Advice for good brake discs/pads

[LegaWaga]

Hey guys, I am still new to the Subie scene, so I have a quick question. I am in need of new discs and pads all around. The car will not be tracked of course, but is daily driven with the occasional autox and frequent mountain drives. I am used to ordering parts from places like autozone, rockauto, etc. Before I do, I want to hear any suggestions you guys may have either way for the best parts for the price. I dont want to get some rotors, then 6 months later they are warped from being crappy...

Also, the car is a 2000 Legacy L

Thanks!

[mike-tracy]

This is an endlessly debated subject. A friend of mine had good success with cheap rotors and having them cryogenically frozen. He said that they never "warped" (not the correct term, but commonly used when there is vibration during braking), and outlasted 3 brake pad sets. Personally I just go with the cheapo rotors and have them turned when it's time (and switch to brand new pads each time). I've even gone to the junkyard with my micrometer and found a set that had good thickness (but needed a turn).

Pads: EBC makes several different types of good brake pads - search their online catalog to see the differences (ie. green, red, yellow). I've also purchased OEM pads. They're double what the auto parts store cost, and in my experience, lasted twice as long. Dusty.

I'm sure others will chime in.

[chuckthefuk]

I am with Mike.. My outback gets the 2nd cheapest rotor and Raybestos pads.. I've beaten my brakes for over a year and have not even given them a turn on the lathe. (Brake fade is noticeable during hard braking)

However most of the turbo cars I know run EBC Greenstuff / Hawk and Cheap-o Vented rotors.. some with drilled/cross/slotted with no complaints.

[rougeben83]

greenstuff is worthless for the $$$ you're spending, go yellow or red if you're going EBC. Axxis/PBC Ultimates are good for daily too but dust a lot.

[LegaWaga]

I really dont want much brake fade (without going as far as the Hawk pads) because I drive a lot of up and downhill mountain roads and brake fade isnt good there. lol of course dust sucks, but if I have to i could work around it i guess.

[chuckthefuk]

My brake fade is from aggressive driving in highway traffic so 120km to 10km then back.. You should not experience this on hill climbs or descents.

-Chuck

[Matty2Hotty]

Centric ceramic posi-quiet pads and am plenty happy

[deadend]

don't forget about good fluid!

[jey]

Yeah I like Axxis too - reasonably priced, outstanding performance, though they dust a lot and wear like performance pads (quickly)

[Huffer]

Get mid-range pads and cheapo rotors - if you drive as much as you say you'll be checking your brakes/wheels over a lot anyway.

I'd be more concerned about your tires. Hill climbs/fast decents on cheap all-seasons will make you harder on the brakes than is necessary. You will like out-brake your tires.

[LegaWaga]

The stockers right now have good tread on the Michelin all seasons. I have the 17's also with some goodyear eagles that are close to the end of their life. I hope to bump them to a 215/45/17 when I replace them.

thanks for the advice on the pads/rotors.

[LegaWaga]

Couple more quick questions, are the Legacy GTs the ones with the 11.5" rotor as opposed to the 10" one? Also, are all the discs solid, not vented OEM? I would prefer vented if available for the rear also.

[Huffer]

Nah - the 11.5" rotor comes on the GT for 2005+ - the 10" rotor is pre 2005 and you'll need a bigger caliper bracket to accommodate it.
Not sure which vehicles come with vented rear brakes but it's not necessary as the majority of your brake bias is toward the front.

Double check on cars101.com for brake sizes... honestly you could easily just buy all new 2004 GT front brakes and upsize your rear rotor to the 2004 GT rear rotor... but definitely get better tires.

For your 17" wheels you should consider going to 225/45 width.

[rougeben83]

05 LGT+ = 12.3" front discs :wink:
03-04 LGT = 11.4" front discs (same as wrx).

[Huffer]

Whoopsies!

[Quest]

Akebono. No noise/Low dust. They're not a racing pad. You need to stop shorter? Quicker? Push harder on the pedal. Discs, I would get regular non-slotted, non-drilled rotors.

[LegaWaga]

Non slotted? The OEM front discs are slotted...I would think that the solid dics would hold too much heat under braking and that would quickly overheat the brakes under rapid use of the brakes.

[ouch1011]

Non slotted? The OEM front discs are slotted...

Ehhh...no they aren't.

http://www.dba.com.au/sites/default/files/private/images/slotted.jpg

These are slotted rotors. Very few OEM rotors are slotted. Your front rotors are vented which is pretty typical.

I've had good luck with Hawk HPS pads. They are quiet until they get really hot, the don't dust much, and on average they've lasted about 40-50k miles for a front set. I've always used inexpensive rotors and never had a problem with them. "Warpage" usually occurs due to driver error, and not a fault of the rotor itself. I did put dba 4000 slotted rotors on my 06 LGT, but honestly I just did it because they look cool lol. I haven't noted a performance benefit from them.

[invi]

i have a 2008 legacy limited. i just put ebc super sport rotors front and rear. ebc redstuff pads on the front and hawk pads on the rear. it was a real issue installing at subaru because the ebc front rotor GD729 is slightly smaller than stock so the pad is a little taller than the rotor. but according to specs this is the rotor. i went with it and have not had any problems.

[harrymaneuvers]

I got the brembo OEM blank rotors and centric premium ceramic pads...

As a rule of thumb... I try to stick with pads and rotors either made in europe, usa, or canada... Centric is a great brand, I have used their products on 3 different cars and have been happy with all of them.


The OEM brembo rotors were only $36 each at my local carquest auto parts in rocklin, ca

[Reason]

My choice of upgrade would be DBA rotors, Hawk HPS pads, Techna-fit brake lines. All I can happen to get for you ;-)

[98outbackpdx]

ceramic pads and blank rotors. with the ceramic pads there is very little dust i have found and they last a long time and stop pretty good.