Recommended brakes and tyres '03 WRX
Discussion
Hi chaps,
The time has come to replace the discs (all round) on my '03 Impreza WRX 5 door. This is my first Subaru and having looked around, can anyone recommend a good set of discs (for normal use and the ocassional blat around Millbrook proving ground) instead of the standard Subaru ones? Also, I need new front tyres (Toyo's on at the mo) but they are appauling in the wet - again any good suggestions for tyres? Your help would be really appreciated.
The time has come to replace the discs (all round) on my '03 Impreza WRX 5 door. This is my first Subaru and having looked around, can anyone recommend a good set of discs (for normal use and the ocassional blat around Millbrook proving ground) instead of the standard Subaru ones? Also, I need new front tyres (Toyo's on at the mo) but they are appauling in the wet - again any good suggestions for tyres? Your help would be really appreciated.
If you are really keen to change rotors go for EBC Ultmax slotted rotors all round. They are quiet and will help clear away brakepad gases and debris. As for pads i recommend EBC Yellowstuff all round. They will last, give you good brakes on the road, don't make a lot of dust and do what's required when required with good initial bite from cold, but when they get warmed up they are excellent.
EBC manufacture good quality budget brake rotors and pads that are used in motorsport to good effect. I've been using them for the last few years and the above is what i currently have setup on my own car coupled with Goodridge Stainless Steel braided brake hoses all round as DocJock recommended for a firmer brake pedal.
For brake pads only try Performance Friction pads. I hear they are excellent and widely used in competitions like Time Attack. I've yet to try them but will be changing my pads and rotors at some stage in the very near so i will be giving them a go.
EBC manufacture good quality budget brake rotors and pads that are used in motorsport to good effect. I've been using them for the last few years and the above is what i currently have setup on my own car coupled with Goodridge Stainless Steel braided brake hoses all round as DocJock recommended for a firmer brake pedal.
For brake pads only try Performance Friction pads. I hear they are excellent and widely used in competitions like Time Attack. I've yet to try them but will be changing my pads and rotors at some stage in the very near so i will be giving them a go.
edar
Bear in mind that a track optimised pad will be rubbish on the road, poor retardation unless very hot, noisy and hard on your discs.
A road pad will (ultimately) be crap on track in terms of both fade and wear.
There is no 'all round' pad that will do both jobs properly.
I was lucky enough to be given many, many free sets of EBCs of all compounds to evaluate on road and track a few years back.
My opinion? I wouldn't take them anywhere near a track full stop and they are no better than an average pad on the road. In fact, I ended up giving away a huge bundle of blacks, yellows and ceramic reds.
Most 'performance' pads these days are heatcycled before sale so outgassing really shouldn't be a problem like it was years ago.
Obviously all recommendations are just opinions, but you describe mainly road use for your car so I would suggest you look at PF (as suggested by ScoobieWRX), Ferodo or Hawk.
For track use only I would spend the extra cash and buy Pagids (blues or blacks) for the fronts. If your suspension is standard the rears do so little work they won't get hot enough to worry about the compound you use.
Bear in mind that a track optimised pad will be rubbish on the road, poor retardation unless very hot, noisy and hard on your discs.
A road pad will (ultimately) be crap on track in terms of both fade and wear.
There is no 'all round' pad that will do both jobs properly.
I was lucky enough to be given many, many free sets of EBCs of all compounds to evaluate on road and track a few years back.
My opinion? I wouldn't take them anywhere near a track full stop and they are no better than an average pad on the road. In fact, I ended up giving away a huge bundle of blacks, yellows and ceramic reds.
Most 'performance' pads these days are heatcycled before sale so outgassing really shouldn't be a problem like it was years ago.
Obviously all recommendations are just opinions, but you describe mainly road use for your car so I would suggest you look at PF (as suggested by ScoobieWRX), Ferodo or Hawk.
For track use only I would spend the extra cash and buy Pagids (blues or blacks) for the fronts. If your suspension is standard the rears do so little work they won't get hot enough to worry about the compound you use.
2.5 years ago i too was given many sets of reds and yellows not to mention sets of rotors (both Ultimax and Turbo Groove/Dimpled) too for evaluation and feedback to EBC hence the reason why i'm still using Yellows and their TGD rotors, but it's time for a change.
