I've been making use of the search function and couldn't really find a straight answer to this. I'm in need of replacing the stock pads and possibly the rotors on my '06 STI. I know that if I go with factory parts it'll run me a pretty penny, so I was curious as to what some reasonable options were.

The car is my daily driver, pretty much used only for commuting and maybe once a week I'll take it up into the Santa Cruz mountains at a spirited clip for an hour or two. No drag racing, no auto-x, etc. I also just got a set of Falken Azenis RT-615 tires put on it, if that is relevant.

My search yielded the following recommendations:
Pilenga rotors
Hawk HPS pads
Axxis pads

Thing is, the threads I pulled those suggestions from weren't for an STI, so I don't know how applicable they are to my situation.

My friend that manages Safety Check Automotive in Santa Clara is a nut for factory parts, but he offered Centric as an alternative.

Any advice is super appreciated--thanks!

 

for track days: hawk HPS
for dd and auto-x: axxis is fine

most rotors, are rotors. i recommend slotted.

good tires will also dramatically affect braking (yes with abs heha)

 

I don't have an 06 STi but I do have an 05 STi. I went with Brembo slotted rotors and hawk HPS pads along with SS brake lines.
I've noticed less brake dust and a nice bite when braking.



This car use to be my DD with this brake setup and I loved it.

 

I too have a 06 STi for daily driver. In the summer I changed the pad to EBC Yellowstuff to go to Watkins Glen Driver's Education. The brakes never faded and gave good stopping power. I am still using them for street, and it seems to be fine, as it does have a good initial bite to it. Be sure to change the brake fluids too. I am using ATE Blue.