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Limited gets brake "upgrade" over Premium - Canada only?

This post could go in the wheels etc. forum but I think it may be of more general interest to BRZ buyers/shoppers. I have yet to see mentioned here an interesting feature of the Canadian Limited version (called the Sport-tech Package) - compare:

Base (Premium):
Brakes (front): Ventilated discs (277 x 43 mm), dual-piston calipers
Brakes (rear): Ventilated discs (286 x 40 mm), single-piston calipers

Sport-tech (Limited):
Brakes (front): Ventilated discs (294 x 40 mm), dual-piston calipers
Brakes (rear): Ventilated discs (290 x 40 mm), single-piston calipers

[Data source: Canadian BRZ specifications data PDF, dated in-text as 20 April 2012; confirmed in telephone call to dealer Saturday.]

Correction: It's been pointed out that these are diameter by thickness specs.

Then there is the question if this change is found in the US Limited or not. I have not seen it mentioned anywhere else but this document (I remember there being a link to it in the Canadian forum but it seems to be gone now).

Edit: just noticed that according to this document all Canadian MT BRZs get a "Hill Holder System" - something not mentioned in the BRZ online manual, and I can't imagine the Canadian version would have it if the US does not - perhaps this is a mistake, will have to check - although I have some vague recollection that there may be some legislative mandate requiring this in new MT cars in the near future.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scion FR-S (Post 210022)

This post could go in the wheels etc. forum but I think it may be of more general interest to BRZ buyers/shoppers. I have yet to see mentioned here an interesting feature of the Canadian Limited version (called the Sport-tech Package) - compare:

Base (Premium):
Brakes (front): Ventilated discs (277 x 43 mm), dual-piston calipers
Brakes (rear): Ventilated discs (286 x 40 mm), single-piston calipers

Sport-tech (Limited):
Brakes (front): Ventilated discs (294 x 40 mm), dual-piston calipers
Brakes (rear): Ventilated discs (290 x 40 mm), single-piston calipers

[Data source: Canadian BRZ specifications data PDF, dated in-text as 20 April 2012; confirmed in telephnone call to dealer Saturday.]

Total swept area does not change much - 23351 mm^2 to 23360 mm^2 - but the brake bias (by this metric at least) moves rearward slightly. My guess is that this has been done to adjust for the increased rear high-speed downforce introduced by the spoiler on the Sport-tech/Limited - the spoiler would mandate a more rearward brake bias to maximize high-speed braking as the rear tires would now have more traction and be less likely to lock up. Anyone with relevant knowledge care to comment?

Then there is the question if this change is found in the US Limited or not. I have not seen it mentioned anywhere else but this document (I remember there being a link to it in the Canadian forum but it seems to be gone now).

By these numbers Doesn't it seem as if the Brake bias Shifts Forward on the Sport-tech? The front rotors have gone form being smaller than the rears(prem) to being larger(sport-tech).

I would love to think they had performance reasons behind doing this but i'm doubtful. I can't understand why they even messed with different rotor sizes to be honest. Is it just to make the Sport-tech That much more appealing?..They didn't really mention anything about it aside from a pdf file

More of a downgrade for the Premier really. Both American BRZ Trims have the larger brakes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoryUyede (Post 210028)

By these numbers Doesn't it seem as if the Brake bias Shifts Forward on the Sport-tech? The front rotors have gone form being smaller than the rears(prem) to being larger(sport-tech).

Yes you are right as these specs are diameter X thickness, not surface area as I thought.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enemies (Post 210043)

More of a downgrade for the Premier really. Both American BRZ Trims have the larger brakes.

Interesting. So instead of bending Canadians over the price table this time, Subie has chosen instead to bend us over the features downgrade table. :thumbdown:

The guys at Subaru Canada must have converted the thickness incorrectly or made a typo. It is hard to believe the rotors are 40mm (1.5") thick. Not even a 996 Turbo rotors are that thick.

The front should be 294mm in diameter and 24mm in thickness just like a WRX. Since it is a RWD, the rear should be not far off in terms of size as the front so that should be the only thing that deviates from a WRX.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enemies (Post 210043)

More of a downgrade for the Premier really. Both American BRZ Trims have the larger brakes.

Do we know that? The Subaru.com website doesn't mention.

I thought they would all be the same but..

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonnyBRZ (Post 210137)

Good catch :thumbup:

Those sizes don't make sense. Smaller diameter front discs? Fronts do the most stopping in front-engine cars.

Even on motorcycles, front brakes are the workhorse.

Anyone else a total skeptic on this?...I honestly won't believe this Till i see a Premium and sport-tech next to each other with measurements taken. Or even Two seperate parts numbers for Front AND rear Rotors.

I believe That with a large enough difference on the Front Rotors especially, Going from 277mm to 294mm, That you likely need Hubs with a different mounting location too. Calipers can be the same, but the mounting location needs to match rotor size. If you keep the Caliper/pad in the same place WITH larger rotors it Literally has no positive effect on braking, it actually just makes it worse because you have more mass to stop but the same amount of leverage.

Anyone have access to Subaru parts catalogs to check this out?

I have a feeling it was typed up by an intern or someone who's prone to making typos... or doesn't do well with math.

On all the early Nissan RWD cars (and GTR's) the rear stock brakes are larger in diameter than the front because of the internal drum parking brake, easy fix you just modulate the knee point in the prop valve and reduce the pad area and piston diameter, the up side is that usually this way no venting is required on the rear rotors, due to large enough surface area on rotor face...