Sub-Subaru

Please can someone tell me the correct torque setting for the front caliper bolts on a 2004 WRX. The only reference I can find in the manual says 155nm which seems an incredible amount for a M12 x 1.25 bolt. I tried torquing the bolt to this and it has stripped the lower thread hole on the caliper. I now have to try and insert a helicoil to repair it. I am now also scared to try torquing the other caliper bolts as they may all strip.

Is that torque specification wrong? Is it that the calipers have become weaker with heat? Please help me understand what is going on and what I should do. New calipers for the WRX are £750 a pair and knock off ones are £200 a pair. If I get used ones they might do exactly the same as what mine have done.

Don Clark

What manual are you using??


WRX 4 pot calipers


STI Gold Brembos

Sub-Subaru

I am using the free ones on the Ken Gilbert website. It looks identical to the photo you have shown.

The photo you have shown says ‘16 inch’ in the top left. If you scroll to the next page on the manual it says ‘17 inch’ and the torque is then 155nm.

I assumed 16 and 17 inch referred to the wheel size as I can’t think what else it could be referring to.

I have just noticed if you look at the 17 inch diagram it looks wrong. The 16 inch diagram shows the correct pad fitting kid parts on my 2004 WRX.

The new pad thickness spec in the manual for 17” is correct. The 17” spec for new disc thickness is incorrect though and is what they say 16” should be.

The first photo you have given shows 4 pot calipers not 2 pot.

Don Clark

So what calipers are fitted?
the red 4 pot WRX (16")


or the Gold 4 Pot STI Brembos (17")

Sub-Subaru

A previous owner has painted them yellow but they are 4 Pot Subaru branded calipers not Brembo.

I still don’t understand why you are referring to the WRX calipers as 16”. What measurement is the 16” referring to?

Don Clark

The reference to 16" in not mine but Subaru's.

If you read the complete BRAKE (BR) - General Description section (04impreza/imp04_chas_9.pdf) Subaru show 4 types of front brake calipers fitted to Impreza models covered by the manual.

14" Type - Single Pot sliding caliper
15" Type - 2 Pot sliding caliper
and the 16" and 17" Types already mentioned.



As you mentioned earlier, The "Type" refers to wheel rim size as outlined in (/imp04_chas_3.pdf) Wheel & Tyre System (WT) - General Description

Sub-Subaru

Thanks. I did have the manual all in one pdf on my computer but can’t access it at the moment and can’t find the complete pdf as opposed to the separate pages which takes ages to look through each pdf.

It seems the manual is unclear and all over the place on this issue because the ‘General Description’ you have posted shows the WRX at 16” type. When they came with 17” wheels as standard.

I’m really surprised that there aren’t any threads where people have come across this confusion and issue before.

Don Clark

The reason they are listed as 16" Type is because they were also used on the MY99/00 Imprezas which were originally fitted with 16" wheels.
It just reflects the minimum size wheel to clear the caliper, not what wheels are actually fitted.

Subaru decided that they were adequate for Newage 2.0 WRX braking requirements.