Woolly Brakes on WRX STi
 

OK, this is my first Subaru with ABS, (1997 WRX STi ) the car is only used for sprinting / hillclimbing. I have new Godspeed grooved, vented and drilled front disks with Mintex road pads. It appears ok on the road but when I need to scrub off a lot of speed I'm not so sure all is OK. I have bled the system, and can feel the pedal pulsing but my eyeballs are not popping out as I would expect. Is it a quirk of the system or could the servo be playing up and not exerting enough pressure or is there a G sensor playing up. What pads are best for this situation.

Thanks in advance.

Which Godspeed discs do you have - direct replacements or the large 335mm upgrade?

Also, when you say "pulsing" do you mean the ABS is kicking in?

Do you feel any fade in the brakes - long pedal (due to fluid) or hard pedal, but no braking force (due to pad)?

Which Mitex pads are you using - 1144, 1155, etc..?

Generally, it's a heat problem. Either fluid is overheating or it's the pads. The Subaru is under-servo'ed so you do need to press hard on the brakes to make 'em work. Have you noticed them running very hot after a run?

Stefan

Stefan

Braided brake hoses if you haven't got them already, you can also add a support bracket for the master brake cylinder I think.

This will give you much more feel.

I'm just about to put Ferodo racing pads in - I mistakenly got Green Stuff and have had them on fire !! DONT get these !!

They are the direct replacement ones which have been grooved and drilled. After a run they are very hot, I will check the pads when I get home they are the std road pads which are used on the forester ie the 4 pot brakes. I can feel the ABS pulsing slightly. I'll replace the fluid with race fluid over the weekend and have another go. My 1997 RA could be locked up quite easily, are the master cylinders and the servos the same on 2 pot and 4 pot piston calipers.

Actually the Foresters all have the 2 pot sliding front calipers with a 276mm disc, and the rears are a 1 pot sliding. A stock 97 WRX uses the same setup which is not the 4pots.

Joth, the car is a WRX STi and 4 pots are standard, The Mintex catalogue listed the same front pads as for a Forester !!!!

Oh my mistake, eek, yes a 97 sti would have 4 pots, i was thinking of the regular WRX of the time. Still unusual, again, the only Forester that came with 4 pot fronts was the rare JDM sti model, all the rest are the 2 pot sliding.

if you have std replacement pads then this is no doubt your problem..............very poor friction level at best!!

alyn

Stock pads are cr@p
Green Stuff are 90% cr@p
Stockcar pads are brill...

My ABS does nothing to the pedal, no sensations at all, just a dash light at times.

For hill climbing you shouldn't be using brakes that much, but I can turn my stock discs blue after a good run at Harewood/Loton Park.

AP's? (but for 16's)

Graham