You can see how our new rotor is much bigger than the stock rotor at 326mm vs 292mm.
Here is the new Brembo/STI caliper vs the stock caliper. The STI caliper is quite a bit lighter even though its a bigger more massive part.
Here is the top view. You can see how there is a lot of iron in the stock calipers.
Here is the stock front pad vs the STI Project Mu pads. As you can see the STI-sized pads are much bigger. Bigger pads equate to a longer life for the most part due to less loading per square inch of pad. Switching over to the STI brakes was super easy, you just simply unbolt the stock stuff and bolt on the STI parts. Be sure to use the stock spring clips and anti-rattle shims from the STI for a squeak-free ride.
Converting to the STI rear brakes is a little more involved because the WRX and STI dust shields are different. The rear brake is also a typical pedestrian floating caliper.
8 comments
aren’t DBA rotors super expensive? like BBK rotor price kinda expensive?
Not the one-piece ones.
For the fronts you have plenty of options like from Centric and it’s child subsidiaries. It’s a standard STi fitment part. DBA is an “OEM plus,” level upgrade.
The rears are of course more tricky. Another option for that is the Kartboy rear brackets (San Diego company, makes all things in-house) , to get to a two pot rear caliper and still keep the dust shield I believe? Going that route nets you not having to buy a special rotor over time.
I’m in the process of piecing together a super budget brake upgrade myself for my VA WRX. I looked at going with OEM STi calipers front and rear but came across a set of brand new Cadillac CTS-V front calipers from a local Chevy dealership for $200 and found a company from that makes brackets to mount them. All in, it should be less than $2,500 front and rear even factoring the rear STi setup. Excited to see how this works out in comparison.
One of my friends has gone this route and he likes how it worked out.
Although not in the same league as the STi brakes, the 2006-2007 WRX had 4-piston front/2-piston rear fixed calipers. The 2002-2005 had the sliding calipers, and the 06-07 package is a popular swap for the earlier years as a mild upgrade.
Love the content and will probably look into getting some used calipers to do this on my 05 Saab 92x Aero! Awesome write up with great details!
Hey I’m driving an Australian delivery 2001 WRX will I have any issues with this upgrade?