d1nnx

Got a Impreza 1998 GL with STI conversion. I have 4 pots subaru calipers on the front and the standard single pots on the back, with all round new Mintex pads and freshly bled brakes with good discs.

Right, the problem I have is my brakes are totally crap, (imean totally sh*t) the car will just lock up on harsh braking and be all over the show.

Any suggestions on how the braking could be improved on my car...


Thanks in advance

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Sounds as if the system you have is too much for the car, maybe a lesser grade of pad might help?

Drop a PM to Ian Godney on here. Or Alyn at ASPerformance.

BLU

iTrader: (27)

When you say 'lock up' is that fronts, rears, all 4?

What tyres are you on?

Dutch Scooby lover

iTrader: (3)

If you can lock up your wheels with the standard 4 pots you either have to harsh a compound (which makes the brakes liek an on/off switch)or you do not have enough traction (so crap tires)

d7nmr

D1nnx is my friend and ive driven his car, its bloody awful LOL the brakes are locking with just a little bit of hard braking.

The tyres are budget but are only about 3 weeks old. plenty of thread, i know traction will make a diffrenece but not that much that his brakes wont lock up. he has a serious issue

s70rjw

iTrader: (2)

Other than discs and pads, what brake components have you you changed ?

stockcar

do they both lock at the same time, just one side, front or rear????

alyn

d1nnx

both front lock up at the same time discs are good and new mintex pads all round.

As my mate "d7nmr" said the brakes are crap!!

before this had a clio 172 sport and the brakes were crap on that but nothing compared to this scooby is, its just like no brakes and then they lock up, not a good at all

JAutos

iTrader: (5)

Firstly using the 4 pots and single pots may be the issue if using the master cylinder from the original car which had 2 pots on the front, Id go for a full setup of the wrx or sti including master cylinder etc. As said it depends which are locking up front or rears or both. It may be trial and error sorting this but it is able to be sorted. Although i havnt heard of this issue before even when changing front calipers on their own etc.

d1nnx

so basically you would reccomend full sti/wrx brake set up and leave my 4 pots on front with the single pots on the back.

Also my car does not have ABS and would it be possibly to fit abs?

Thanks guys

Tazman861

iTrader: (2)

I have an early classic that did have the 2 pots front 1 pot rear and I changed the fronts for Subaru 4 pots with the rest of the braking system unchaged, thay are better but I have had no locking issues like this - are all of the pots free? It almost sounds like some or all pots aren't releasing properly and a small press of the pedal is having too much effect? If that makes sense!

JAutos

iTrader: (5)

as said above many people do what you have done and dont have your problems, are your front 4 pots siezed, the inner 2 pots tend to seize on both calipers. Unless they have been reconditioned recently i would say they are very likely to have some siezed pistons which could be contributing to this.

d1nnx

If the pots are not free it wouldnt lock up the way it does, right?

Would the locking up issue be because the car does not have ABS?

Want some descent braking on the car but dont want to spend a fortune.

stockcar

more likely you have a problem with your rear brakes IMO and this is over loading the fronts causing the lock-ups??

either that or your "cheap" tyres are just pure rubbish ??

d1nnx

so "stockcar" u reacon its my rear brakes not working... how would this be rectified?

they cheap budget tyres but surely they cant be that bad lol

JAutos

iTrader: (5)

in my opinion the tyres have nothing to do with this issue, when you break the pads grip the discs, wether your tyres are cheap budgets or expensive michelin how does this make your wheels lock up. If the wheels lock up you flat spot your tyre having a better gripping tyre ie an expansive one will not make your wheel keep turning instead of locking up. it will make no difference. And yes it could be rear calipers that have an issue but again they dont sieze like to front ones so not as likley

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Another vote for thew tyres. They are your ONLY point of contact with the road. Budget tyres and Impreza do not mix

stockcar

it may simply be down to requiring a strip and clean, they may have air in the system or it may be poor quality or incorrectly specced materials?? very difficult to give you a definate answer without seeing the car at first hand..........

if your locking both front wheels at the same time then its unlikely to be any "fault" at the front of the car as if they were seized, etc. then you wouldn't have the force to be able to lock-up!!

alyn

stockcar

so no point in a racing car running a higher grip tyre then maybe we can all save some cash?? i think you need to read what you have written and then re-consider

as an example if you have a competing car on cold slicks you can never attack the first corner without normally experiencing slides and lock-ups, however once you arrive for the 2nd lap you can enter the corner far harder and more aggressively without drama - the only thing that has changed is the tyre has come into its temperature "window" and works as designed
this is similiar for road tyres between a low and high grip offering, one will allow hard braking and better road-holding in general and the low grip version simply wont

alyn