Notices
Wheels, Tyres & Brakes

Are front legacy H6/specB brakes an upgrade over WRX 4pots?

Old 24 May 2018, 03:23 PM
  #1  
uxon
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
 
uxon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: PL
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Are front legacy H6/specB brakes an upgrade over WRX 4pots?

There is a general opinion that front WRX brakes are undersized. I wonder if legacy H6/Spec-B front brakes aren't going to be a big improvement? Legacy rotors are 316mm/30mm compared to WRX 294mm/24mm. So the difference is easily noticeable, legacy rotors are nearly as large as STI rotors (326mm/30mm). Thanks to being thicker they are going to be much more fade resistant. And thanks to larger diameter (+22mm) the braking torque should also be much improved.
The only downside I see is caliper design (2large pots vs 4 smaller ones) - but is it any downside apart from how it looks and a bit inreased weight?

Why isn't it a popular modification, since legacy h6 calipers can be bought cheaply? Is there any downside that I don't see? Is there anyone who swapped 4pots for legacy H6 front brakes? Is it a p&p swap?

Last edited by uxon; 24 May 2018 at 03:39 PM.
Old 24 May 2018, 07:48 PM
  #2  
Mick
Scooby Senior
iTrader: (1)
 
Mick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 1998
Posts: 2,655
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

On www.uklegacy.com people are usually advised not to swap their 316mm spec.b brakes for 4 pots

- there is a conversion kit that allows you to use WRX type 4 pots with larger discs if you want to keep the 4 pots - might be a Godspeed kit!
Old 24 May 2018, 09:53 PM
  #3  
uxon
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
 
uxon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: PL
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Mick
On www.uklegacy.com people are usually advised not to swap their 316mm spec.b brakes for 4 pots
But maybe just because they are comparable?

Originally Posted by Mick
- there is a conversion kit that allows you to use WRX type 4 pots with larger discs if you want to keep the 4 pots - might be a Godspeed kit!
Godspeed looks really nice, but if you compare the cost, they are much pricier.
4pots and legacy 316mm brakes seem to be comparable in operating costs. A set of 294mm or 316mm casual discs' cost is about £80, cheap pads £40 or some competition pads about £120 (M1155, RC5+) - total cost of 120-200 pounds per set. For comparison godspeed discs are £300 and pads probably at least £150.
I think that better option would be to go the STI golden brembo way. But still I am thinking about legacy calipers and discs, because they seem to be much cheaper and nearly as good as STI brakes, at least in theory.
Old 25 May 2018, 12:57 PM
  #4  
Mick
Scooby Senior
iTrader: (1)
 
Mick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 1998
Posts: 2,655
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Sorry I didn't make it clear - yes the Legacy 316mm brakes are an upgrade over the smaller WRX discs with 4 pots. As long as the sliders are working properly there should be no problem.

I have done the swap on mine (JDM Legacy 2.0GT spec.B) to STi gold Brembos all round - mostly for looks rather than needing any increase in braking power - which I am not entirely convinced is really noticeable if the sliding caliper brakes are in good condition
Old 29 May 2018, 01:05 PM
  #5  
uxon
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
 
uxon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: PL
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Useful info, thanks for your input.
Another const of H6 front brakes seem to be lower availablility and higher prices, compared to 4pots, of braking pads (for example I don't see OMP pads for that caliper).

Last edited by uxon; 29 May 2018 at 01:09 PM.
Old 02 June 2018, 04:23 PM
  #6  
Mick
Scooby Senior
iTrader: (1)
 
Mick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 1998
Posts: 2,655
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

2 different brands of caliper on the spec.Bs - could be Tokico or Akebono - lots of quality manufacturers make pads for them EBC, Brembo, Hawk, Performance Friction...
Old 02 June 2018, 04:42 PM
  #7  
The Trooper 1815
18 June 1815 - Waterloo
iTrader: (31)
 
The Trooper 1815's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: To the valley men!
Posts: 19,156
Received 14 Likes on 12 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by uxon
But maybe just because they are comparable?



Godspeed looks really nice, but if you compare the cost, they are much pricier.
4pots and legacy 316mm brakes seem to be comparable in operating costs. A set of 294mm or 316mm casual discs' cost is about £80, cheap pads £40 or some competition pads about £120 (M1155, RC5+) - total cost of 120-200 pounds per set. For comparison godspeed discs are £300 and pads probably at least £150.
I think that better option would be to go the STI golden brembo way. But still I am thinking about legacy calipers and discs, because they seem to be much cheaper and nearly as good as STI brakes, at least in theory.
I went from the standard 316mm Legacy calipers on my Gen 4 JDM Spec B to the Godspeed Big Brembo Kit. I am now back with the 316mm Legacy brakes.
I found no significant difference.
Old 12 July 2018, 10:20 AM
  #8  
uxon
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
 
uxon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: PL
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Thanks for your input lads.
Mick, could you tell me:
- are sliders a servicable part, can I buy them new (are they available, how much?) and replace them in second-hand calipers?
- do you know if stock wrx hoses are long enough for the spec-b calipers (it seems that mounting points are in different loactions on both types of calipers)?
- I have read somewhere that tribeca front calipers are exactly the same as spec b calipers, can you confirm that?
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bigvern
Wheels, Tyres & Brakes
4
15 April 2010 08:17 PM
dpb
Wheels, Tyres & Brakes
3
28 August 2004 11:34 PM
RRH
Wheels, Tyres & Brakes
8
24 May 2003 12:31 PM
Steve Whitehorn
Wheels, Tyres & Brakes
7
10 December 2002 06:01 PM
phill .m.
Wheels, Tyres & Brakes
6
11 April 2001 04:56 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Are front legacy H6/specB brakes an upgrade over WRX 4pots?



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:13 AM.