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How to install front Brembo Brakes step by step


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Hi Everyone,

 

I thought i would post a step by step walkthrough on how to install Gold Brembos on the front of your fourth Generation Legacy; in my case Spec.B. This tutorial is great because you can put the brakes underneath your much loved stock wheels!

 

For this walkthrough you will need the following:

 

1x set of front brembo brakes and pads including caliper bolts

2x 10mm hub centric wheel spacers 5x100

10x M12x1.25 63mm wheel studs

1x Dot 3 or 4 brake fluid

1x Angle grinder

2x jack stands

1x container to collect brake fluid

Tools: 17mm, 19mm sockets, Rachey, extention, 7/16 spanner open end and ring spanner.

1xclear plastic line

 

 

Step1:

Raise the front of your vehicle securely on jackstands; loosen wheel nuts before doing this on the ground. Now remove both wheels.

 

Step2:

Remove both front calipers from the car. 17mm bolts. At this stage we won't remove the banjo bolts and will leave connected; hang them from a piece of wire off your strut. Now that this is done remove both front discs from the car, if tight lightly tap them with a rubber mallet or similar.

 

Step3:

Now we need to remove the standard wheel studs to make way for the slightly longer ones.

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111226_017.jpg

To do this put an old wheel lug nut on the thread and hammer the studs out. Once the studs are removed you now can put the longer ones through.

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111226_020.jpg

Only problem with this is that the backing plate is a little close and you cannot push the studs through without lightly hammering the backing plate back. http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111226_021.jpg

To tighten the studs on their splines use some washers on the front of the hub and a nut at the end and pull them through.

 

Step4:

Because we are using the standard Legacy GT rotors the brembo caliper will rub up on the backside of the disc (will be touching the bolt side of the caliper) To fix this a little bit of grinding needs to be done where the caliper mounts up to the vehicle. There are two raised up areas for the caliper to bolt up to; grind these down flat. http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111227_002.jpg

There is still plenty of meat in the caliper bracket for the brembos after this is done. Now the last little bit of grinding needs to be done where the caliper bolts up to the car. Again grind the two raised up parts flat on the caliper; this will bring the caliper in the right position with the disc without rubbing. Also to note the standard Brembo caliper bolts 19mm are too long and need to have 2threads grinded off them so they do not touch the disc when tightening the calipers up.

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111227_001.jpg

 

Step5:

Place the rotors on the car and bolt up the Brembos over them. I prefer to remove all the pads and spacers from the caliper and turn the steering wheel so you can see what is going on when rotating the disc to make sure they do not rub together.

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111227_003.jpg

If they are slightly touching you need to remove a little more from the car caliper bracket. Once you have it in line put the caliper back together; grease the steel spacers also to stop brake squeak.

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111227_006.jpg

 

Step6:

Now disconnect one at a time the banjo bolt from the standard caliper and give it a clean; get the two washers from there to use with the longer brembo caliper bolts. Bolt it up to the Brembo and tighten to 20nm. Do the same for the otherside. Now that this is done we start bleeding the brakes. Note this calipers have two bleeding nipples instead of one on the standard caliper so start with the outside one first(on the wheel side). First of all put a rag down on the floor and an icecream container and get a piece of clear rubber tube to fit over the nipple and into the icecream container. Now loosen off the nipple with a 7/16 ring spanner and put your tube over it. Make sure you master cylinder reservior has plenty of fluid in it or top it up if neccesary. Now begin pressing the brake pedal a few times and watch the fluid go through the clear line into the container. You will see air bubbles going with the fluid. Keep pumping until the fluid runs clear no bubbles; be sure to keep one eye on the reservior so that it does not run out of fluid. When finished tighten the nipple up and repeat this procedure for the otherside of the caliper. Do this for the otherside of the vehicle also.

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111227_005.jpg

 

Step7:

Now place the wheel spacers on the hub after the disc rotor and bolt up the wheels. Job done! Now take it for a test run and experience the difference visually and performance wise.:)

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111227_009.jpg

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111227_007.jpg

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111227_011.jpg

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chutrain: as blongo804 said; the standard LGT rotors are plenty big enough and the Brembo caliper uses all the disc. I went on a 500km drive and just loved it when the corners came up; awesome stopping power!!

 

I will have a write up shortly on the back calipers soon; using the standard rotor and OEM spec.b wheels

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  • 5 months later...
Yes that is the ideal way to do it; if you have a set of front Brembo discs lying around. I don't think they will be a straight fit either and abit of adjustment maybe required to clear the disc still.
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I've been looking for this...thank you!

 

For others' viewing pleasure

 

Hi Everyone,

 

I thought i would post a step by step walkthrough on how to install Gold Brembos on the front of your fourth Generation Legacy; in my case Spec.B. This tutorial is great because you can put the brakes underneath your much loved stock wheels!