My car makes a lot more horsepower now than it did 2.5yrs ago hence wanting to try a different setup (bigger calipers, rotors and pads).
I don't rate Ferodo, i used DS2500's for a very short time on my car and hated them so much i went on to EBC's and been happy with them, though no idea about Hawk.
There's nothing wrong with EBC kit. I use their rotors and pads on the road and i've used exactly the same setup on track and they cope very well. I'm a late braker so quite hard on the brakes but for a short time each time and they perform well. My biggest problem is brake fluid so time for that to change too from DOT5.1 to Castrol SRF (after much research this is the fluid to go for).
Before you spend some money visit a few forums and ask a few more people what they think. Scabbynet, Impreza.org, SIDC or SNOC.co.uk may be of help.
Personally speaking i think PF pads and their two piece floating rotors all round are the way to go coupled with some of those very nice 8-pot front and 6-pot rear K-Sport calipers. Shouldn't break the bank either if you need that kind of braking ability.
P.S. Tyres: Again my opinion only but Toyo's have been good to me for the last 3 years, even in the winter and rather than the standard 215/45/17's i've gone on to 225/45/17's for the last couple of years and it's worked out well in terms of drive and handling. My next tyres however will be Bridgestone RE070's for summer tyres only. I hear they are excellent and i know people that have used them on their Scoobs at the Nurburgring more than once in a year and driven a fair few normal miles on them too and i hear they are excellent right down to the limit. However, i also hear Vredesteins are very good and Pirelli PZero Assimetrico, both very grippy and good in the wet. I've got the Pzero's on my Jag and they are very good wet or dry, very progressive breakaway, but not cheap!!
My car makes a lot more horsepower now than it did 2.5yrs ago hence wanting to try a different setup (bigger calipers, rotors and pads).
I don't rate Ferodo, i used DS2500's for a very short time on my car and hated them so much i went on to EBC's and been happy with them, though no idea about Hawk.
There's nothing wrong with EBC kit. I use their rotors and pads on the road and i've used exactly the same setup on track and they cope very well. I'm a late braker so quite hard on the brakes but for a short time each time and they perform well. My biggest problem is brake fluid so time for that to change too from DOT5.1 to Castrol SRF (after much research this is the fluid to go for).
Before you spend some money visit a few forums and ask a few more people what they think. Scabbynet, Impreza.org, SIDC or SNOC.co.uk may be of help.
Personally speaking i think PF pads and their two piece floating rotors all round are the way to go coupled with some of those very nice 8-pot front and 6-pot rear K-Sport calipers. Shouldn't break the bank either if you need that kind of braking ability.
P.S. Tyres: Again my opinion only but Toyo's have been good to me for the last 3 years, even in the winter and rather than the standard 215/45/17's i've gone on to 225/45/17's for the last couple of years and it's worked out well in terms of drive and handling. My next tyres however will be Bridgestone RE070's for summer tyres only. I hear they are excellent and i know people that have used them on their Scoobs at the Nurburgring more than once in a year and driven a fair few normal miles on them too and i hear they are excellent right down to the limit. However, i also hear Vredesteins are very good and Pirelli PZero Assimetrico, both very grippy and good in the wet. I've got the Pzero's on my Jag and they are very good wet or dry, very progressive breakaway, but not cheap!!
Edited by ScoobieWRX on Sunday 21st June 00:19
You know, I disagree with so much of that, but I won't argue the toss because each post confirms my suspicion that you simply don't understand the big picture regarding braking systems. But then not understanding has never stopped you doling out 'advice' in the past...
To answer the OP, IMO,
Brakes: wait until you can afford to fit the best, a kit from AP Racing with either Pagid or Hawk pads depending on track or road use.
Tyres: Totally subjective due to differences in driving style and/or suspension settings. You need to try before you buy if you can.
To answer the OP, IMO,
Brakes: wait until you can afford to fit the best, a kit from AP Racing with either Pagid or Hawk pads depending on track or road use.
Tyres: Totally subjective due to differences in driving style and/or suspension settings. You need to try before you buy if you can.
DocJock said:
You know, I disagree with so much of that, but I won't argue the toss because each post confirms my suspicion that you simply don't understand the big picture regarding braking systems. But then not understanding has never stopped you doling out 'advice' in the past...
