08+ front brakes, older wrx 4pots, or LGT brakes?

[2007st3]

So I have a 2010 WRX and I'm in the process of molding it into the car that I want it to be. Brakes are now my issue. The brakes just don't feel great. This car is a street daily driver and not a trackday queen.

-I could just put in ss lines, better pads and maybe some slotted roters. This would probably work well, but I'm not convinced this will fix the problem.

-I could also get some older WRX 4pots. These however don't allow for a bigger rotor, so I don't see how they could be all that much better than option 1.

-I could put a big brake kit or factory STI Brembos on, but I really don't want to spend all that money

-So the last option that I can think of anyway is putting LGT brakes on it. These would have a larger rotor and with a set of good pads and brake lines it sounds like a good option. As far as I know the LGT is also a heavier car so this seems to make sence.

Thoughts--

[98Wagoon]

I think better rotors/pads with ss lines and super blue fluid would be a great way to go instead of "downgrading" in a sense to older styles. Im not sure what size are on your car currently, though.

[Seraphinwolf]

He's talking about the 06/07' 4/2 pots Alex. Those are an upgrade. They should bolt right in place with zero other modifications.
As for the Brembos it's the same process as any previous chassis WRX converting. That means bracket, calipers, rotors, lines, pads, and dealing with the ebrake.
LGT brakes are a great cheap upgrade but again spend the extra to do the same as option 1 plus the LGT stuff and you're good.

[98Wagoon]

eh. still.

[RCKSTR]

You could buy my front Brembo setup :shrug:

[2007st3]

You could buy my front Brembo setup :shrug:
That would be a great idea, I just don't want to drop all that much dough into a daily driver, Though i would like to autocross it now and then.


I think this would just be a front swap anyway as I don't now of any uncomplicated swaps for the GR rears.

[DHGurs]

Have you experienced brake fade before with this setup? Or is it just a feel thing you are going for?

[whtrexgrl]

I have a 10 WRX and IMO the brakes suck on it!! I am always complaining that it feels like I would have to push the it through the floor to get it to stop. My husband has an 09 and his stops fine. This has been an issue since the 1st day I picked up the car, but he tells me everything looks fine! Glad it isnt just me! I'm also looking into doing a brake swap to improve braking and because I hate the crappy gray calipers!

[civic si hb]

I have a 10 WRX and IMO the brakes suck on it!! I am always complaining that it feels like I would have to push the it through the floor to get it to stop. My husband has an 09 and his stops fine. This has been an issue since the 1st day I picked up the car, but he tells me everything looks fine! Glad it isnt just me! I'm also looking into doing a brake swap to improve braking and because I hate the crappy gray calipers!

I've driven the STI with the Brembo's and my 06 has the 4/2 pot and they both feel reaaly great. I've heard a good amount of people complaining about newer wrx and not being happy with the oem brakes. I've never driven one but am curious to see what they feel like. Maybe someone like Gary might know if they upgaded the brakes on the 2011 wrx with the wide body or are they still using the same ones.

[duey]

Bad brake "feel" can mostly can be fixed with SS lines, pads, MC braces (not 100% sure on this as I've never personally tried).

Changing calipers would change the feel of the brakes too but its mostly for fade resistance/heat dissipation. Though I'm sure we all feel the same way about this part but big calipers always please the eyes too along with brake performance.

[DHGurs]

Brakes have been the same 08+. They stopped faster in the 2008 than the 07 with the same tires, but they are not as fade resistant as the 4pots. As duey said, lines, pads, MC Brace will help with feel. No need to upgrade calipers unless you are having fading issues on the track.

[whtrexgrl]

yeah, I think I'm going to change the lines, pads & add mc braces to start. My chick side really wants to swap out the rotors & calipers - just because they look so much better :wub:

[2007st3]

Have you experienced brake fade before with this setup? Or is it just a feel thing you are going for?

No fade yet just a feel thing. But I would like to autocross this season.

I have a 10 WRX and IMO the brakes suck on it!! I am always complaining that it feels like I would have to push the it through the floor to get it to stop. My husband has an 09 and his stops fine. This has been an issue since the 1st day I picked up the car, but he tells me everything looks fine! Glad it isnt just me! I'm also looking into doing a brake swap to improve braking and because I hate the crappy gray calipers!

I have the same problem, I had an 08 that had better pedal feel. I'm not really concerned with the color though.

