Samster

Well, my first post!!! Used this site for loads of great advice in the past (tyres and insurance) but brakes seem a whole different ball game

Ok, here's the situation - not that pleased with the stopping power of my wrx ppp and there's far too much travel on that middle pedal before anything half decent happens. Also, going to South Germany via the ring (if I can get on) on 28th Feb so need something that I can rely on. May also throw in the odd track day after that. Prosport Subaru service in Stockport want to upgrade me to EBC red stuff and EBC discs and suggest a braided brake hose.

From my last 2 hours surfing the forum I've learnt the following:
1. EBC redstuff's are useless - I might as well roll up wads of notes as pads
2. PF brakes are the dogs - but I'd have to change to Brembo calipers?
3. Ferodo pads ds2500 are also the dogs (but what discs?)

What should I do - would spend £500 ish.

s70rjw

iTrader: (2)

I've just put dba discs on with DS2500 pads. They're not cheap, but they are fantastic with the Ferodo pads. No noise, fade or vibration

53

iTrader: (41)

Front and Rear EBC Yellows on WRX brakes with upgraded Brake fluid would improve your set up 100%. After that it gets expensive.

Samster

Guys - thanks for the responses. Just two questions:
1. How much for the dba discs/ds2500 pads and where's the best place to buy from?
2. Would that be yellow stuff pads with standard calipers? I've heard they munch standard discs...(sorry to be a bit dumb here)

OK technically 3 questions..

s70rjw

iTrader: (2)

DBA discs / DS 2500 pads DOT 5.1 brake fluid and braided hoses around £670 fitted.
Never scrimp on brakes or tyres...........

Mark1983

iTrader: (2)

I run Performance Friction pads (2 sets) and discs, lasted all last year on track including 180 laps of the Ring. £599 for front pads and discs, best set up I've used.

Edit: Just released you don't have the Brembo's, forget that.

Samster

had a hunt around for dba's - found them on motorsportworld.co.uk but loads to choose from - which ones were you including in your £670 mate? 4000, 5000, std, grooved?

Changed the standard tyres on my car to Vredestein Ultrac 2 yrs ago - just about to put another set on...

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

I can supply you our 335mm x 32mm 2 piece disc kit to use with your standard subaru 4 pot calipers , that will fit under your standard 17" wheels , the kit uses a larger pad than the standard size ones , and makes a huge difference to the braking power compared to the standard size ones.
I have this complete kit on offer for £550 at the moment , you can have a chioce of pads , the popular ones are Mintex M1155 or Ferodo DS2500's.
Cheers Ian

s70rjw

iTrader: (2)

4000. They're slotted. Got mine at RE Motorsport
www.remotorsport.co.uk

a16pse

i have put PF pads on my 06 STI with braide hoses and do lots of track days all pads and hoses cost me £285 and they are awsome to say the least, no need for a big brake upgrade you will be waisting your money mate, chech out the performance friction stuff post and read for yourself, thats my opinion.

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

Yes but the OP has a WRX , which only has 294mm discs with Subaru calipers , and this model DOES need a bigger brake kit to get it braking well especially for track days.
performance friction dont offer fast road discs and pads for this model , only the STI
Cheers Ian

stockcar

but they ARE available in trackday compounds for the WRX....................but not the more road orientated "z-rate"

alyn

Flaps

iTrader: (1)

I bought the K-Sport 8 pots when they were in the group buy and sold my OEM WRX standard calipers and discs on here for £175 (quite a popular upgrade for the Classic). Bearing in mind that you could potentially get the same back for yours, you could add this to the amount you are willing to spend and look at a completely new set up rather than just discs and pads.

Samster

would the track day compounds be unsuitable for my type of use i.e. 95% road, 5% track?

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

No not really ideal for your useage
Cheers Ian

Samster

Ian - Thanks for your posts so far - why wouldn't you suggest leaving the discs at 294mm and upgrading them and the pads?

Also, if the ds2500 pads are ok on 294mm, why upgrade to 335mm - surely the contact area cannot increase?

And finally, I don't want to spoil the characteristics of the car...what level of upgrading the brakes means you have to start upgrading suspension as well?

Cheers
Dave

stockcar

i actually find "97" compound is pretty reasonable for road work and plenty of peeps are running "01" in Brembo set-ups................

see if you can find D1CCY on here as he and his pal did some extensive work with BREMBo's and AP stuff

alyn

WRX_SWRT

iTrader: (2)

i may know man selling front brembos with pf discs and pads for the cash you have i can ask him if you want?

Samster

Hi mate - thanks for the post - Can I squeeze them behind my 17 inch wheels or would I have to upgrade to 18s?

Samster

Alyn - thanks for your posts - I'll try and locate D1CCY to see what he's done.

