Full Front and Rear 08-12 STI Brakes Swap

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by ft_sjo

Can't find the other thread discussing this, but can anyone confirm if the STI 2004- front brake package will clear the OE 17" wheels on our cars?

It definitely will not. The caliper body comes out past the studs and the wheel spokes simply do not have enough curvature to accommodate. You would need a thick spacer and extended lugs to use stock wheels.

[ft_sjo]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

It definitely will not. The caliper body comes out past the studs and the wheel spokes simply do not have enough curvature to accommodate. You would need a thick spacer and extended lugs to use stock wheels.

Did you try an OE wheel on? Thanks!

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by ft_sjo

Did you try an OE wheel on? Thanks!

Yes. I could barely get it on the studs since the caliper's so wide.

[ft_sjo]

That's certainly interesting as the AP calipers are also pretty big!

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by ft_sjo

That's certainly interesting as the AP calipers are also pretty big!

I kinda half-assed it...I can try again tonight. And I can also measure the AP calipers I have (Formula kit, stock fitment, different from what you've got) and the Brembos I have.

What thickness disc is your AP caliper set to receive? I believe STI discs have a nominal thickness of 30mm.

[ft_sjo]

I don't have anything at the moment. The AP's I was referring to is the 4-pot Formula kit which supposedly fits the OE wheels.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by ft_sjo

I don't have anything at the moment. The AP's I was referring to is the 4-pot Formula kit which supposedly fits the OE wheels.

I have that on hand and will measure both calipers after work.

[King Tut]

Too much OE in this thread. Should be called OEM wheels.

[OrbitalEllipses]

I measured the calipers' width from both the back of the mounting bracket and from face to face. They are within .5-1cm, I wasn't being too accurate. Space between hub and wheel trying to mount the wheel was about 15mm. I chalk it up to how TALL the Brembo calipers are. They are obviously a bit taller and due to this make contact with the wheel spoke near the wheel hub

EDIT: measured again, the Brembos are about 1cm taller and the half of the caliper opposite the bracket is about 1cm wider than the AP Caliper in the same dimension.

Originally Posted by King Tut

Too much OE in this thread. Should be called OEM wheels.

Never sharing beer with you.

[kuhlka]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

That's the ghetto way of doing it...but exactly what I did on my WRX because front bias even with the stock sliders was ridiculous.


Yes you reuse the OEM bolts. The main concern with those calipers is that they are FULLY aluminum, including the threads in the mounting ears. MANY people have had to Heli-coil/Time-Sert those holes with steel inserts because the bolts either practically welded themselves to the calipers through galvanic corrosion OR they damaged the threads while removing the bolt. My personal set (still torn apart over a year later ) has Time-Sert steel inserts just because I wanted to prevent any possibility of downtime in the future due to a #&*^ed thread.

I had to heli-coil two of the calipers on my 05 STI because dipshit dealers and brake shops WAY over-torqued the bolts and didn't use anti-seize on the threads. Several bolts snapped off and had to be extracted by a machine shop because they were not coming off with a bolt extractor.

Lesson learned, NEVER LET A DEALERSHIP OR BRAKE SHOP TOUCH YOUR CALIPERS. They will eventually have a mechanic be like, "Torque specs? LOL WUT?" and screw up your $2000+ calipers.

Also, thoroughly clean your bolts' threads every time you remove the calipers and put fresh anti-seize on. It only takes a few minutes and it'll save you from tearing your threads out and having to heli-coil or time sert back in new threads. Heat + metal-on-metal with no grease = threads fused to bolts.

Everyone should save themselves some major heartbreak and read this thread so they know how to treat their calipers in advance. http://www.iwsti.com/forums/gd-braki...-calipers.html

[koyv90]

thanks for the link i guess my second question is do you think this is better then stock?

[Turbowned]

I can haz Brembos front and rear on my BRZ for about the cost of an aftermarket front BBK? Yes, please!

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

I can haz Brembos front and rear on my BRZ for about the cost of an aftermarket front BBK? Yes, please!

I'll even sell you my Brembos!

[humanshield]

love it! nice work