raymondbacon

Hi, I have a 2001 bugeye which i use as a track day car. First time out I couldnt believe have bad the brakes were, hard pedal, noisy and no bite. Carried on with track day using the gears to slow down. Changed the pads all round and did another track day, just as bad. Just put EBC yellow stuff and still bad, The pedal is hard, the servo is working as pumping a few time when engine off makes pedal harder. Had a knowledgeable neighbour try and he confirmed brakes are bad. Looking at the master cylinder, you can see fluid squirting into the reservoir from the front of the master cylinder. Is it the servo is weak, the master cylinder is finished or the abs pump? All the calipers are not seized, no leaks. It does pull a bit, I thought it could be that just one back and one front is working, but the pads seem to wear evenly. Booked Lydden for next week, may have to take the MR2 instead! HELP!

JonMc

iTrader: (51)

I'm chasing a similar problem although I now have Brembo's fitted. All of the calipers are free and I've removed the ABS although it appears one caliper was still dragging a little based upon a noise and temperature. I had ground the pad for one side down a little as it was slightly tight when fitted, and although the other side was clear going in I took it out this morning and shaved it. Not tested yet though.

The servo and master cylinder are generally okay for the car, but the 4-pots do take a battering and are not really up to track work on a 1.5 tonne car - Brembos are a logical upgrade but there are other options.

One area to check is the vacuum connection for the servo - if the rubber pipework has been replaced with silicon has the one-way valve been replaced - or has it failed. It is in the hose that goes across from the bulkhead to the inlet on the passenger side and about 2-3" in there should be a solid lump. If it is there whip the hose of and blow both ways. You should be able to blow towards the inlet but not towards the servo

raymondbacon

Hi, thanks for the reply, I had a check of that valve and it only lets air one way. I cleaned it with an airline anyway. I went for a drive and in second gear left foot braking as hard as I can, I can't stop the car against the engine. It feels like the servo runs out of air assistance and the pedal goes hard. All disks were hot and the same heat across each axle. Thinking of getting a ebay servo and trying that. The pedal is hard, not soft. The only odd thing was the oil spurting upwards in the reservoir. Thanks Mat

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

SteveVRS on here tracked his bug with the OEM 4 pots but used a Godspeed big brake conversion......... he was no slouch


Shaun

JonMc

iTrader: (51)

When my pedal goes hard it puts me through the screen

Servos can be had cheap, I paid about £20 for my spare one which will be getting fitted soon

cobra_mark

I have standard pads and discs on a 2002 bugeye wagon, just been through the MOT but brakes are good to about 30-40mph no bite past that, looks like new discs and kevlar pads. Seems the WRX imprezas standard brakes are poor.

stockcar

they are not poor as std IMO, the problem you have is that they can be problematic with pistons sticking/seizing and also people tend to replace components with cheap items that struggle to work as well as factory...........
with the correct components these brakes are not an issue

alyn

cobra_mark

Well I will change the discs and pads and see if things improve, there are some good deals for the standard SUBARU 4 pots so will let you know how it works out.

raymondbacon

Fitted another servo and master cylinder. Just did track day at lydden Hill, seemed to be better than before. Only parts not changed now are disks, whicgh are undrilled. Not sure if the drilled ones will make a difference, but not too dear so will give a set arty, do I have to replace the backs with drilled as well? Thanks

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

Drilled ones will make a difference..........they are likely to crack


Shaun

Myles

iTrader: (40)

Agreed, seen cracked more often that not. On the other hand, my godspeed 335mm drilled and grooved discs are still in great condition.

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

Maybe I should have inserted the word "Cheap" in my last post

Shaun

(I too have had Godspeed drilled and grooved disks)

Myles

iTrader: (40)

Yeah, I think people see drilled discs on ebay etc. and think they are the bomb. It can be a horrible lesson to learn in the most extreme cases.

raymondbacon

The Godspeed big brake conversion looks the best bet, the standard setup with yellowstuff are not giving me much confidence!

Myles

iTrader: (40)

I like it, I bought mine about three years ago for around £250 secondhand (approx), and I have run them with no issues whatsoever. The DS2500 pads take a bit to get the heat in em, the bluestuff are probably the way forward now.

petethemeat

iTrader: (6)

I have grooved discs and EBC yellow stuff pads and it's a cracking set up.

Kedlestone

iTrader: (9)

I have to disagree with the post further up about standard WRX brakes not being poor. Mine were terrible straight from the dealer and I know a lot of other WRX owners who also say the same. It's a heavy car and with the added speed it can achieve the stoppers just aren't up to the job IMO.

Anyhow k-sport 330 8 pots fitted now, problem solved.

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

Kedlestone

Not sure I'd contradict Alyn (or indeed Godspeed) about the poor potential of the Bug WRX 4 pot callipers...... I'm sure at least one of them have rallied the OEM 4 pots

Shaun

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

I have won a rally outright using 294mm discs and standard Subaru 4 pot calipers so with the right pads they are a very capable set up

cobra_mark

The trick is to get the right pads, my discs are on the limit, so I will need a new set, standard, nothing drilled or slotted. Pads seem to have conflicting comments across the forum, is there a clear favourite for that setup?

petethemeat

iTrader: (6)

^ I think the variation across the board is caused by caliper condition & efficiency . My setup with is a brill road setup & not sure how it could be argued otherwise unless the calipers were sticking / needed a overhaul. I dont run braided hoses either.

Kedlestone

iTrader: (9)

Midlife

Just speaking from personal experience, I'm not saying the callipers are not up to the job but with the oem pads and discs mine were terrible. I know the Godspeed setup is a great kit and a lot if people use them. I'm just referring to the standard setup without any modifications.

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

Its the pads that can make or break a brake setup , a good pad can make the world of difference , like you say the standard pads aren't up to much

Darrell@Scoobyworx

iTrader: (5)

4 pots with good pads will out perform brembos with standard pads, ive seen people upgrade from 4 pots with PF pads then wonder why they are worse with the brembo setup. And its because they dont have the same qaulity pads in the brembo setup.

Midlife......

iTrader: (2)

Kedlestone

Have to agree with you there....as it left the factory the Bug WRX brakes (pads and disks) were a bit feeble, the Jap WRX had some sliding 2 pot jobbies which were even worse !

I think it was due to the WRX being crippled so as not to get anywhere near the performance of the STi, and lets not deny it the price of the Bug STi compared to the WRX !

Tracking and spirited driving aside.........leaving a motorway slip road with a full family and a shed load of luggage at "motorway speed" and braking for the roundabout at the end was a bit of a challenge!

Shaun