i was just wondering if getting stainless steel braided brake lines and better pads will improve the way my 05 sti brakes? and if so by how much? is it a noticable upgrade and worth the money? also, any sugestions on which pads and or lines are the best? quality for me is more important than price.

 

I used SPT lines and Hawk HPS pads (the best street pads I have found, had them on many cars). Stronger brakes, firmer pedal,very happy.

 

Hawk HPS x2 VERY good street pad me thinks.


I think any name brand pre-measured stainless brake lines will do the trick.

(Don't get like universal ones and stuff)

A high quality brake fluid will make a difference too.

Also bed in your pads when you get them!

Happy Stopping,
Theo

 

I've heard that SS lines won't make that big of a difference on the STi unless you are tracking or auto-x'ing or driving your car really hard. I recommend calling your local vendor, most likely GST, and talking to them about it. They'll help you determine whether you need SS lines or if you should spend your $150 elsewhere.

If you have to replace your pads and rotors, I'd say heck, change out everything at one time while the wheels are off.

 

You'll lose more braking feel and stopping power from the fire wall flex than anything. Get someone to press the brake hard and look at where the master cylinder is and how much it moves as the firewall it’s mounted to moves thus effectively reducing the pressure of the fluid.

Your money will be better spent installing a master cylinder brace like this:

http://www.mrtrally.com.au/performance/brakebracket.htm

 

Most of the mods you will do to your brakes will not decrease stopping distance. you will only increase pedal stiffness and feel. when you upgrade lines, fluid, pads and rotors, you will not notice notice much in the first five stops but you will notice it after you've stopped 10-15 times. the key is to try and resist heat in the rotors and fluid.

EB Turbo

 

I just got some Subaru 4 pot calipers for my 02 WRX and the peddle travel is about 1/2 way to the floor on the first push and then about 1 in on the 2nd. We bled them twice and no change. Is this normal?
Mark

 

Yes, it is normal. the problem lies in the master cylinder. the piston area in the stock two piston caiper is a lot smaller then the piston area in the 4-pot caliper. the stock master was not desined to need to move as much fluid as need in the 4-pot calipers. if not already i would recommend replacing the rears with the 2 piston calipers frm the same kit line. and replacing your master with that of an 06'-07' WRX(not a TR or 2.5RS). then you should not have the problem anymore. they should really tell you this in the subaru genuine parts website, because it is a necessary component to make the kit work properly. if you leave the stock rear calipers and just replace the master you might have too much brake pressure to the rear calipers thus changing bias towards the rear. which is no good. if you dont want to buy the rears and want the master you could always add an aftermarket proportioning valve to help matters.

EB Turbo

 

EB Turbo,
Thank you for the info. You are correct, they should tell us on the website.
I will get a new master and try it and if I have a problem, I will deal w/ the rears.
Mark