B4 Brake Upgrade...

[BAC5.2]

Well, I spoke to one of my friends to get a price on the new B4 brake setup (single pot, 290mm vented rear).

The verdict? To expensive to be a viable brake upgrade option.

$925 shipped for the calipers, rotors, pads, and backing plate. That is sans bracket.

Looks like there will have to be another decision.

I wonder if WRX front rotors would fit the rear caliper with a custom bracket? It couldn't cost TO much to have a set of brackets CNC'd up. But it'd be a moot point if the rotor wouldn't fit between the rear brake.

Anyone have any ideas about this?

I'm looking in Vikash's general direction, as he's the answer man.

Plenty of front upgrade options, but what about the rear (for the Turbo Legacy). I'd rather not go to an "H6" solid rear "upgrade"

[NuwanD]

I could definately understand upgrading the fronts but the rear are not being used to their full potential as it is... and therefore i'd see no need to upgrade them (aside from some bling )... our cars have a high front brake bias... if you are looking for quicker stops get more rearward bias or put better pads on the rear

Problem with altering front rotors for the rear is the lack of the inner drum for the e-brake... maybe getting some front rotors off an older XT? they had the e-brake operating the front wheels... safer yes, not so much fun however

[BAC5.2]

Oh damn, I completely forgot about the e-brake.

I wish we had an e-brake that actuated the caliper rather than a drum/pad setup. Didn't VW do that?

Back to the drawing board.

The reason for wanting larger diameter rears isn't for more clamping, but rather more cooling. A larger diameter rotor will dissipate heat better than a smaller rotor.

Plus, it looks bling to have your wheels full of rotor.

[vrg3]

I thought about trying to fit my stock front brakes on the rear or something at one point...

The biggest issue is that you'd have to do something about the handbrake setup. You'd have to remove the stuff from the hub to make the rotor fit, and then you'd have to figure out some other way to achieve an emergency brake, or somehow manage without it.

Maybe see if you can get a pair of rear WRX STi brakes and the rear STi parking brake assemblies? The reason you need the assembly is that the parking brake diameter is smaller on our cars than on the STi.

Also realize that you might be able to get the rotors cheaper from a DBA dealer or something, and the pads might be the same as some USDM rear pads, and the backing plate is probably the same as the "H6" one, so you may only need the calipers and brackets to actually come from Japan.

[BAC5.2]

DBA? Not ringing a bell...

Would the STi stuff all swap over? The STi stuff is probably more expensive than the B4 gear.

[vrg3]

Disc Brakes Australia. Google for them and you should find a bunch of info.

I don't honestly know whether the STi parking brake assembly can be swapped over. Or, to be more accurate, I don't know how much work would be involved in making it fit.

[legacy92ej22t]

I really don't think it's worth the effort myself. i would concentrate on upgrading the fronts first. If you have a 4-6 pot Brembo big brake kit for the front then I could understand wanting to upgrade the rears too. The Legacy turbos rears are already pretty nice, being vented and all. They're better then oem WRX rears.

[JasonGrahn]

Oh damn, I completely forgot about the e-brake.

I wish we had an e-brake that actuated the caliper rather than a drum/pad setup. Didn't VW do that?

No, but many rallyists modify the ebrake to work on hydraulics actuating the caliper rather then the drum.

[NuwanD]

also really high end cars use that setup of 2 calipers (one e-brake, one normal use) like lamborghini.... i've seen the "e-brake" calipers for sale from aftermarket brake companies like baer and the like, however unlike drum brakes disc brakes are not self-actuating so it requires more force for them to work.

[boostjunkie]

I wish we had an e-brake that actuated the caliper rather than a drum/pad setup. Didn't VW do that?

The drum within the rotor is actually good if you autocross. Heated up pads before sitting and waiting for the lineup again does warps the rotors.

I'll vouch for the fact that the front brakes are the ones that need attention. You won't really be needing the rears until you produce some really big numbers out of the engine.

[Legacy777]

I suggest you look to source those parts from someone else.

I've got the calipers sitting in my garage. Paid 200 for them. Granted I still need the rotors & pads....but that shouldn't be too much.

You can just bend the backing plates back or get the backing plates for the H6. The only thing that is different on the B4/GT-B vented rears compared to the H6 is the caliper & rotor.

Honestly.....you'd be just fine with the H6 setup and solid rotor. Even if you're tracking the car....you'd still probably be fine. Cryo-treat the rotor and you'd be golden.

I've done pretty extensive brake work on my car...along the lines of redesigning/replacing almost every component except the booster. I currently have the turbo legacy vented rears, and feel the H6 provides a better upgrade path. The added rearward bias & larger rotor outweigh the benefits of the vented turbo legacy.

I'll probably be getting my rotors from dba when I get rotors. I believe there may be one or two other sources for those rotors in the states. You could ask on nabisco and find out I'm sure.

[BAC5.2]

Josh - The price was for brand new calipers and everything from a new Legacy B4.

Are the brackets the same between the B4 calipers and the H6 calipers?

[Legacy777]

I wouldn't think so. The brackets and calipers are going to be wider to accept the vented rotor.