Ricco's BRZ Journal

[Ricco]

So I started a journal on RS25.com about my GC that I am building and found myself posting a bunch of stuff about my BRZ. That started because I picked up two sets of old school GC brakes, plan was to use a set on the GC and a set on the BRZ.

Here is a link to my GC build thread in case you are interested.
http://www.rs25.com/forums/f145/t234...e-through.html

Well I figured since I am keeping a journal about my GC, I may as well run one in parallel about my BRZ.

Anyway, the BRZ is my 3rd Subaru, I've had it for about 18 Months and have now collected a total of 5 Subarus.

My first was a Catalunya special edition, the car I wish I still had, hence the mid-life crisis build on RS25.com


2nd was an 09 STI Hatch


3rd is my current DD, a 2016 BRZ


This RS is my 4th Subaru


And I picked up this 2005 STI which will become the Engine and Drivetrain donor for my GC.

[Ricco]

Here are the Subaru Calipers that I picked up (two sets total), the plan was to have a set for the GC and also a set for my BRZ. Instead now I will have a set for the BRZ and I will sell the other set as the GC will get the Brembo's from the STI.

Anyway, I stripped all of the calipers down, and sent them to the powder coaters.





All 8 calipers will all be rebuilt using brand new OEM seals, new bolts, bleeders, all new OEM hardware and also Stainless Steel pistons - this all came from Scoobyworx in the UK.

[Ricco]

Started rebuilding the Subaru calipers. Got all four rear 2 pots finished up. All new OEM hardware, SS Pistons, SS Banjos and Bleeders as well as new bolts to hold the calipers halves together.

[Ricco]

Got all the front calipers rebuilt.


Worked on my BRZ this last weekend, installing the Subaru 4/2 pot calipers, Stainless Steel brake lines and TRD lowering springs.


Car only has 10k Miles on it and found one of the rear struts leaking. #Pissed :mad:


Also found out I have the wrong caliper brackets for the rear. I guess KNS v2 and Kartboy v2 don't mean the same thing. Had to order the KNS ones :facepalm:



Finished the other set of calipers too.. These will be going up for sale soon, complete with brand new Subaru mounting bolts, Stainless Steel banjos, new copper washers and all new installation hardware. Also included are a set of generic rear caliper brackets that fit GC/GD rear uprights and some White Vinyl Subaru Stickers. Just add your own choice of Rotors and pads.


Test fitted cheapo Duralast brake pads. Need to remove them, grease everything up and reinstall.



Also planning on hand carrying this into Subaru and asking them to warranty it. Not holding my breath but if you don't ask you don't get.

[Ricco]

So the camber plates, KNS caliper adapters and new OEM rear strut all arrived on Friday. Managed to get all of the Brake calipers mounted up on the BRZ, got all the new pads greased up and installed and bled them using one of those 'One man' bleeding pumps.

Guess which caliper is leaking :letitout:






Plenty happy with the camber plates though



Test fitted a wheel to check for caliper clearance, lowering springs haven't done much for the fender gap :biglaugh:



I think they clear OK :blol:

[Ricco]

Last update for this weekend, picked up a Carbon Fiber gurney flap for the factory spoiler.






Gokart racing with the kids tomorrow (real racing, not rental karts).

[Lonewolf]

Great thread so far!

[Ricco]

Had another great weekend racing last weekend.. This was the TPKC season finale, a Double Header race weekend at SpeedSportz in New Caney, just outside Houston.

My eldest boy runs Micro Swift, he had a disappointing Saturday but brought home 3rd in Sundays final, having only just lost 2nd when he overcooked it into the last corner of the last lap.. Anyway, it was great racing

Race Face

Video Analysis

Starting P2 in the final

Bumper to Bumper racing

3rd Place on the Podium

Took 2nd place overall for the season

The Teams Trophy haul

[Ricco]

So tonight, I finally got around to working on the BRZ. I pulled that one caliper, split it, cleaned out the recesses for the seals and reseated everything. Bled that one caliper, and took it for a short (slow) test drive. Had to jump start the BRZ because of the dead battery but the test drive went fine after that. Brake pedal is a little spongy for sure and has more travel than I remember from before so brakes probably need to be bled once more before I call it good.

Overall I'm pretty happy with the result.. I'd like for the front to sit a little lower than it is right now but it is definitely better than before, hope the springs will settle after a little while.







Need to get an alignment and dial in a little negative camber up front.


Also still need to put the White Vinyl stickers on them but I'll give it a few days to check for leaks first. So far so good though.

[Ricco]

Went for a longer test drive today, brakes seem to work well, tried heavy braking a few times and there were no weird vibrations or pulling left to right.

While I have determined that the peddle is actually plenty firm, there seems to be significantly more pedal travel than previously with the stock calipers. Is this just a side affect of running these calipers or am I missing something?

Anyway, onto the pics...

Springs seem to be just about perfect, closed the fender gap just about enough


Still need to put on the Vinyl stickers

I adjusted the camber plates and gave myself the camber I was looking for up front.

[Ricco]

Not much of an update.. Nothing has really happened with my GC at the body shop since I last posted pics.




Have done plenty more karting though, my youngest brought home third place overall in the regional series he was in



I had to daily the STI for a while since the BRZ battery was dead.


Finally got around to jump starting it and taking it to Subaru.. They replaced the battery under warranty.

[Ricco]

Took the BRZ out to get an alignment, first headed to Kozmik Motorsports which isn't too far from my house.. While they were full booked and so couldn't do my alignment, they were a very cool bunch of guys who seem to really know their stuff.

In addition to tons of Subaru's, Evo's and GTR's, they had an Ultima GTR in the shop, complete with breathed on LS motor making over 1000hp.



Next stop was to see my GC. Again, no update on it, other than it having been moved outside. At least it is under a cover.


Several stops later, most of them told me they couldn't do it for a few hours or that my car was too low, I booked an apt at this place and look what pulled in as I was walking out.

It's not a 1LE but it is a ZL1. I have a ZL1 convertible on order, hoping it will be getting delivered in a few weeks; I'll be trading in the Mustang for it.

Finally found a place to do the job that day so had the wife call and cancel the apt. The guy who was to do it was also the owner of this cool old school Supra.


It got close to the ramps but it cleared.


They did a good job, a little pricey but I got to hang out and watch everything he did the whole time and chat, which was cool. They also recalibrated the steering angle sensor once the alignment was complete.

[Ricco]

Nothing new on the BRZ.. In other news though;

I did a thing.

[Ricco]

My GC has doors again!