Hi,

WRX STi Spec D 07/07 25k miles.

Ok, so was having a little run in with a BMW Z4 last week, and sadly experienced what I think is known as brake fade.

No accident or anything like that, but I could hear a kind of humming / droning coming from the brakes, and they weren't feeling efficient.

No warped discs as a result.

The front discs (standard) only have a small lip on them, and the pads (I assume Subaru or Brembo) have stacks of meat.

Nearly new tyres at correct pressures.

Maybe bleed the brakes and see what happens?

 

My 53 plate Sti with standard pads and discs did this too on Brembos

In my opinion I would look to uprate the pads to something better. I did this with new discs from godspeed brakes and the braking has now improved where brake fade is a thing of the past.

 

Always reading good things about godspeed.

 

What exactly where you both doing - having braking races

 

No, using my brakes during a speed race lol

It wasn't all motorway, and had to brake hard a few times for roundabouts etc.

The boy could drive, and did a fantastic drift out of one roundabout, smoke filled rear arches!
He was de catted I think, as his exhaust sounded unreal, and was popping / backfiring loads.

No idea what engine he had, 2.5 or 3.0 but it was manual.

Whilst I was not defeated, I was suprised. Hat off to him.

 

Dot 5 fluid change did this on my hawkeye before I went to the nurburgring and didn't get any fade. 👍

 

There are a couple of different types of brake fade. One is where the pads overheat (hard pedal) and the other is where the fluid overheats (soft, long pedal). Which type of fade did you experience?

The discs are only designed to wear by 1mm either side, so a lip may well indicate that they need changing.

 

1mm either side? You're kidding me surely?!!

I would say it was soft long pedal.

 

* I was surprised by one of these a while back.

* on a private road up to 70mph etc.

 

Glad I'm not the only one! Wasn't a Z4 M that's certain, he'd have blown me away if it was.

Did sustain a few battle scars - 2 chips to the roof, and one to the O/S/F wing, but it's minor and now touched in well.

My favoured dealer mixed me up a small bottle of Crystal Grey and it's spot on.

The stone that hit my roof would have seen me needing a new screen I'm sure, sounded like a brick lol!

Edit : and 2 small chips to the bonnet.

 

Awesome

 

I was being sarcastic btw.

 

30mm new and 28mm min

If you think it was a long soft pedal, change the fluid, EBC Racing Fluid is pretty good.

Measure your discs, if you need new ones you can check out this deal which comes with fast road pads:

https://www.scoobynet.com/trader-ann...-packages.html

Feel free to PM or call us for further advice

 

Thank you Aztec, just had a look at your packages, they seem such a cheap price for good stopping power?

Whats the best / most accurate way to measure my discs? Runout meter? Digital pincher type tool?

 

You're most welcome. Yes, the packages are proven to work very well.

 

Ok, and the best way to measure my discs?

 

Most measuring tools you are likely to measure the thickness including the lip, which is not what you want. If the lip is 1mm or more, then the discs need replacing.

A vernier caliper with slight knuckles on the ends will measure accurately

 

No need to be sarcastic, we've all done it.

 

Get some Preformance Friction pads and discs that's what I have with my standard Brembos and they are really good. Nice bite from cold and amazing when warmed up. I did not even manage to make them fade when I did Bedford a couple of weeks ago.

 

Before you start spending money on upgrading brakes, are you sure what you expreienced was not the ABS kicking in? Slight vibration through the brake pedal? If so it might save you a few bob - after all, STis have pretty good brakes for road use as standard.

 

Hmmm, possibly, but then I didn't feel the car was slowing down as well as it should.

Interesting.

 

Just bleed the system, first port of call cheapest option!!

 

Can this be done on my own whilst parked on the driveway?

I can see the bleed nipples on all 4 calipers, but would i need to undo the lid on the brake fluid reseviour and have someone put their foot on the peddle until any air, then fluid came out the nipples?

 

Need someone slowly pumping brake pedal while nipples are undone dude. Don't forget to keep an eye on the fluid level they empty quite quickly.

 

I think I'll get big Ian "A monster of a man and he knows it" to do it at work.

Cheers bud.

 

you would have to be going some to boil brake fluid on the road...be it dot 4 or 5. Go do a proper emergency stop and see if you can replicate the feeling as suggested by CharlieS

 

my stock rotors were shot well before 25k ,
& if you have been heavy footing racing up to roundabouts maybe now is the time to upgrade?

cant go wrong with PF

 

PF?

 

PERFORMANCE FRICTION