After going through the threads about the defective WRX brakes, I wanted to try to duplicate the conditions that might cause a failure, so here's what I did:

1) My alley has the perfect brake test. It's loosely packed gravel over dirt, with two nice potholes about 6" deep, spaced about a foot apart on the left side of the alley. From about 40 mph, my wagon just stopped. The ABS didn't even activate.

2) We live right by commuter rail lines, so I tried a 40 mph hard brake while going over the tracks, applying the brakes both while still on pavement and having the wheels hit the tracks, then braking hard while on the tracks. The ABS went off the first time, but behaved normally.

3) Wet leaves by the curb, again from about 40 mph. Hard brakes, and the car didn't even pull. It just stopped.

First, I'm impressed. I know that I'm atypical because of how my car is set up, but I was really curious. For anyone who's interested, here's how I brake: firm pedal application at the start of braking, with necessary modulation (usually decreasing) as the car slows.

Hope this helps someone gather information, and I encourage all of you to find a safe spot and find out if there is indeed something hinky with your brakes.

Kevin

I did some testing like this a few weeks ago and couldn't create any problems. Beside bumps and curves and railroad tracks and rumble strips, I tried some split-braking (left tires on pavement and right tires off pavement). The rather spirited thread is here (http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=96438&perpage=50&pagenumber=2) .

I'll say no more so as to not incite flames. :rolleyes:

the brakes on the wrx are terrific, if it weren't the way they are now i would have had a big dent in the front of my car. i braked so late and got less than a foot from this girls bumper, lemme tell you, when you think you won't make it, the brakes pull through. i didn't really feel the abs since i wasn't trying to turn the wheel or anything. i've seen noticable grooves on the brake rotors but im not too worried, the tranny on the other had has got me thinking. i now don't launch my car and it is slow as a dog w/no dropping of the clutch. i lost to an accord, integra, and bros civic because i slipped the clutch, low end b4 turbo just sucks.

dennis