Gavin G

Hi all

I have a MY98 UK Turbo and want to upgrade my brakes as I feel the standard ones aren't up to the job. As I know little or nothing about brakes, what are the options? Do I just need to change the calipers or do I need discs as well? And is it just the front that needs to be upgraded or does the rears need to be upgraded too?

What would the likely costs be and what would be the best option for me?

Any advice appreciated,

Gavin G

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

How much do you have to spend is the first question?
Godspeed can do you a decent set up for around 800 quid including calipers, this may be your best option for a decent braking upgrade.

Tony

jasonwrxowner

Grahame Goode can do you a complete STi upgrade kit for £700 Including VAT.

It includes Vented discs, 4 pot calipers, Pads and fitting kit.

I just got one and it's easy to fit (When you do it right the first time) It has dramatically increased my cars stopping power and I would highly recommend it.

If you need any further details the feel free to e-mail me.

Gavin G

Is this for the fronts only or all round??

jasonwrxowner

Fronts only I'm afraid.......

Dyney

The definative brake upgrade post

I take it you have 2 pots? (If you have 4 pots it will say SUBARU in white down he side of the calipers) I think on the later MY98's(Sept on) were fitted with 4 pots!!

There are loads of options, it depends on what you want to spend and what your going to use it for.

Best to start at the front.

Cheapest is to just upgrade the disks and pads for better quality stuff!!!

4 pot caliper upgrade is the place to start on a budget. You can get 2nd hand kits(caliper,disk and pads for £250-300 (or new GGR £700, if that's what they are on about above??) This comes with the std 297mm disk. This leaves you room to upgrade further if you want to in the future.

Or you can go for the Godspeed 308mm conversion for about £500 (This is a non-Subaru caliper with a 308mm disk and pads to suit).

Or Godspeed can supply Subaru 4 pot Calipers with your choice of disk size 297 or 335mm with Ali bells if you want. You may want to find out more about Hi-spec in Kent, they offer a simalar upgrade.

Or if you have money to spend an AP 4 pot conversion will give you the weight reduction of Alloy calipers and bigger disks with a more capable track day set up.£1600
Though if your feeling really flush the ultimate has to be AP 6 pots. These are awesome but came at a price. £1800

There are alot of other brake kits available e.g. Brembo,KAD etc
It depends how deep your pocket is!!!


Upgrades for the rear are limited to better disks and pads unless your willing to change the hubs for the STI/type R hubs!!! cost=$hit loads

If you are upgrading your brakes it may be worth considering upgrading the brake fluid to DOT5.1, this resists the ingress of moisture and has a higher boiling point than the std fluid. cost£8 per 1/2 litre (you need 1 litre as you need to flush the old fuild out first) Total Cost under £20

Also cosider fitting braided hoses, this gives more feel to the pedal as old rubber hoses can expand slightly under pressure. cost £55

There are also master cylinder brackets that stop the flexing of the bulkhead as you put pressure on the pedal, again should give better feel. cost £50'ish


This is my opinion and I don't care what yours is!!!!!
Iain.

jasonwrxowner

Iian,

That was definative and if he can't find a solution there then he never will.

Cool post.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

I would still go for the godspeed kit
Good value and the discs are somewhat cheaper for 2 than 1 brembo disc is (quoted at approx 190 quid for 2 308mm godspeed discs, quoted 240 quid EACH for the Brembo discs )
Also what size wheels you got on your car??

Tony

Dyney

Tony,
Cost of replacements is one of the reasons I bought the Godspeed 335mm kit.
Pad choice is a little limited but they are half the price of a set of AP pads.

I've not tryed all the setups so I can only relay the impresions I get from others on the board.
I started out with std 2 pots, upgraded to std 4 pots then got tempted in to the Godspeed kit

I don't do enough track days to warrant spending over £1000 on a big set up like AP's.

Dyney

OK, not quite the definative post!!!

Wheel size can dictate what brakes you can fit

Uprated 2 pots - fit under 15"
Subaru 4 pots will only fit under 16" wheels(and not all 16" wheels at that)
Godspeed 308 kit are made to fit under 16" wheels
Godspeed 335 kit will only fit under 17" wheels (even that is a tight fit!!)
AP 4's (Not sure here) I think they will fit 16" wheels
AP 6's Only fit 17" wheels

Though if you have 18's call Scoobysport and get the biggest disk you've ever seen

Pavlo

and then there's Movit, Wilwood, Scooby Sport (KAD), Alcon, Bremsport

Wilwood are a good value solution, they do kits for 16 and 17" wheels

Paul

Dyney

Fizz

iTrader: (1)

don't forget Hi-spec!!!

Paul_M

When you say second-hand kits for £250-300, do you mean kits that are sold privately now and then by people who have upgraded their MY99+ brakes, or is it possible to buy these kits from a supplier?

I need a brake upgrade urgently but don't have much cash to spend right now so I reckon a 4-pot conversion is the way to go.

Claudius

From www.movit.de: "MOV' IT offers front and rear brakes for many Subaru models"

alanjack

I have AP 6 Pots and I would recommend them to anyone who can afford them.
Best mod on my car bar none

Dyney

Paul_M,
They come up privately quite often, though I got mine from a breakers!!
I you want a list of breakers drop me a mail.

Claudius,
Problem with Movits is they dont fit under most wheels (bit like the STI 7 Brembos but worse) They look awesome and if they could sort out the disk offset they would sell alot more!!!!

Alan,
Thats the problem, not many can aford them. If I had the money they would be at the top of my list.

Iain.
PS. I didn't forget Hi-spec