MotoIQ: Tech Look at FR-S Underside - Suspension, Chassis, Brakes, Differential

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by tranzformer

I won't go that route cause I can't justify spending $5k just on brakes. If I had extra disposable income I would do it for the looks. However I would probably just spend $500 and get rotors, pads, SS brakes lines and new brake fluid and be done with it.

What about calipers? Or were you saying still with stock brakes? I only plan on switching fluid and pads for track use, nothing else.

[oneday]

I finally heard back from my supplier on the OEM Brembos and his price is higher than what they can be bought for on other retail sites...here is what I've found:
Right Caliper Left Caliper. Plus then you need some bleeders, various other hardware, pads and rotors.

$1500-1750 for a complete set of STI fronts is perfectly reasonable.

I'm not sure if it's really worth it even for a dedicated track car, but it's not a bad way to go if you do really need that much brake.

[Dave-ROR]

Posted this in the BRZ forum a few minutes ago but it's relevant to this discussion too..

OK did some more research.. since this is mostly a WRX system (with Legacy rears..) it LOOKS like 04-11 front STI calipers will work. Stock lines will also work. Not sure about the MC differences (no idea if it's a new part, wrx, legacy, sti, etc MC). We will have to figure that out later when we can check part numbers.

The rear of the car is a little more muddy.. the later WRXes aren't a direct swap, but I'm not sure about the Legacy brakes to STI.. based on MotoIQ they were stressing 04-07 calipers for all and I suspect it's because the Legacy and 04-07 WRX were swappable.. but 08+ rears are not.. for 08+ WRX you need 04-11 front STI calipers and 04 rotors but for the rear you need 08+ gear and redrilled rotors... but based on MotoIQ I'll go with this info on the rear for now.

So this, as far as I can tell, is the actual parts list required.
Front: 04-11 STI Front calipers, 04 STI Rotors, 04-11 STI fit front pads of whatever flavor you want.
Rear: 04-07 STI rear calipers, 04 STI Rotors, 04-07 STI fit rear pads of whatever flavor you want. (and more if you like having a parking brake since the STI uses a drum assembly for the parking brake where the FT86 variants use the sliding calipers for parking brake I'm guessing based on how the legacy/older WRX did)

Since the rotors and pads are easily aquired the only potentially hard bit (used) is the calipers. It looks like you can find them on ebay for 1000-1100 plus 30-135 shipping. If you want to rebuild them, add in the rebuild kit costs (100-150?). Add in however much for whatever pads, plus the rotors (cheap at autozone, 65/front, 40/rear, advance is 100+/front, didn't check rears, napa ultra premium is 154 front, 140 rear, tirerack cyro rotors 80-104 depending on brand for blanks.. and maybe that's same pricing for rears, their website is confused, says front left fitment then NOTE: REAR PLAIN VENTER ROTOR under that..).

So you are easily looking at at least say 1050+200 (OEM pads?, but track pads will be a lot more, around 400-450), rotors figure 200 for the cheap autozones, for anyone else at LEAST 400..

So I'd guess the minimum investment (not including lines since they aren't needed at all and ASSUMING the MC is fine and doesn't result in shitty brake feel) is right around 1400-1500 bucks, but realistically probably close to 1600-1800 depending on pads. If you rebuild the used calipers min 1500-1650 or with non cheapest rotors and better than OEM pads probably 1800-2000. With new calipers I'd bet a couple hundread more depending on what they cost.. I think they are around 1200 for the fronts.. I'd GUESS 600-800 for the rears, so you are quickly getting to 3k with new calipers, track pads, rotors like ultra premiums, etc

Oh yeah I guessed on OEM pad prices.. they might be way around 100 for front and rear sets combined, or maybe 300.. I don't know what dealers sell parts online for cheap to check (I'm assuming some Subaru dealers have caught onto internet sales for parts).

Worth it? Up to the owner I suppose... certainly there is no performance benefit here for street use, but repeated high speed stops on the track MAY be enough to overheat the stock brakes with a lot of power and rubber and in that case the large STI heatsinks will be worth it.

[tranzformer]

Originally Posted by Longhorn248

I wouldn't spend anywhere close to $5k, if someone can source the STI brakes for $1-1.5k then I'd be interested. $2k would be the absolute maximum.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by Dave-ROR

What about calipers? Or were you saying still with stock brakes? I only plan on switching fluid and pads for track use, nothing else.

Honestly at this point I'm not sure without having driven it. Stock might be good enough for me. If I end up tracking/auto-x more than I think I will consider some brake upgrade parts. I would just do the OEM-spec '04 STI rotors, pads, lines and fluids at that then. But if this car is only going to be my DD, probably nothing needs to be done. I don't want to just throw money at this car if I don't really need it/benefit from it. I have other things I would want to spend money on too.

Originally Posted by JDLM

Yeah not going to be 5K (OEM components) some aftermarket kits barely hit that

Sorry I was looking at a full Stoptech (front and rear big brake conversion kit) when talking about $5k and not talking about OEM. I should have been more clear.

[MiguelAE86]

Guys this car weighs nothing, just step out of the car and get in front of it, stop it yourself, and proceed to the Next corner, its not that hard quit whining!

[Ribface]

Originally Posted by Silverpike

What worries me about the BRZ is if they are using the WRX 5x100 hubs. If so this is bad news. These hubs have problems with premature bearing death, especially when autocrossed. They are a huge PITA to replace, and new bearings are $$$ from Subaru.

Ok this has me worried too now. I intend to use an FR-S for autocross.
How much $$$ are we talking to replace the bearings?

Can we tell for sure from the pictures if they are using the WRX 5x100 hubs?

[Racecomp Engineering]

I would not worry about the bearings for auto-x at all.

- drew

[tranzformer]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

I would not worry about the bearings for auto-x at all.

- drew

Drew I know it is early, but for the occasional auto-x/track day, do you think there would be any need to do more than pads, brake lines and fluid?

[JDLM]

Originally Posted by tranzformer

Drew I know it is early, but for the occasional auto-x/track day, do you think there would be any need to do more than pads, brake lines and fluid?

I think that is going to be one of those "To be tested" things

[Dragonitti]

Good read, little repetitive though..

[Homemade WRX]

you guys are also forgetting that the 5x100 bearing issues are on a car that is 4-500 lbs heavier. I never had an issue with my WRX swapped 94 Impreza (weighed in around 2600 lbs) as weight changed several times of its life...various setups.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by tranzformer

Drew I know it is early, but for the occasional auto-x/track day, do you think there would be any need to do more than pads, brake lines and fluid?

I think that would cover it.

When you go to r-comps and stickier tires, then you should start thinking about ducting and a bbk, but it's not really necessary until then.

- drew

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by Homemade WRX

you guys are also forgetting that the 5x100 bearing issues are on a car that is 4-500 lbs heavier. I never had an issue with my WRX swapped 94 Impreza (weighed in around 2600 lbs) as weight changed several times of its life...various setups.

Exactly.

[bFreed]

Any info on diff ratio?