C_WRX

A quick write up and a few pics along the way (which make my calipers look in a terrible state!!) of the replacement of my 4pot pistons & brake discs / pads change Badbaz did for me (my contribution was keen learner / wheel remover / sander). Problem stemmed from a few months back from general rubbish braking feel and then one of the pistons sticking, Barry freed that one but with the seals obviously letting in moisture to rust was only a matter of time before it happened again and the rubbish braking feel was never going to get any better. On asking a lot of questions to various people my decision was to keep my calipers and refurb them changing all 8 front pistons with new seal kit (thanks Kenny for the free kit ) and at the same time I got a good buy on grooved discs from Godspeed with an expensive buy on DS2500 pads - hoping for good improvement within reasonable budget (yes I'd have very much liked the K-sport upgrade but I can't justify spending that given the cars use). I'll not get too technical cause I'll end up having to use words such as thingimies/round bits/what-do-ya-ma-call-its/thingimebobs, so more or less I think it was the following : Wheels off, pads off, discs off, calipers off. Pistons out, emery paper cleaned areas rust had built up, air pressure blown. Renewed the hydraulic seals, refitted new pistons, external dust seals held by spring rings all back onto calipers. Hub fronts emery paper rubbed Calipers, new discs and pads & shims fitted, bled with 5.1 brake fluid. Brake fluid topped up. ...and no my wheels aren't rusty it is a reflection!! No major problems, just a few of the old pistons not wanting to come out. I think there were about 3 or 4 of the 8 total pistons that were not moving as freely as would like. So, how do they feel now. May be my imagination but the car seems to move more freely, braking is very different feeling given can almost tell the pistons are all okay now plus still got to get the pads bedded in. Stopping doesn't seem better but again reckon need to give the pads time to bed in. Huge thanks to Barry for his advice, time, patience (I asked a lot of questions!) and mechanical expertise. Loads of Scoob chat also. Just need to be more aware of the lorry diesel fumes nearly knocking me out if ever back for any more assistance. Between the advice, help and parts needed goes to show just there's plenty of decent helpful folks on here !

Got mine from here http://www.geocities.com/harveysmith3000/p...ndproducts.html for my newage. Can only really comment for a newage WRX and STi ones are also decent.

Godspeed grooved discs and DS2500 for the front - can tell you after today how they are...well as long as it isn't snowy for the next 2 weeks !! There are cheaper choices for the pads in between the kevlar and DS2500's that may be worth considering. Call Ian and he'll talk you through them I'm sure.

Different Gordon, different ! Remember you saying you were thinking of decaling, never thought of that though. I'll definitely know it's you around the town now - Scooby and the Bandit Any more on or just the front ?

Nicely done. The before and after are quite noticeable - and only 7 weeks old !! Always amazing what you see a clay bar pulling off supposed clean looking paint work isn't it ! Red does shine up fantastically well doesn't it !! Wife has a red car in major need of the machine but some nice mini snow shovel digger thing clipped the bumper in her works car park and has cracked the paint (and didn't own up !!!!) plus a deep scratch along passengers door so after the bodyshop visit I'll get going on it. The winter protection though was topped up at the weekend and the shine from it was fantastic under the winter sun. Make sure you keep on top of it now Brian, easy enough to do so get in to the habit !!

Nice subtle changes. Can I ask, the tints, with Strike on them, is the Strike on the inside or outside, just woondering if it would affect the tint if you were to take the Strike off ??

I have the same car as you. Couple years ago changed my front discs and pads, looking at time for a modest improvement. Spoke to Alyn at ASPerformance and he suggested, on my low budget, to stick with OEM discs and upgrade the pads. The pad selection is really personal choice and you will get plenty of opinions on good ones. Pads need upgrading from OEM for sure I'd say. Since then my brakes have been getting gradually worse but after ceasing Mr.Badbaz was good enough to look at them for me and diagnosed my pistons were sticking (seals done in and rust starting) which affect basically the calipers doing their thing. So hopefully this week we (I say we but more likely him!) will be working on them and I will be changing my discs and pads again. I have a set of grooved discs from Godspeed (a very good price) and a set of DS2500 to go on. The DS2500's are expensive but I've been so fed up with my brakes as of late thought I'd spend a little more getting best within my budget. I have high expectations from these repairs/changes ! As far as I know on our power the rears don't need much fancy on there ??

What polishing machine did you get (please don't say Halfords!). Before you move on to your own car get a scrap panel for practice. The training days mentioned may also be of interest if you wanted to speed up the learning. Very possible to do just take your time, and would say if you are going to get right in to it the cost will mount up !

