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Old 10-30-2013, 02:19 PM   #1
krautklimb
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Member#: 257446
Join Date: Sep 2010
Default 2011 WRX Brake Replacement - Guidance

All,

My 2011 WRX Hatchback has 60K on original OEM brakes. Yesterday I heard that familiar metal on metal sound, seems to be coming from the right, which has the 'audible wear indicators'. I am thinking I need to replace the brakes.

I am happy to do it myself, but everytime I search for a shop manual or Chilton/Haynes for this car, I can't find one. I've done the brakes on my Wrangler a few times, but I remember reading something about the WRX and ABS that seemed to make it a more involved brake job. Is there a manual someone would recommend...or a video even of someone doing it? I have located videos, but they are not for 2011 MY and I am not sure what other MY have the same process as for the 2011.

I'm not looking for any performance upgrade at this point, just back to OEM-level and healthy. As for ceramic v. semimetallic, I'm leaning towards semimetallic and I think that is what is OEM?

As for the rotors...is it worth bothering to turn them or just replace? I'm leaning towards replace - I don't have fancy rotors anyway, so they aren't that expensive.

Any guidance would be appreciated.
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Old 10-30-2013, 04:02 PM   #2
Khanh@KaizenTuning
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Location: Boxborough, MA
Default

Its fairly easy, same as any other floating caliper. Its 2x 14mm (head) fasteners to remove the caliper off the bracket. Its 2x 17mm (head) fasteners to remove the bracket off the upright if you need to replace the rotors.

The fasteners in the rear may be a different size, but its the same concept. Make sure the parking brake is down!

Then you simply use a brake caliper press tool or a c-clamp to push the pistons back in the caliper to make room for the new pads.

For Pads, Id suggest the StopTech Street Performance pads. They have a nice bite, low noise, low dust.

I personally don't turn rotors. The Centric rotors are fairly cost effective.
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Old 10-30-2013, 08:44 PM   #3
garudatwo
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I'm a fan of the stoptech street performance pads, though on my vehicle they are loud when slowing from 1 mph - 0 mph, and they dust like a mofo. My '11 stockers are basically matte bronze after a month of driving. I bedded them in according to stoptech's procedure, and my rotors have that nice blue hue to them.
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Old 10-30-2013, 09:46 PM   #4
krautklimb
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Thanks for the feedback! I didn't read any 'super-tricky ABS' stuff involved, so that is great. Also appreciate the pad and rotor brand suggestions. Really love driving this car....just want to keep it in good shape.
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Old 10-31-2013, 08:58 AM   #5
Robin2
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Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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2020 Forester Sport
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on the rears, you might have to back off the hand brake.

there's a bunch of How-to's done up for brakes. it's pretty much the same or near it for all subaru non-sti.

Very simple overall...
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Old 10-31-2013, 08:11 PM   #6
boynton4
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I used KNS brakes when I ordered my rotors and pads...

Centric Rotors, Stoptech pads.. Shipped for $273.44

Cant beat it.. I had a local subaru tuner install it all, took him an hour.. didn't seem to complicated
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Old 11-01-2013, 02:43 AM   #7
Gunner
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04 GGA
Cobb Stage 1 EQ Tuned

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Read the StopTech thread before making your decision. Some (including myself) had pulsing (deposit?) issues with the pads, which wouldn't go away despite attempts to rebed them. I even bought Subaru pads and rotor and planned to replace everything, because I couldn't stand the pulsing, but then it went away after ~10k miles.

If the factory parts worked for you and lasted 60k miles, why not just replace them with factory parts? Your factory rotors are probably thick enough for another set of pads.
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Old 11-01-2013, 07:07 AM   #8
mhoerath
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2003 354 ftlb@3k rpm
justablue hatch

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I use napa premium ceramic pads. Low dust, good stop, no pulse or noise.
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