Brakes have been the same 08+. They stopped faster in the 2008 than the 07 with the same tires, but they are not as fade resistant as the 4pots. As duey said, lines, pads, MC Brace will help with feel. No need to upgrade calipers unless you are having fading issues on the track.

I did hear that the 08+ brakes were better than or similar to the 07. I already have the brace (not yet installed) so lines and pads it is.

[ishredNH]

When I had to replace my brakes and front rotors I went with some hawk pads and slotted rotors. Holy difference. I was told the SS lines and new fluid will also help tremendously.

[2007st3]

Any recommendation on a hawk pad? HPS, HP+, etc?

[ishredNH]

I'm rocking the HPS pads. I was told the HP+ are noisier, more track oriented, and they dust more. I have never used the HP+ pads so I'm going off what I was told. I'm sure someone on here has used both and could give you a little more info than me.

[2007st3]

Anyone ever use Zeckhausen Racing? They have the stoptech rotors, lines, and pads as a kit both front and rear for under $600 for slotted and like 20 bucks more for slotted and drilled. Seems like a half decent price.
http://store.zeckhausen.com/catalog/product_thumb.php?img=images/SportKit.jpg&w=100&h=56
Slotted
http://store.zeckhausen.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22_23_247_3187&products_id=8540
Slotted and Drilled
http://store.zeckhausen.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22_23_247_3187&products_id=8541

[DHGurs]

Import image has them for less, and they are a trusted vendor.
http://www.importimageracing.com/c/wrx-sti-08-brake-rotors.html

Oops: Didn't see the lines and pads. PM Josh @ IIR, he could probably put something together.

[DHGurs]

You should just get some Brembos instead... :hide:

http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/pp315/DHGURS/2011-03-07_15-32-06_154.jpg

[hiprsha666]

How much would that cost? ^^^

I'm already working on the LGT set up plus some Hawk pads. Nice and affordable.

[Berge56]

You could buy my front Brembo setup :shrug:

This!

[DHGurs]

He'll have Brembo's soon enough :D

[2007st3]

Wednesday.

[iamrazor]

IMO, drilled or slotted rotors are a waste on the st. you're never getting them hot enough for the holes / slots to do what they were designed for. Seems more fashion than function. Had you said you were doing some HPDEs I'd say got for it.

I'll echo the pads, fluid, SS lines sentiment. That'll give you the best bang for buck

[Jon]

I'm almost 100% positive that the 4/2 pots won't work on 08+ wrx. The front work, but the rears will NOT. I looked into it already over on nasioc and that was the general consensus. It has something to do with the e-brake being different. There are no rotors that would work with it.

Now switching to Brembos on the the hand is pretty easy. Don't quote me on this, but i'm pretty sure you only need front Brembos/rotors off an 04 sti, and 08+ rear Brembos with matching rotors, but you need to have the rotors drilled the 5x100. Oh and all the lines for the brakes too. Might have to have some sorta of bracket, i can't remember.

[2007st3]

The rears for an 08+ wrx are totally different. Not sure of all the parts u need to switch to Brembo but its not just rear rotors.

[Jon]

From NASIOC

For 2008, the Impreza has a whole different thing going on in the rear. While the front brakes are still the same, the rear suspension, spindles, and caliper mounting changed on regular Imprezas, the WRX, and the STi. Instead of a backing plate, the calipers mount to the spindle just like the front. Because of this, the calipers are different. The bolt spacing is actually the same as older 1-pot calipers, on both the WRX and STi.

Another thing to note is that the 08 WRX has the same larger 190mm parking brake hat as the STi.

So yes, it is possible to put 08 sti rear calipers on an 08+ wrx and it happens to be very easy. All you need is to have the 08+ sti rear rotors re-drilled to 5x100 and everything bolts on. Pretty much any machine shop will be able to re-drill the rotors for a nominal charge. DBA dual drills their 05-07 STI rotors already, but I'm not sure if they did so for the 08, which is a different rotor.

This will only work with 08 sti rear calipers and re-drilled rotors because the mounting on the calipers changed as did the rotor hat offset. If you were to attempt to use an 04 sti rotor, it would not line up with the caliper.

The 09+ Forester and 2010+ Legacy also has the same rear upright and brake setup, so all this should apply to them as well.

If you wanted to put 08 sti rear calipers on an older 1-pot cars, they would bolt to the backing plate, but there is no rotor that will currently work. The DBA rotor would not like up with the caliper. The actual difference in offset is something I don't currently know, and I'm not sure if even an 08 sti rotor re-drilled would line up properly (parking brake issues aside).