Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) explained

What are Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes and how do they work?

The ultimate in Porsche brake systems

February 5, 2026 | 4 min read

Blue Porsche 911 Turbo S cornering on racetrack

Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) were developed to offer drivers the very best in stopping power. This is how they work and why Porsche continues to refine brake technology for road and track

Porsche has always been inextricably linked with performance. But performance isn’t purely about how fast you can go, it’s also about how quickly and effectively you can slow down too. Brakes may not make as many headlines as a car’s acceleration figures, but their importance is undeniable. Fast cars need fast brakes.

In 2000, Porsche introduced innovative new braking technology that would help change expectations about how you can stop a car – particularly important because of the powerful sportscars it makes. This technology is called Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (known as PCCB) and today, as it was back then, they’re designed for customers looking to achieve the highest levels of braking performance.

Close-up of Porsche PCCB ceramic brakes showing yellow calipers on Porsche 911 Turbo S (type 992.2) — The 911 Turbo S is fitted as standard with Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) which are visually characterised by a complex pattern on the surface and offer outstanding braking power Photo: Porsche

Before PCCB was introduced, steel brakes were fitted to even the most powerful Porsche sportscars. PCCB represented a decisive technological step forward when it made its debut, as an option, on the 911 Turbo (type 996) and its introduction as the standard brake system for the 911 GT2. More than a quarter of a century later they remain the gold standard for Porsche brakes, sitting as the top offering among Porsche braking systems, where they are joined by conventional cast-iron (steel) brakes and the more recently introduced Porsche Surface Coated Brake system (PSCB).

Lighter, more durable and responsive, Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes are developed not just for extreme driving conditions, but to enhance daily driving through improved handling, efficiency and consistency. Benefits you can feel instantly.

What’s the technology behind Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB)?

Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes use a ceramic fibre-reinforced composite material as opposed to the cast-iron (steel) used in conventional brake discs. Manufacturing PCCB discs is an intensive and highly controlled process. The composite structure is formed under high pressure with aluminium particles integrated into the disc. It’s then subjected to prolonged heat treatment, with temperatures gradually rising to achieve the final material characteristics. The result is a disc that is exceptionally hard, resistant to corrosion and capable of maintaining stable braking performance even when subjected to repeated heavy loads.

Black and white iIllustration of PCCB Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake — This illustration shows the composition of Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes, including its perforated discs and cooling channels Photo: Porsche

In developing the PCCB system, Porsche became the first car manufacturer in the world to develop a ceramic composite brake disc with a curved cooling channel, which allows efficient airflow through the disc for improved internal cooling.

PCCB discs are perforated in a similar manner to its original steel brake discs, but the ceramic brakes mean a weight saving of around 50 per cent compared with cast-iron brakes. This translates to an overall vehicle weight saving of approximately 20 kg, depending on the model. PCCB discs combine with specially developed brake pads designed to work consistently across a wide temperature range. PCCB systems are identified by their striking yellow brake callipers and large-diameter discs.

What are the main benefits of Porsche PCCB brakes and how do they work?

Compared to steel brakes – where friction can vary significantly under heavy use, meaning that they may begin to lose effectiveness – the PCCB system can maintain stable friction even when decelerating repeatedly at high speeds. This is a key benefit when driving on track or during vigorous driving opportunities on the road.

Another advantage of PCCB systems is their responsiveness, with the ability to achieve maximum deceleration almost instantaneously, without the need for excessive pedal pressure. The ceramic composite discs and specially developed brake pads of the PCCB system are less prone to absorbing water. Braking performance even in challenging conditions, like wet weather, remains strong with minimal delay in response.

Porsche 911 GT3 RS, fitted with Porsche PCCB brakes, taking corner on hillside road in Switzerland — On mountain roads, where braking is frequent and can often be heavy, owners of Porsche sportscars fitted with PCCB truly feel their benefit. PCCB discs offer a consistency and feel that inspire the confidence that drivers seek Photo: Porsche

PCCB discs also wear differently to cast-iron (steel) discs. If they are used primarily on the road, rather on track, and maintained correctly, they can last for long periods.

The reduced unsprung weight of the PCCB system also affects the driving dynamics of the car, allowing the car’s suspension to react more quickly and accurately to changes in road surface. The result is improved ride quality and a more precise, responsive steering feel. By their very nature, the ceramic material used in PCCB systems is resistant to rust, helping to preserve performance characteristics and the appearance and identity of the car over time.

The Porsche Surface Coated Brake system (PSCB) is the most recently introduced Porsche brake innovation. Sitting between Porsche Original Brakes and the PCCB system, PSCB made its debut in 2017 in the Cayenne Turbo (E3 model) as a standard feature. The surface of these brakes are made from tungsten carbide, one of the hardest materials in the world after diamond. This makes them around ten times harder than the cast iron (steel) used in Porsche Original Brakes.

They function almost as impressively as the ceramic brakes of the PCCB system, with the same thermal stability, for a significantly more competitive cost. Compared to Porsche Original Brakes, they also produce hardly any brake dust and do not rust to help maintain an ‘as new’ appearance.

Which Porsche models can be ordered with the PCCB system?

The PCCB system is fitted as standard on the current 911 Turbo S (type 992.2) model. It is also an option across the 911 model range as well as certain models in the Cayenne range. It is also available as an option on certain models in the Macan range. The Taycan Turbo S also incorporates the PCCB system as standard, and an option elsewhere in models across the Taycan model range. The PCCB system is also an optional extra on most Panamera models.

Consumption and emission information

911 Turbo S (WLTP): Fuel consumption combined: 11.7 – 11.5 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 266 – 262 g/km; CO₂ class: . 911 GT3 RS (WLTP): Fuel consumption combined: 13.2 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions combined: 299 g/km; CO₂ class: .

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