I participate in very little autocross and no track racing (closest track is about 4 hours away and Im just too busy), but Im not really satisfied with the brakes on spirited backroads driving. Right now Im trying to decide between the stoptech stage 1 and stage 2. For spritited backroads driving, are the slotted rotors of the stage 2 package honestly necessary? Im really just looking for a little bit better bite and a reduction in fade.

edit: Car is a 05 WRX Wagon with 1400 miles.

 

The main difference between Stage 1 and 2 is that Stage 2 includes a BBK, the calipers, rotors, and pads up front are much larger.

I have seen people that do a lot of spirited driving on backroads get by with a stage 1 style kit, including SS lines, high-temp brake fluid, more agressive, but stock-sized pads and rotors, and do just fine when driving aggressively in the backroads.

Before you invest in either kit, I recommend that you take a drive with a couple local car club members, one having stage 1, the other stage 2, and get a feel for which setup you'd prefer.

I used to own an '02 WRX, and I used to gripe about its brakes.

Now I drive an '04 STi, and I still wanted some improvement, so I upgraded my already big brakes with two-piece fully-floating front rotors up front that, like the rears, were slotted & dimpled, aggressive pads front and rear, SS lines front and back, and high-temp brake fluid. I also topped it off with a Cusco Master Cylinder Brace. The rotors, pads, and lines that I bought to upgrade my STi were from Project Mu.

 

I have the stoptech stage 2 that i got from scoobytuner and love it. Much better bite compared to stock. The Slotted rotors probably dont do much but i like to think they help with the cooling. I would just go stage 2 for the rotors because they look cleaner and i think they help out a little bit. I would just wait untill you need new brakes and just go for the stage 2, thats what i did and i havent regreted it once.

 

I got the stage 2 when I noticed my steering wheel vibrating while braking because of high low spots. It works well with good bite and pedal feel mainly from the pads and ss lines. The slotted rotors only help with keeping the rotors surface clean of friction material. They may vent better do to stoptechs venting technology but from what stoptech told me they act just like stock but with better bite do to the pads. I got the hawks and they work well too. The only thing you have to get used to is the squel that they make under light brake pedal use (like in stop and go traffic) but other than that all is well.