I don't care if I have cross drillled and slotted whatever. All I know is that if I want to run the extra HP like I will, I need to be able to stop. The stock brakes, being adequate at best, need a little help. Some day I may swap it all, who knows. Anyways, I was thinking of getting SS brake-lines to start. Is this the way to go, or should I get new pads? I need guidance for I'm afraid of becoming too friendly with a tree.

 

My setup: Subaru 4 pots in front, DBA5000 rotors, 2 pots in rear, Goodrich lines, Speedbleeders & Motul. MRT bracket on m/c (and yes, it does make a difference).

For street I'm using the stock STi pads, for the track, I'm currently using Carbotech Panther XP's. I will be putting Bobcat's in the rear shortly as the STi pads are almost gone. I change front pads at the track before each event.

I have used Porterfield R-4 pads once. They cracked badly on me after a single day. Switched to Carbotech Panther + pads next with no real issues, but felt they were going away a bit after a long track session. No problems at all with the Panther XP's - excellent track pad.

I'm not sure what to say about the DBA5000 rotors. They're a slotted rotor, two-piece design with an aluminum hat. I have two complete sets of rotors. I probably got 8 days on the first set before they began to show signs of excessive heat checking (beginning to crack). The second set has about 12 days on them and are also starting to heat check. I so far have been unable to find anyone who can get me the replacement discs. I refuse to buy another complete set of rotors. I'm going to go back to running stock rotors for now - at $60 each, I can afford to burn them up every few events compared to over $400 for a pair of the DBA's.

I've been very happy with the stock STi 4 pot pads on the street - I think they stop well and I don't find they dust excessively. I'm unsure at this point if I will just replace them with the STi pads again or go with Bobcats. I'm leaning toward the STi pads primarily because I'll get another set of shims & clips with them.

I'm considering whether it will be worth the expense to upgrade to the Brembo's. I guess the biggest reason I haven't is not the cost of the brakes themselves, but the fact that I would need all new wheels to clear them (neither my street P1's or my track SSR Comps will clear them). My car class does not require the use of Subaru brakes, so I may just have to go aftermarket.

-Keith-