talk to the mechanic". this lead immediately to a succesful front brake job. the rears will take place when the weather breaks again. They look a little more complicated as i want to replace the e-brake pads too, but great directions on this forum and you tube will get me through. Thanks Auto Assets in Powell Ohio, you made my day! so the question of the day- what solution could i have used to reattach the vibration dampers to the new pads, or were new ones the right play afterall?

[David Sayed]

Really good to know since I will be doing a brake job in the future.

I just Googled "brake vibration dampers" and one of the first results was Pelican but -not- in the 996 section: http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/911L/POR_911L_BRKpad_pg4.htm

If you follow the link to the chart on the web page, you can see sizing information for the 996. Then when you look at the page linked to above, some of the part numbers begin with 996! Do you recall the sizes that you needed? I'd like to be prepared before I attempt the job.

[pcvinsel]

hmmm...

Pelican has the 996 parts in the 996 sections

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/996J/POR_996J_BRKpad_pg4.htm#item9

That said, I always reuse these. But I'm also not too concerned about brake noise myself since I usually run track pads which always squeal...

Peter

[Ahsai]

I reuse mine using this high temp adhesive with success (street use and no tracks)

http://www.amazon.com/Thermo-Tec-HeavyDuty-Spray-Adhesive/dp/B000GKD70E

[wyovino]

I did mine last summer and it was my first ever DIY brake job. The only problem I had was adjusting the E-brake, which I will have done by my Indy when I go for an inspection. I bought everything from Suncoast. The dampers are more expensive than you would think, which is probably why they weren't included in the kit. Next time I would reuse them.

[David Sayed]

I did mine last summer and it was my first ever DIY brake job. The only problem I had was adjusting the E-brake, which I will have done by my Indy when I go for an inspection. I bought everything from Suncoast. The dampers are more expensive than you would think, which is probably why they weren't included in the kit. Next time I would reuse them.

I want to adjust the emergency brake. What problem did you run into?

[jay04v6]

i had very good success adjusting the e brake and the exact directions are in the Porsche 996 essential companion (book). 5 clicks this way, 4 clicks that way, back off 2 clicks etc...worked great if you have the book. i will attempt to take a pic of that page and upload the photo later today. although when i do the rears, all of my adjustments will be out the window. When i do the rears, i will need to completely loosen the e-brake to get the rear disc off, so then start all over (on top of the fact i will replace those pads too). thanks for the adhesive advice and specifics...i will most likely use on the rears and not buy new.

Cheers

[wyovino]

I did mine last summer and it was my first ever DIY brake job. The only problem I had was adjusting the E-brake, which I will have done by my Indy when I go for an inspection. I bought everything from Suncoast. The dampers are more expensive than you would think, which is probably why they weren't included in the kit. Next time I would reuse them.

I want to adjust the emergency brake. What problem did you run into?

I tried the instructions found on this site for doing the adjustments at the rear wheels and I just couldn't get it right. It barely engages. There are other adjustments that can made from inside the car, under the rear center console, but I'm not sure what needs to be removed in order to get to it.

[Ahsai]

I did mine last summer and it was my first ever DIY brake job. The only problem I had was adjusting the E-brake, which I will have done by my Indy when I go for an inspection. I bought everything from Suncoast. The dampers are more expensive than you would think, which is probably why they weren't included in the kit. Next time I would reuse them.

I want to adjust the emergency brake. What problem did you run into?

I tried the instructions found on this site for doing the adjustments at the rear wheels and I just couldn't get it right. It barely engages. There are other adjustments that can made from inside the car, under the rear center console, but I'm not sure what needs to be removed in order to get to it.

All you need to remove is the hard plastic bottom of the armrest storage. Lift the rubber mat to expose the screw.

[wyovino]

Thanks, Ahsai, I'll give that a go if the temperature ever gets above freezing again.

[jay04v6]

Warmth rolled in last weekend, so time to complete the back brakes. after the front , the back went real smooth and fast. Once the calipers and discs were off (loosen the ebrake adjustment to get the disc off), i decided not to do the ebrake pads. The new ebrake pads had less pad on them than the existing pads, so i will send them back. The vibration dampers, turned into a bit of an issue as they are 2 different sizes (30s and 28s), and instead recieved only 30s's...so time to reuse the 28s with the high temp glue mentioned above. Put it all back together, and adjusted the ebrake and all was good and complete. As far as the ebrake goes, simple process- take the armrest tray out and take the tension off the ebrake cable at the lever. Turn the adjustment in the hub until the wheel won't move, then back off five clicks, then back off 3 clicks then 2 more clicks. then tighten up the screw holding the cable at the lever, and you are done.