Bigger, Better Brakes: Brake System Upgrades for the WRX STI

If you have a Subaru WRX STI and would like to upgrade systems on it, you might consider starting with the brake system. While the factory brakes and other parts of the brake system are great, you may want something that will improve the handling and performance of your vehicle.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Different Brake System Upgrades for the WRX STI

There are several upgrade Subaru performance parts that are available for the Subaru WRX STI. Each of them has good and not-so-good points.

High-Performance Brake Pads

• Pros: These types of brake pads offer higher heat resistance and also higher friction coefficients. They allow you greater stopping power without fade when you’re driving under more aggressive conditions.
• Cons: These types of brake pads may be ideal for the racetrack and other instances when you are able to get your speed up, but they aren’t ideal for use in daily driving on city streets.

High-Performance Brake Calipers

• Pros: When you get larger high-performance brake calipers put on your Subaru WRX STI, this can increase clamping force on the brake rotors. In turn, this leads to an improvement in the overall stopping power of the vehicle. This truly is a must if you’re going to be driving at higher speeds, whether that’s on the race track or on country roads.
• Cons: While you can just get the calipers to replace the ones already on your vehicle, it probably will be a better idea to purchase an entire brake kit if you haven’t already replaced any other brake parts. This way, you’ll be getting the best possible deal for your money. 

Performance Brake Rotors

• Pros: Upgraded brake rotors come in drilled and slotted designs, which makes them ideal since you can make more of a customized choice. They help when it comes to dissipation of heat efficiently. They also help with reduction of brake fade so that you have more consistent and reliable braking.
• Cons: It may be in your best interest to get a brake rotor upgrade for your Subaru WRX STI. However, keep in mind that larger brake rotors are going to add weight to your car. If you have a daily driver vehicle, your current brake pads and rotors are likely to be just fine for stopping the car. If you do plan to get bigger rotors, make sure that you also upgrade your brake pads and calipers at or around the same time with the appropriate Subaru sti parts, as the larger rotor has more surface area and would be better suited with brake pads and calipers of a similar size. 

Big Brake Kits

• Pros: The Brembo 4-piston Gran Turismo rear brake kit is excellent for high-performance vehicles. It comes with 2-piece 345mm rotors that are drilled and designed to sweep away excess heat and keep the friction surface clean. This makes for an overall faster response at the pedal. They are compliant with most brake fluids.
• Cons: These kits tend to only upgrade the front brakes. This is because the front ones do a majority of the braking work on most vehicles most of the time, depending on the situation. You can get rear big brake kits for some vehicles, but these typically are for large pickup trucks that deal with oversized loads and/or high-performance vehicles.

Subaru WRX STI brake system upgrades are a great investment if you are looking for improved heat dissipation, stopping power, and performance in general. You’ll want to shop around a bit and make your decisions with care. The experts at JD Muscle USA can assist you with finding the right products to suit your needs and answer any questions or concerns you have about the products and upgrade process.