As others have said, would agree with comments, yes to getting it done for power and reassurance. Think I have at moment what you're about to do, I've a 2004 WRX with decat everything with exception of sportscat downpipe (can't be bothered with hassle come MOT time). My uppipe came from Harvey & wrapped, but STi ones are also fine. I have about 280bhp.

Cracking when you see a nice shine at a certain angle or when the light/sun hits a certain bit and shows it at its best. It can be a bit of a skill to get that on to the camera...something I'm rubbish at !!

Your neighbours won't look any more disapprovingly at you, should be fine reckon.

Cracking looking example there. If the pics of the bodywork are any indication of how the car has been looked after then you got a good one - and yes, blacks best ! Enjoy.

When I was thinking about getting mine I was doing many more miles than do now which wasn't so appealing, however explained to the wife that I'd always wanted one and our plan to have a family meant that if I didn't do it then I probably never would and didn't want to think in years ahead "oh wish I'd just gone and done it". Also has 4 doors so not completely impractical. She agreed and I bought my WRX. She had not long before got her TT roadster so was bit easier to convince. Now we have a baby girl, TT went for more practical family mobile, Scoob still in the garage. How about trying "all this snow the 4-wheel drive would be great" ??

Little bit of wetsanding in areas where more so needed, the car was at the time just over 5 years old, but mainly machining. I don't really enjoy wetsanding so where possible avoid, sometimes no other choice but to though. Car was garaged for about 2 months so took the opportunity to spend time working away on it. Was rather proud of it at the end but inevitably no matter how hard you try marks do come back. 8 days, wouldn't like to have seen that bill !!! Black shined is stunning, not very forgiving though when not looked after. Just love the GTR's .

Coming to a Shell garage near you...many times over the next few days...wrxcook First impression, all be it on low revs ? Glad its working out for you - it's an upgrade I'll get to one day I hope !

Is it a newage WRX, just that I recently bought a set of the grooved discs from Godspeed too, cracking price. Just waiting to get them on with the new pads, and a caliper piston refurb too. Had you been closer to South Lanarkshire I'd have recommended the fellow Subaru owner doing mine. Hypertech will do a good job I'm sure.

was the closest I could think of !! No harm meant, okay so it was a poor attempt, it's early

Agreeing that the graphics are a must now to finish it off, it's crying out for it Keira. Also agree not over the top or too much. Got JW with his Irn-Bru, you could be more towards the ribena flavour ??

Oh no, really, I couldn't !.... .....Oh, okay then, just a couple (aplologies to those bored of seeing these numerous times before) 6months after machining and just after a quick wax top up, was actually just trying out the new SLR.

Maybe misleading what I meant originally. It is the wax I top up on, not the Wet Diamond AFP sealant. Haven't used their polish, although believe is good for masking swirls (I go for blackhole for masking, Menzerna when correcting) and bringing out a nice glossiness pre sealant or waxing. The wax works for me being a little OCD with the car cleaning malarky, just personally don't find it quite as long lasting against other products. Does leave a cracking finish though which is why I have it on my car. Their gloss spray is also good, as you noted, after a wash and a lot quicker (obviously the wax has been done previous to needing a wash). Oh, tough trying to resist putting a pic up

Welcome. Enjoy yourself. Another Lanarkshire newbie, look out in the events section for the meets, Lanarkshire & Glasgow in particular.

Very nice looking and nice figures too. Not a model I know enough about, but I do know it's a cracking edition. Looks quite good bodywork wise from the pics anyways. Now listen to your wife...keep it for a while !!

Good man. Hope you have a lot longer of trouble free driving to enjoy its new lease of life. As said unless the gearbox has had a hard life that power/torque should be fine.

The black always comes up nicest !! I'll refrain from putting my "glass-like" pic up as think everyones seen it - but may upon request . The blackfire is very good on but I feel it is a product that needs a lot of topping up to keep it performing to its best, so if you're the kind of person that will keep on top of the cleaning and not afraid of adding wax once a month (at least) then go for it....it is what I use on mine ! . I buy mine from Polished Bliss. My advice is Wet Diamond AFP underneath then at least 2 coats of midnight wax. Make sure you clay as well, you said you know how so well worth doing. Is it just me or are folks getting in to the cleaning the car stage just a little early this year...it's still barely getting above freezing and the roads are filthy !!

Good man. You'll find it hard to stop now !!