Finding out what my calipers came from?

[Fkyx]

Okay... so I know that my car has rotors from a later model Legacy, but I don't know if the previous owner(s) also swapped out the calipers. Is there any way to tell what they are from? Possibly a part number?

[jamal]

post a picture. I'll be able to narrow it down to a few possibilities at least. Worst case you go to a parts store and compare pad shapes.

[Fkyx]

Front:



Rear:



Thanks for the help.

[jamal]

looks to be the stock front brakes. The 96+ 2-pots use one of the pad shapes in this link, which are different from that:

http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/faq_wrxcalipers.shtml

I'm pretty sure your rear brakes also use the stock pads, regardless of whether they're vented (I can't tell). The rear pads are the same for all 90-98/99 discs.

[Fkyx]

Alright. So I should go with stock shaped front/back packs then? Does HPS offer both options anymore? I was reading some back-threads, and apparently they only offer one of them.

Thanks, jamal.

EDIT:
AutoAnything.com has front and back, but it lists them as "Fits the Sedan Models Except the 4wd Turbo Models"

http://www.autoanything.com/brakes/61A2 ... m_search=1

Will these work?

[jamal]

usually you can use the D-plate number to check:

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=36289

I think you can get the HPS.

[Fkyx]

usually you can use the D-plate number to check:

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=36289

I think you can get the HPS.

Is the D-plate number stamped into the caliper bracket or something?

[jamal]

no it's not, but it is generally on the box the pads come in, or at the least a manufacturer will have a way to cross-reference the d-plate with their own part numbering system.

Axxis/pbr for example has the d-plate number in their own part numbers, while Hawk has their own numbering system but the d-plate number is on the box and they have a cross-reference sheet.

[Fkyx]

Oh, okay. So that number is only useful once I find the right pads that fit my calipers.

I'm going to go ahead and order those Hawk pads and hopefully they'll fit. If nothing else, I'll take the hit and sell them off.

Thanks for your help, jamal.

Also, I'm thinking of going with Motul's DOT5.1 fluid when I flush. Would you suggest anything more cost-effective?

[jamal]

Something like valvoline synthetic dot 4 will be just as effective and cost less.

Until you're at the point of running race pads and having super hot brakes, more expensive fluid just means you're spending more money. On top of that, the fluids with a higher boiling point absorb water more quickly and need to be changed more often. The boiling point of Motul RBF600 will drop from it's dry point of 593F to 420F in less than a year.

Still, it's less than $30 in a year so it doesn't really matter that much. there just won't be any benefit.

One thing I would suggest is going with ATE superblue. Then you can alternate between that and clear fluid to make flushing easier.

as for pads, I'm not really sure what's out there for the front of your car. Hawk doesn't seem to have anything. A swap to newer front brakes wouldn't be a bad idea just for the pad choices. I'll be selling mine for super cheap in a few weeks btw.

[Fkyx]

Hmmmm. Well the problem is I roasted my brakes the other day, and the ABS light is on. So it'll be hard for me to wait a few weeks.

I emailed some company about the HPS pads, and they said just what you said, but also suggested a set of Porterfield R4S pads. Any thoughts on those as a sort of transition pad until I can afford new brakes? They seem to be a tad more expensive than the Hawk pads.

[jamal]

Yeah porterfields are good too. But if you want to wait and swap calipers, just put in whatever pads are cheap.