Driving and Driving Safety 157
Brake wear
Your car has excellent brakes, but they are still
subject to wear. The rate at which they wear
depends on how the brakes are used.
f Have the brake system inspected at the
intervals recommended in your Maintenance
Booklet.
Brake system warning light
You can check the functionality of the brake
system warning light by switching the ignition to
the “On” position (position 1) and verifying that the
warning light illuminates.
A warning message will be displayed on the multi-
purpose display of the instrument panel if the
brake pads are worn, excessively.
f Do not continue to operate the vehicle.
Have your authorized Porsche dealer inspect
or replace the brake pads.
For information on warning messages on the
multi-purpose display:
f Please see the chapter “OVERVIEW OF
WARNING MESSAGES” on page 139.
Brake pads and brake disks
Wear on the brake pads and brake disks depends
to a great extent on the driving style and the
conditions of use and therefore cannot be
expressed in actual miles on the road.
The high-performance brake system is designed
for optimal braking effect at all speeds and
temperatures.
Certain speeds, braking forces and ambient
conditions (e.g. temperature and humidity) can
therefore cause the brakes to “squeal”.
Unsuitable or incorrectly installed floor mats or
objects can obstruct the movement of the brake
pedal or prevent application of the brake pedal.
f Do not obstruct the pedal travel with floor mats
or other objects.
In heavy rain, while driving through water or after
leaving a car wash, the braking action may be
delayed and increased pressure may be required.
f For this reason, keep further back from the
vehicle in front and “dry” the brakes by
applying them at intervals. Make sure that the
traffic behind you is not affected.
After a long drive over salted or gritted roads,
a coating may form on the brake disks and pads
that significantly reduces friction and therefore
also braking effect.
f Even though the brake disks consist of alloyed
gray cast iron, they will unavoidably start to
corrode if your vehicle is parked for an
extended period. The brakes will tend to “rub”
as a result.
The nature, extent and effects of corrosion
depend on the amount of time the vehicle was
parked, whether road salt or grit was spread
and whether grease-dissolving agents were
used in car washes (not on vehicles with
Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake).
To prevent corrosion of the brake disks,
“brake them dry” before parking the vehicle
(not on vehicles with Porsche Ceramic
Composite Brake).
If braking comfort is noticeably impaired, we
recommend that you have the brake system
checked by experts at an authorized Porsche
dealer.
f To relieve the brake system on downhill
stretches, change down to a lower gear in
good time (engine braking).
If engine braking is insufficient on steep
stretches, operate the footbrake at intervals.
Avoid continuous braking as it overheats the
brakes and reduces the braking effect.
For information on brake fluid and checking the
brake fluid level:
f Please see the chapter “BRAKE FLUID” on
page 245.
New brake pads or linings
New brake pads have to be “broken in”, and
therefore only attain optimal friction when the car
has covered several hundred miles or km.
The slightly reduced braking ability must be
compensated for by pressing the brake pedal
harder. This applies whenever the brake pads
and/or brake disks are replaced.
Brake wear warning message USA
Brake wear warning message
Canada
Obstructed Brake Pedal
Wet Brakes
Reduced Braking
Efficiency
English 
