GB270Gaz

Hi all,
I am due to pick up my GB270 Wagon tomorrow and i am sure i will need discs and pads shortly after, i have been reading quite a few brake upgrade threads and have some idea's of what i want, but would like to hear from other members who have at least tried the brakes i am thinking of.

Standard GB270, not planning on any track days, live in rural Shropshire and would say that i like spanking it through country lanes with some gusto.

I was thinking of EBC (Ultimax or TurboGroove discs) or GODSPEED (Impreza 294mm Grooved discs) for the front, i am unsure if i should change the rear discs or just put new pads on the rears.

I know godspeed do a 335mm grooved disc that can be used with standard 4 pot calipers and also 2 piece rotors but i am unsure if they will fit my GB270 and i do not know what they cost or if they will be unnecessary for my style of driving.

As far as pads go these will be EBC pads and either Red, Yellow or Blue, i want the Blue after reading the replies to Andy Freeman's post, but i do not drive spirited too often and want a brake pad that works well when cool and in wet weather on short hops as this will be 75% of the driving style.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Best thing is to either PM ian godney on here, or drop him an e-mail at ian@godspeedbrakes.co.uk

henrysmith

iTrader: (5)

I got a GB270 Wagon from new and always new I would need better brakes having had pervious WRX wagons. After 200 miles from new, I put on the Godpseed 335 Big brake kit on the front and Godspeed standard 290mm rear grooved brakes - DS2500 pads all round, braided hoses and 5.1 brake fluid - all work really well and I have never managed to get them to fade - also they seem to be wearing really well - 26000 miles so far. Even fully loaded wagon and pushing the brakes hard they don't fade. Very pleased

The 335 kit fits easily under the standard 18's but takes a few hours to fit - took me about 5 hours for all four corners, but being very careful with the front kit.

GB270Gaz

Many thanks.

So you have kept your original calipers and changed the discs and pads? It sounds as if you are happy with there performance and as a fellow wagon owner it might be that i follow your lead.

Aztec Performance Ltd

iTrader: (234)

Hi Gaz,

Give us a call for a chat/advice/pricing.

Lots of great offers on at the moment.

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

The 335mm kit I make is a great upgrade using the standard calipers , we have this kit on offer at the moment for £550 inc vat , you get the 2 piece grooved discs and alloy bells , mounting bracket kit , and caliper fitting kit , along with larger than standard pads.

If you want further info , ring me on 01656 723060 , we answer the phone

Cheers Ian
01656 723060

henrysmith

iTrader: (5)

Hi Gaz,

All digs aside, I Had Tarox discs and pads all round on first wagon, then DBA 4000 wiperslot and EBC redstuff all round on my 52 platewagon, then TSL group n 'Perlitic' grey iron discs and DS2500 all round on same wagon. None compare to the 335 kit I have now - Using the standard calipers I don't think there is a better option.

GB270Gaz

Thanks guys for your invite to call and discuss my options, i will be in touch with you both once i have collected my car and assessed the discs. Ian whilst you were posting i had already sent you an email following alcazar's advice.

Thanks for getting back to me Henry your recommendation has been very helpful.

Cheers Gaz

henrysmith

iTrader: (5)

glad to help - especially a fellow GB wagon owner

The mods start here!

All friends and helpful here on Scoobynet

GB270Gaz

I have wanted one of the GB wagons ever since they were first on sale and finally one has came into my budget range, i was supposed to pick it up tomorrow but got a phone call earlier tonight saying that during the PDI they found one of the front brake calipers had seized and had been trying to free it up but in the end they have had to order a new caliper from Subaru UK, which will arrive Thursday and hopefully i can pick it up in the afternoon.

But i am a little concerned with them changing just the one caliper as will it obviously work better than the other one, so won't the brake balance be out or am i missing the point. And if one has seized then surely the other one will follow, as i read that on the 4 pot calipers they seize because the chrome coating wears away in time exposing the bare steel to the elements and corrosion, then finally seizing.

Am i right in my way of thinking and should i demand that they change both calipers for safety and brake bias or is it perfectly ok to change just the one caliper, the car has still to be MOT'd.

Finally i appreciate the dealers honesty but am panicking about them changing just the one and am expecting the other to fail soon after i accept the car.

Gaz

henrysmith

iTrader: (5)

Gaz,

I think it's OK to just change one as long as the other is working fine. The calipers can only be four years old so you would hope the other is OK. Best bet would be to speak Ian at Godpseed or email/PM him - see if he agrees. Is the place you are getting the car local? I wonder if you got the steel pistons, braided hoses and 5.1 fluid from Ian whether the garage would fit them whilst doing the calipers i.e. for free or discounted rate? They'll hopefully be changing the fluid anyway and bleeding the brakes etc? Just a though IF you are going this route that is?

Also seems suprising that they have to replace the whole caliper, these can usually be refurbed/sorted without any real problems I thought.

If you could get both calipers changed


Hope you get it sorted OK

Godspeed Brakes

iTrader: (259)

HI
I have found that if one caliper has started to seize , the other one will follow soon , I would try and push for both calipers to be done , of even put them onto me to supply them a pair of fully reconditioned calipers with stainless steel pistons , I offer these for £235 inc Vat a pair exchange , if they get one new caliper from subaru its close to £400 !

Gaz , I'll reply to your email you sent me

Cheers Ian

GB270Gaz

Henry & Ian, thank you for your replies you have both been really helpful.

I rang the car dealers this morning (they are not a Subaru dealer, more of a car supermarket) and spoke to the salesperson who i dealt with and told him my concerns, he then went and spoke to the chief mechanic and rang me back not long after.

The mechanic told him if it was a safety issue the calipers would be sold in pairs, but they work independently of each other and are not a wear item, also the other caliper is working fine, the caliper at fault has only 1 seized piston out of the 4 and after working on it they decided to replace the caliper.

They said they tried to source a caliper locally but were unable too, so they have ordered one from Subaru UK, i don't know if it will be a new caliper or a reconditioned one.

I was also reminded that the car comes with a 3 month comprehensive warranty and if the other caliper should seize he said it would be replaced under warranty, and that i could also upgrade the warranty if i wish.

Sounds fair to me, but wish i could have got them to deal with Ian earlier as they could have saved money and i would have had a fully reconditioned pair.

beliblisk

iTrader: (16)

Overhaul them your self,its easy and will cost you some change