Brakes

[John]

I'm looking to replace the brakes soon on my 03 forester xs. I need to
either replace or turn down the rotors . I was thinking of replacing them
(the rotors) and was wondering if the basic OEM type from Auto Zone will
work fine? Also I heard that turning down rotors could make them thinner
and warp easier? I live in the south and it get's very hot and and with
heavy braking I want to play it safe. I notice that there is some rotors
with holes drill for cooling but are very expensive. My question I guess is
are the OEM brakes carried @ a local auto parts store good enough or should
I pay a high price for name stuff and would it work better?

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I'm looking to replace the brakes soon on my 03 forester xs. I need to
either replace or turn down the rotors . I was thinking of replacing them
(the rotors) and was wondering if the basic OEM type from Auto Zone will
work fine? Also I heard that turning down rotors could make them thinner
and warp easier? I live in the south and it get's very hot and and with
heavy braking I want to play it safe. I notice that there is some rotors
with holes drill for cooling but are very expensive. My question I guess is
are the OEM brakes carried @ a local auto parts store good enough or should
I pay a high price for name stuff and would it work better?

Often, just replacing the pads is fine. Do you experience 'pulsing' in
the brake pedal or jerkiness when stopping now?

I dunno about Autozone's rotors - they are probably OK. You could also
price OEM from an online discount dealer like www.subarugenuineparts.com
or shop after market like Brembo, Stoptech, etc. Some folks claim it's
best to buy pads from the same 3rd party manufacturer as you get the
rotor from. I suspect that is a greater concern for 'performance'
driving. Some high performance brake pads are actually dangerous for
'daily drivers'. And you don't want drilled rotors. Even slotted rotors
are really better for vehicles being tracked occasionally.

good info here;
http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_warped_brakedisk.shtml


Carl

 

[John]

The Forester has only 40k but when I bought it the car sat for 2 months and
no one drove it. For some reason the brake pads fused to the rotors(I'm
thinking rusted) When I went to drive it it wouldn't even move. Then after
a loud thug they broke loose and after that the rotors have vibrated only
when the brakes are pressed. It has worn in alot since then which I was
hoping for but after 15k miles it still does it just a little. It's enough
to bug me. I never drive it my wife does and she never complianed so I
though it was good. Any ways thanks for the advise.

John

 

[Todd H.]

I'm looking to replace the brakes soon on my 03 forester xs. I need to
either replace or turn down the rotors . I was thinking of replacing them
(the rotors) and was wondering if the basic OEM type from Auto Zone will
work fine?

NO NO NO NO a thousand times NO.


Search my prior posts for why. Brakes are a tough things on these
subies, so my advice is to replace with OEM pads and rotors, or go
with premium ceramic pads and matching rotors from the same
manufacturer.

If you're thinking about turning your rotors, make sure there's enough
rotor left to do it, and if it's the original rotor, I'd definitely go
with the OEM pads.

Also I heard that turning down rotors could make them thinner
and warp easier? I live in the south and it get's very hot and and with
heavy braking I want to play it safe. I notice that there is some rotors
with holes drill for cooling but are very expensive. My question I guess is
are the OEM brakes carried @ a local auto parts store good enough or should
I pay a high price for name stuff and would it work better?

It will work better. Autozone pads are absolute crap, they fit but
they are not the material rated for your relatively heavy AWD vehicle
and they will shed all over your wheels, and they will not have teh
stopping power that's spec'd for your car.

Best Regards,

 

[Simon Garfunkel]

I'm looking to replace the brakes soon on my 03 forester xs. I need to
either replace or turn down the rotors . I was thinking of replacing them
(the rotors) and was wondering if the basic OEM type from Auto Zone will
work fine? Also I heard that turning down rotors could make them thinner
and warp easier? I live in the south and it get's very hot and and with
heavy braking I want to play it safe. I notice that there is some rotors
with holes drill for cooling but are very expensive. My question I guess is
are the OEM brakes carried @ a local auto parts store good enough or should
I pay a high price for name stuff and would it work better?

For what it is worth: I just went through a bout of similar
questions and decision-making and here is what I got and what I am
very happy right now. Ended up ordering rotors and pads from
Tirerack.com. Rotors were Brembo, regular ventillated. Supposed
to be better than plain Forester OEM (Brembo rotors are OEM on
STI). Pads were Akebono ProACT Ceramic, supposedly better than
semi-metallic OEM and they have probably the best and most
consitently high reviews on Tirerack.com.

If I went with all Subaru genuine OEM, it would have cost me
about $150 more. So far so good. Brakes are 100% silent, not
grabby at all, allowing very smooth braking, but brake very
well when pressed hard.

SimGa

 

[John]

Did you change it out your self? I was looking at the rotor and was
wondering once the caliper comes off does the rotor slip off or do I have to
remove that nut I see?


John

 

[Jim Stewart]

Did you change it out your self? I was looking at the rotor and was
wondering once the caliper comes off does the rotor slip off or do I have to
remove that nut I see?

Mine just slipped off. Yours may be
rusted on, but the big nut isn't holding
it.

 

[John]

Ok, I didn't take it off yet. I was looking at the life left on the pads
and was wondering how the rotor would come off.
Thanks for the reply
John

 

[John]

You mention ceramic pads. What is the difference between ceramic, semi
metalic, and organic? I live in a hilly area with lot's of braking. I need
to know out of these three which is better? I will need to change out the
rotor. I like the idea of sticking with same brands for both pads and
rotors. In the past I always drove junk cars and would stick the cheapest
brakes I could find in them. But now I have a wife and kids and want the
best for them.(that's why I bought a Subie). Thanks for all the feedback.


John