As you can see from my original post my preference would be for the PF brakes because of the reviews on the forum and given my impending trip to Germany (and planned track days when I get back). As long as they also do the business on road i.e. same as/more effective than the dba discs/ds2500 pads (I'm assuming they'll autmatically be better than the std mush!) then it would seem a no brainer to me...

Keep an eye on this post if you would alyn

Cheers
Dave

WRX_SWRT

iTrader: (2)

No they don`t fit behind wrx 17`s but will fit uder some 17`s and most 18`s

Grieg

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

Hi
For fast road use a good pad and disc would suit most , but on the track they are really too small , I rally a Type R which is in Group N so I have to keep the standard calipers and discs , and they just aren't really up to the job.

If you fit a larger discs , you are increasing the leaverage of the calipers on the discs , its like trying to undo a bolt with a small ratchet , and then using a power bar , the extra leaverage makes it a lot easier with the power bar , well its the same principle with larger discs.

The pad I use in this kit is a modified Jaguar pad , the standard pad size is 113mm x 48mm , the pad I use is 114mm x 58mm , this is the actual pad material size , the backing plates are exactly the same length so they are a perfect fit in the calipers , but as they are 10mm wider , my discs also have the pad area 10mm wider than a standard disc.

the 335mm discs are also thicker , the standard discs are 24mm thick , the 335mm ones are 32mm thick , so in the kit you also get caliper widening spacers and longer bolts to bolt it back together , a thicker disc can take a lot more heat which again is ideal for track days.

No standard sized disc or pad will come close to the performance of the 335mm kit , whatever make of pad you use.

And as long as you have the standard subaru fitted behind your wheel now , then they will fit with the 335mm kit , the brembo's dont fit under most 17" wheels.
The only wheels we know them not to fit under is the early Speedline wheels similar to the RB5 wheels , and the Ultralite 2 piece wheels where the spokes go in at the outer rim ofthe wheels

Cheers Ian

daijones

I've got Ian's 335mm disc upgrade, with braided steel hoses. It is splendid - much, much better than the 294mm Tarox disc and pad upgrade I had on my last WRX, which were themselves a step up from standard. They've got much more stopping power and are much more resistant to fade. I try to scare myself leaving it as late as poss to brake for traffic lights, but always end up short because the brakes are better than my nerves.

Ian, I forgot to ask: when the pads need changing will I need to source them from you?

D

TK-WRX

iTrader: (3)

i have a set of brembo's with pf 2 peice discs / pf cm pads and braided hoses for £650 look in for sale section at my thread, awsome brakes
you sure they dont fit under newage wrx rims ?
they fit under both of my sets of 17" rotas

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

The brembo STi calipers will NOT fit under the WRX rims.

Dai , you can get the pads from anywhere , I also keep them in stock for next day delivery
Cheers Ian

daz1968

iTrader: (13)

I would say either fit sti brembos and discs using sti wheels to clear them or go for the 335mm kit, both will end up about the same price if you factor in the resale value of your old wheels and brakes. I have always been disapointed with standard sized uprated discs and pads, they may not fade as readily but I have never found them to make as much difference as going to larger discs, as stated above the extra leverage from the increased diameter makes a lot more difference. I also believe you can use spacers to clear brembos on wrx wheels but unsure how safe this is. I chose to go with 2nd hand brembos and new discs and pads and as I needed tyres anyway bought a set of sti rims with good tyres, the sale of my wheels and brakes paid for the sti rims with good tyres so turned out good all round.

daijones

Cheers Ian

D

Samster

tell you what Alyn, that Diccy sure knows what he's talking about - thanks for the tip. He's said that big brakes are a defo for the track so I've asked Prosport Stockport to get me some prices. Ian - might come back to you depending on what Prosport come up with. Diccy suggested Pagid pads as he felt the ds2500 lacked the bite necessary (only on track), failing that the Mintex ones seemed popular.

Other people also have suggested upgrading the back discs/pads as well to make the car more stable/flat under braking in the wet and to relieve the stress a bit on the fronts.... all good advice so will have to weigh up against budget and current condition of my OEM stuff as may try and sell them if I upgrade all round...

Will also do the fluid and hoses.

Choices choices

Will keep you posted - thanks for all the posts and opinions - think I've taken something from everyone! and it's been a massive help

bugeyeandy

I used Black Diamond discs along with some excellent Pagid Blues (which I got from Alyn). They suffered no fade in 1500 miles of driving including a few runs up and down the Stelvio at speed and 2 days at the Ring.
I also did a couple of Brands track days on top and there was still plenty of meat on the pads.
I wouldn't run the Blues with standard discs as they wear discs quite badly if you get the wrong ones but I believe Alyn sells discs to match too.
Best brakes i've had on any car i've owned.

Mark1983

iTrader: (2)

I was disappointed with the Mintex M1155, faded and crumbled under hard use. Not tried DS2500 on the Impreza however these were great on my Civic Type R on track.