Need help with brake pads DIY on my 09' 3.6 997.2

[drpeck9972]

I have watched many videos and the process is similar for replacing brake pads on most porsche models. However, my 2009 3.6 Carrera has a closed back caliper so you cannot slide the pads out the back (the white arrows are the back of the caliper in the picture below). I'll be doing the brakes myself and my questions are - 1) once the caliper is removed, what steps must be taken to get the pads out (after the sensors are removed) - how do they slide out? There doesn't appear to be that central retaining pin with an E clip which, on most P-car calipers goes through holes in the middle of the back of the pads to holding them in? Also, the retaining clips (there are 2 separate but overlapping clips it seems - blue arrows in the attached pic) look different than most porsche clips that pop off once the aforementioned central retaining pin is removed? 2) How do these clips come out/off? Do they need to? and lastly, 3) it doesn't appear that my car uses the same pad dampers like the 3.8 S? Are there any pad dampers at all? (see red arrow below) If so, do I need to pry them off the pads before they'll slide out? Taking an educated guess from observing the caliper in the pic on the left, I think the pads, once the caliper is removed slide off the stationary bar (marked with the green arrow) away from the pistons. Perhaps that's why there is no central retaining pin? I've seen the calipers on the gen I Boxster S, Carrera S 997.1 and .2 and the 997.2 turbo brakes, and none of those calipers are quite like this it seems? Maybe a base gen II boxster or cayman uses a similar design?

Thanks for any help with this.

Regards,

David

P.S. can anyone take a guess at the remaining life on the pads - which are the fronts (the pics are from my phone and stink I know)? There seems to be barely less pad than backing. The car has 18k, I drive 90% suburban miles and I've done one autocross and one DE.

Edited April 27, 2011 by drpeck9972

[PAULSPEED]

Your pads look gone.

I would buy new pads and see if they look strange. Most calipers are

held on with two big bolts. Remove the caliper and pads, spread the

opening and install the new pads. You might solve your blue and white

clips once the brakes are removed.

Paul

[Loren]

I agree - looks like the pads are gone and rotor is trashed.

Someone ignored this too long.

[drpeck9972]

I agree - looks like the pads are gone and rotor is trashed.

Someone ignored this too long.

I washed the car just before taking the wheel off, so the rotor still has some of the rusty residue that doesn't come off until you use the brakes. Here's a better pic of the pad. It's about the same thickness as the backing. I'm doing a DE in 3 weeks, and I plan on doing the brakes after that.

Thanks for the replies, I found the answers I needed. My calipers are exactly the same design as the rear calipers on the 997 turbo. The pads just slide off the guides once the caliper is removed and the retainers (blue arrows) are actually 1 piece that stays put. The only thing I'm curious about now is whether any pad dampers are used? Im pretty sure the pistons aren't hollow as with the 997 S. Maybe my calipers use the disc shaped individual dampers? Maybe none at all?

Thanks again. WIsh me luck.

Edited April 28, 2011 by drpeck9972

[goldenwarrior1]

Just my 2 cents here.... Your pads look like they have enough left for daily driving for a few more months but no way would I go to a DE event without healthy brakes. The track will put a lot of heat stress on those thin pads and worn rotors! Replace them with new parts, bed them in properly and enjoy your track day with peace of mind knowing you and your car are safe.

Regards, Tom