[Handlebar]

I have a couple of basic questions about brake pads (that seem to be far simpler than the answers I found in the search function).

- I was recently told my brake pads looked fine, but I may want to change them before any hard driving. How hard is this to do? I picked up a low profile jack and 4 stands in anticipation of bleeding brakes at some point - another task I have never done.

- Where do I buy replacement brake pads? Which ones? When I went to Advance Auto for my fan belt, they sold me belts that were almost twice as long as I needed.

- I have basic tools, and I am not mechanically clueless, but I haven't worked on cars much for 25 years. A Pulley Wrench and Spark Plug tool are on the short list of future purchases. What else? The Jack pad? 1? What else would recommended for basic jobs?

- will the Tech inspection on 10/18 check brakes? (Hoping so!) I don't want to fail an inspection and not have time to fix something, particularly something I can take care of sooner rather than later.

- Last one (on wife's behalf) - if I do the brake pads, is the job easy to check if it is done correctly? She is something of a cautionary type.

Thanks for any suggestions - these Dorkis have been terrific thus far!

[Jazzbass]

OK, assuming this is for a stock 88 Carrera.

1. Get a good set of high performance street pads. I like Hawk; if you'll be going DEs or Autocross go with the HP+. Otherwise HPS will be fine. I use HPS pads my 330 and my 911 (when it doesn't have dedicated track pads in it). These cannot be purchased from Advance Auto. Try OG Racing.

2. Tech inspection will check pad thickness.

3. Purchase a copy of Wayne Dempsey's 101 Projects - it'll explain a lot about the basic maintenance items on your car, including brake pad changes. http://www.amazon.com/Projects-Porsc.../dp/0760308535

4. If your calipers haven't been rebuilt in a while, they're probably due or close to it. The cast iron ATE calipers on these cars like to get a little rusty and size up. Rebuilding is easy and pretty cheap, fortunately.

5. For tools you should get a jack pad and a good torque wrench next. It won't do to go snap off those super light aluminum lug bolts.

If you show up for tech next week, lot of us will be able to help with what tools to buy and what items to look at on your car.

[Handlebar]

Originally Posted by Jazzbass

OK, assuming this is for a stock 88 Carrera.

If you show up for tech next week, lot of us will be able to help with what tools to buy and what items to look at on your car.

Stock, mostly, but I just picked it up, so I am learning what the many different changes to it have been.

I had penciled in a possible rally next week and I believe there was an autocross event. I thought the next tech inspection was two weeks away?

[Jazzbass]

Originally Posted by Handlebar

I thought the next tech inspection was two weeks away?

Ah so it is - Oct 18. I was thinking it was next weekend.

[roundel]

Peek into your wheels to see if the pad thickness is greater than the backing plate thickness. If so, you should be fine for a auto x or rally. Neither will compare to the wear of a DE.

I'll suggest Hawk HT10 pads. They create benign dust and will handle everything including DE. The only drawback is possible squealing.

[Dr K]

Originally Posted by roundel

I'll suggest Hawk HT10 pads. They create benign dust and will handle everything including DE. The only drawback is possible squealing.

And price! I like the HT-10s a lot, for racing and hard DEs, but I agree with Jazz about earlier-stage crossover pads. I used to discuss with a former local guy now in Florida, but I'd contact Mark Francis (carrera51 on Dorkiphus) at OG racing and ask his CURRENT recommendations. OG has specially-made pads for the 80's Carreras from Performance Friction using their newest compounds--these are otherwise not available. The PF pads seem to last a lot longer than the Hawks, and produce less dust.

[BobNovas]

http://www.westonmotorsports.com/ - Paul is a good resource.

[Dr K]

x2. That's who I used to ask. But the new compound PF's for the Carrera's are only available through OG, as far as I know, and they are really good.