IN1TROI

Hey guys I have questions about upgrading the brakes on a base 944, early 85 model. I've been seeing guys on here selling 968 brakes and 951 brakes and I was curious about how those would fit on an older base model. It'd be nice to have some good stopping power, but I don't have a whole lot of money and not enough experience for a big brake or custom setup. Anything would be appreciated guys!

V2Rocket

unless a full set of turbo brakes fell into my lap, if i ever get around to brake upgrades it will be these:
http://www.rennbay.com/944-big-brake-kit-p-83.html

IN1TROI

Oh man those are pretty sweet! So would just buying those be cheaper than trying to get a set of turbo ones? Because according to the site, you need new spindles, hubs and rotors for the turbo stuff

V2Rocket

depending where you got the turbo stuff the price could be less than that kit or more. but the wilwoods are a 1-step replacement and are brand new...

IN1TROI

ok yea that's pretty awesome, but it'd also be cool to upgrade the rear brakes. What do you think the best bang for your buck way to do that would be?

IN1TROI

I saw a set of 4 piston 968 calipers for $350 for sale on rennlist, i was wondering with more hardware that would be more expensive if i'd need the spindles hubs and rotors as well

Reimu

You know I bet you'd feel a world of difference by just getting a good set high performance pads and high temp fluid

Aussie944S

Just replaced rotors, brakes and fluid. All top shelf stuff pulls up that quick I've had to start forking out money for botox.

J1NX3D

a few years ago i switched to braided lines, good fluid and pads to do some track days with friends. I also had my rotors slotted by a machinist. the slots were machined down to the minimum wear thickness. the car stops well and i dont have any problems with fade during a session. 951/S2/968 brakes are OTT for an n/a, imo.

catamax944

For the turbo brake conversion you need spindles,hubs,discs,calipers and struts ,pretty expensive when all said and done .

I did some investigating recently on some calipers that will bolt up to the n/a spindles and found 3 that could work. The 4 pot caliper from a volvo 240 (abs version) will bolt right up to the n/a spindle with stock discs ,pads are just 5mm larger than stock pads but sice it's a 4 pot should improve braking slightly.
Another bolt on caliper would be the from the '04 GTO with corvette c5 pads and M030 discs . If one would want to go even bigger the '06 GTO calipers should work with 320-330mm discs. Turbo brake master cylinder should work fine with the GTO calipers .I still have to look into rear calipers and proportioning valve.
None of this is tested but looking at the specs they all should work , biggest issue can be centering the caliper on the discs .
Best thing of all is that they are all dirt cheap.

MAGK944

FYI: You'll also need to budget for new wheels and tires. Anything bigger than stock brakes will need at least 16" wheels. Plus the only turbo struts, spindles and hubs that will fit your (85) car is the 86 turbo set-up.

If you are doing this for added braking on a street car you really won't feel anything difference between a freshly rebuilt na set-up and the turbo brakes. If your doing it for the track, the turbo brakes will show a benefit, better cooling, less fade, etc. If you are doing it for the bling factor of 4-pot calipers, that's fine, it your money.

f1rocks

Countless hours of punishing track time, threshold braking into every corner over and over again. No extra cooling ducts just Hawk blue racing pads.....never any fade, never any loss of braking.

Tires are the limiting factor to improved stopping distance. Period. You will gain NOTHING over the stock NA brakes except they look cooler and you will spend more money for consumables.

Use good pads and fluid and save your money to learn how to brake better.

catamax944

I agree.
I'm actually all for n/a brakes on a stock car , they are better than good.
I had a complete turbo brake setup + coilovers but i sold everything because i didn't need them for what i use my car for ,that being a DD.
Only 15" wheels that fits over the turbo brakes are the early offset phonedials with 951 part numbers ( i had them on when i tried out the turbo brakes ) ,otherwise at least 16" wheels are needed.
The other calipers i mentioned earlier are a cheap alternative for whoever thinks they need bigger brakes or has a modified car.

StoogeMoe

Yep, you got it. Stock brakes are just fine. I never had a problem at the track.

ZR8ED

+1 with only one caveat. Once you increase the hp of your n/a above 250hp. I know you mentioned the car was stock, but I wouldn't want someone with a 924 with a 968 engine in his car reading this thread and thinking that his stock brakes will be ok for track events. With serious hp to the wheels, your stock brakes will not last long. That is why you find turbo brakes for sale all the time. As soon as a turbo guy turns up the hp, he will soon reach the limits of his stock brakes and upgrades will become needed.