To answer the OP, IMO,
Brakes: wait until you can afford to fit the best, a kit from AP Racing with either Pagid or Hawk pads depending on track or road use.
Tyres: Totally subjective due to differences in driving style and/or suspension settings. You need to try before you buy if you can.
Do me a favour just because we don't agree about something don't take the pi55. I understand how braking systems work so don't belittle me. When i post something it's either an opinion or based on my experiences or what i know to be fact. To answer the OP, IMO,
Brakes: wait until you can afford to fit the best, a kit from AP Racing with either Pagid or Hawk pads depending on track or road use.
Tyres: Totally subjective due to differences in driving style and/or suspension settings. You need to try before you buy if you can.
If you disagree say so but when you're qualified to tell me i don't understand be kind enough to let me know how well qualified you are and i'll happily bow down to your greater expertise.
In the meantime the OP may make up his mind based upon comments made on this thread.
Edited to add: You actualy don't post on many PH motoring threads at all do you. In fact your motoring posts are a tiny percentage of your total posts. The majority of your posts seem to be mostly about talking s
te, or shooting the breeze, passing the time, or talking more ste.....sorry, i had to say talking ste twice.... because it's true!! And i thought PH was for Petrolheads...how wrong can you be!!
Edited by ScoobieWRX on Sunday 21st June 22:53
My 2006 WRX has DBA4000 slotted discs on the front and a locally made trackday pad on all 4 corners (QFM A1RM from http://www.gslrallysport.com/shop/ if your interested)
They work and feel just like the stock brakes when they are cold but on track they work brilliantly. Next step for me is braided lines.
They work and feel just like the stock brakes when they are cold but on track they work brilliantly. Next step for me is braided lines.
I would agree with what was said in a earlier post a set of EBC yellow stuff pads with a set of EBC disc..I would personally steer clear of the Drilled ones as i have found they crack. but the slotted ones seem to last a lot longer than the OE discs.
Also i had the EBC yellow stff pads on my 04 WRX and they were as good if not better than the OE pads Fitted by subaru. I had them fitted in December and even with the cold weather they had instant bite.
RE Tyres i think this is going to be down to your own personal feel of the car. I hated TOYOS on my car, I ended up with many Sets of Bridgestone RE070s but this are also pretty bad in the wet. The ones i would probably give a try would be a set of Yokohama Parada Spec 2s again i have had nothing but praise from my local scoody club, but i have not tried them first hand.
STeve
Also i had the EBC yellow stff pads on my 04 WRX and they were as good if not better than the OE pads Fitted by subaru. I had them fitted in December and even with the cold weather they had instant bite.
RE Tyres i think this is going to be down to your own personal feel of the car. I hated TOYOS on my car, I ended up with many Sets of Bridgestone RE070s but this are also pretty bad in the wet. The ones i would probably give a try would be a set of Yokohama Parada Spec 2s again i have had nothing but praise from my local scoody club, but i have not tried them first hand.
STeve
I have a reasonable knowledge of brake systems, no expert though, but i have gathered a lot of opinion and carried out some research myself and the EBC Yellow stuff pads seem to be a good all round track and road pad with good ability both hot and cold.
In fact i am so satisfied with the feedback i have had that i am running a group buy and fitting them to my own car with grooved OE spec discs. I have only been running standard Sti Brembo's so i should see a reasonable improvement.
Here are the group buy details: http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Just to add, i am using Falken FK452 tyres. I am on my second set and they have been a good balance of grip in both wet and dry conditions and last reasonably well in comparison to some Toyo's i have used. Also they are reasonably priced, with a set of 4 coming in at about £260 with a bit of haggling IIRC.
In fact i am so satisfied with the feedback i have had that i am running a group buy and fitting them to my own car with grooved OE spec discs. I have only been running standard Sti Brembo's so i should see a reasonable improvement.
Here are the group buy details: http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Just to add, i am using Falken FK452 tyres. I am on my second set and they have been a good balance of grip in both wet and dry conditions and last reasonably well in comparison to some Toyo's i have used. Also they are reasonably priced, with a set of 4 coming in at about £260 with a bit of haggling IIRC.
Edited by Evil.soup on Wednesday 24th June 11:37
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