Need some help with front brake upgrade

[ajfsgrl08]

Car info:
1999 legacy L 2.2L
The car is a mongrel though, if I call for front brakes (pep boys/napa/advance), they will always be the wrong ones. The only rotors/pads that fit the car are for a 1998 Outback. :smt017 :smt104 :smt108 The '98 outback front rotors are about 1/4" smaller than the front rotors for the '99 legacy.

The front calipers are single pots, the rears are single pots. I am not worried about doing anything about the rear brakes. But 3 sets of front brakes in 50K miles, even the "best"/"lifetime" pads/rotors from advance, is getting alittle rediculus!!!

The car has 15" aluminum wheels: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUBARU-L ... ccessories (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUBARU-LEGACY-15-FACTORY-ORIGINAL-WHEEL-RIM-68707-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1c107f6061QQitemZ120535867489QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories)


I am looking to upgrade to 2 pot or 4 pot front calipers and the largest rotors that will fit behind the stock 15" wheels. I want to do away with the caliper/caliper bracket POS and use the style caliper that bolts directly to the spindle.

I read through the brake upgrade thread that is stickied, but I got lost with most of it, and from what I gathered most people have 16" wheels or will swap to them. I just need some good front brakes that will not warp out in 12K miles and will stop the car in less than a football field length. :shock:

Thanks!

[harrymaneuvers]

viewtopic.php?f=31&t=14242 (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=14242)

[ajfsgrl08]

Thanks! :smt023

[Huffer]

This is easy. Buy loaded 2004 Legacy L brake calipers and rotors, front and rear. You'll have the 10.5" rotor and two piston caliper in the front, and in the back you'll have a 10.3" rotor and single piston caliper. Caliper brackets come with loaded calipers and you'll get a set of brake pads too. Should take about an hour to swap them out and bleed.

[ajfsgrl08]

Thanks!

Now I need to source some braided brake hoses and maybe the car will have good brakes that don't warp out in 12K miles for a change! :shock:

[harrymaneuvers]

I thought the only thing that will fit behind our 15 inch wheels are the GT/Outback/2/5 RS calipers... Did I miss something?


I am getting ready to do this exact same thing and would like a definite answer...


Largest brakes that I can fit behind my stock 15 inch rims?

[Huffer]

Largest brakes that I can fit behind my stock 15 inch rims?

It's really simple, and cheap:

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/legacy/le ... html#SPECS (http://www.cars101.com/subaru/legacy/legacy2004.html#SPECS)

BRAKES: all are 4 channel Anti-Lock Brakes
L:10.7" vented front disc, dual caliper piston, 11.3" rear disc.
GT: 11.4" vented front disc, dual caliper piston, 11.3" rear disc

TIRES, WHEELS:
L sedan and wagon 205/60R 15" all season, steel wheel
GT sedan and wagon 205/55R 16" all season, alloy wheel

If you think about it - it's probably possible to put the 04 GT FRONT brake caliper and rotor behind the 15" L wheel, unless offset is an issue there.

But really, for $200 you'll get pads, calipers, caliper bracket, rotors... You can just buy it all from Rockauto.com or similar.

I like to stick with same year front and rear brakes - I have 04 GT brakes front and rear on my 98 GT. They fit just fine.

Be careful though, the bigger you go, the heavier the car gets. STI calipers are much lighter, but so will your wallet be.

[rougeben83]

the 11.4" 03-04 GT/WRX front brakes will not fit under 15" wheels. The 2 piston floating caliper is too high. However, using the 4 pot caliper (which uses the same rotor) will fit under *certain* 15" wheels...mostly ones marketed as rally/gravel wheels (Enkei Gravel/Team Dynamics ProRally/Braid Rallycross), and for those on a budget, Sport Edition E3 from Tirerack.

[Huffer]

So realistically speaking - the biggest brake caliper/rotor you can fit under a stock 15" wheel is the 04 L - 10.7" disc w/ 2 piston caliper.

[rougeben83]

correct.

[harrymaneuvers]

Wait... I though we already came to that conclusion...


buying new fronts this weekend.


Any option for dual piston rears?

[rougeben83]

Wait... I though we already came to that conclusion...


buying new fronts this weekend.


Any option for dual piston rears?

FHI 2 pots, you use 05+ LGT/06-07 vented rotors, same diameter as the 00-04 Legacy non-vented rear discs. They are pricey though. $700+ including the $200+ adapter brackets. You can make it slightly cheaper ($100-200 less) by using Nissan 300zx turbo (yes you heard me), 2 pot calipers - they bolt right up to the same brackets with the same rotors. They have a slight (5mm) overhang though.

And to prove to you they work, nissan 2 pot rears on my car.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2007/10/P1060823-1.jpg