what pads are people using on their '03 WRXs with the stock calipers? the guys at brakeworld have stuff that i'm not familiar with, and i'm having trouble finding pads that fit the '03s. oh, and if you're using them with aftermarket rotors, what kind? thanks.

 

anyone?

 

okay, no one here has upgraded the pads on their '03 WRX? wow...

 

Don't have any either but Car & Driver did do a 'big brake showdown' sometime last year and happened to do all the tests on a WRX looking at stopping distance, fade...etc. in 25 or so consecutive 90 MPH to 0 stops (that had to be fun)...just for kicks they threw on Hawk front brake pads to see how they did with the stock brake system otherwise intact...amazingly they stopped almost as well as some of the big boys in terms of distances(Brembo obviously won the thing), and didn't experience fade until like the 3rd or 4th run or so with stock rotors (which would be perfectly fine on the street!)...the stock pads had significant fade during only the second stop and essentially suck...

So I know Hawk is good based on C&D's report if that's all you want to do...

 

the problem is that Hawk hasn't tooled up for the new pads that the '03 has. there is a differance between the '02 and '03 tabs, so that the current Hawks won't fit in the calipers on my '03.

 

Doh!

I have an 03 as well...

Doh! Guess I have the same question as dropkick does!

 

Carbotech makes pads for the '03 WRX

www.carbotecheng.com