 

For this walkthrough you will need the following:

 

1x set of front brembo brakes and pads including caliper bolts

2x 10mm hub centric wheel spacers 5x100

10x M12x1.25 63mm wheel studs

1x Dot 3 or 4 brake fluid

1x Angle grinder

2x jack stands

1x container to collect brake fluid

Tools: 17mm, 19mm sockets, Rachey, extention, 7/16 spanner open end and ring spanner.

1xclear plastic line

 

 

Step1:

Raise the front of your vehicle securely on jackstands; loosen wheel nuts before doing this on the ground. Now remove both wheels.

 

Step2:

Remove both front calipers from the car. 17mm bolts. At this stage we won't remove the banjo bolts and will leave connected; hang them from a piece of wire off your strut. Now that this is done remove both front discs from the car, if tight lightly tap them with a rubber mallet or similar.

 

Step3:

Now we need to remove the standard wheel studs to make way for the slightly longer ones.

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111226_017.jpg

To do this put an old wheel lug nut on the thread and hammer the studs out. Once the studs are removed you now can put the longer ones through.

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111226_020.jpg

Only problem with this is that the backing plate is a little close and you cannot push the studs through without lightly hammering the backing plate back. http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111226_021.jpg

To tighten the studs on their splines use some washers on the front of the hub and a nut at the end and pull them through.

 

Step4:

Because we are using the standard Legacy GT rotors the brembo caliper will rub up on the backside of the disc (will be touching the bolt side of the caliper) To fix this a little bit of grinding needs to be done where the caliper mounts up to the vehicle. There are two raised up areas for the caliper to bolt up to; grind these down flat. http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111227_002.jpg

There is still plenty of meat in the caliper bracket for the brembos after this is done. Now the last little bit of grinding needs to be done where the caliper bolts up to the car. Again grind the two raised up parts flat on the caliper; this will bring the caliper in the right position with the disc without rubbing. Also to note the standard Brembo caliper bolts 19mm are too long and need to have 2threads grinded off them so they do not touch the disc when tightening the calipers up.

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111227_001.jpg

 

Step5:

Place the rotors on the car and bolt up the Brembos over them. I prefer to remove all the pads and spacers from the caliper and turn the steering wheel so you can see what is going on when rotating the disc to make sure they do not rub together.

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111227_003.jpg

If they are slightly touching you need to remove a little more from the car caliper bracket. Once you have it in line put the caliper back together; grease the steel spacers also to stop brake squeak.

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111227_006.jpg

 

Step6:

Now disconnect one at a time the banjo bolt from the standard caliper and give it a clean; get the two washers from there to use with the longer brembo caliper bolts. Bolt it up to the Brembo and tighten to 20nm. Do the same for the otherside. Now that this is done we start bleeding the brakes. Note this calipers have two bleeding nipples instead of one on the standard caliper so start with the outside one first(on the wheel side). First of all put a rag down on the floor and an icecream container and get a piece of clear rubber tube to fit over the nipple and into the icecream container. Now loosen off the nipple with a 7/16 ring spanner and put your tube over it. Make sure you master cylinder reservior has plenty of fluid in it or top it up if neccesary. Now begin pressing the brake pedal a few times and watch the fluid go through the clear line into the container. You will see air bubbles going with the fluid. Keep pumping until the fluid runs clear no bubbles; be sure to keep one eye on the reservior so that it does not run out of fluid. When finished tighten the nipple up and repeat this procedure for the otherside of the caliper. Do this for the otherside of the vehicle also.

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111227_005.jpg

 

Step7:

Now place the wheel spacers on the hub after the disc rotor and bolt up the wheels. Job done! Now take it for a test run and experience the difference visually and performance wise.:)

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111227_009.jpg

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111227_007.jpg

http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/Front%20Brembo%20Upgrade/20111227_011.jpg

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I've got a full set of front and rear sti brembo takeoffs that I want to fit shortly so Im looking forward to your writeup on the rears. You had to buy some sort of adapter to bolt up the rear calipers, right?
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Hi Sbw,

 

I didn't buy any adaptor for the rear brembo installation. I made my own bracket which was welded to the original backing plate. I'll have to remember how i did it again?! I should be able to remember. hahaha.http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/DSC00804.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 5 weeks later...
Hi Sbw,

 

I didn't buy any adaptor for the rear brembo installation. I made my own bracket which was welded to the original backing plate. I'll have to remember how i did it again?! I should be able to remember. hahaha.http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff454/subbiechick/DSC00804.jpg

 

Nice, but I wonder if 04 STi Rear backing plate would work as "plug & play". I know the wheel bearing hub assy. is different do to the R180 axles. But the 04 sti share the same bolt pattern (5x100mm). I wondering if the bolt pattern is the same. Where the wheel bearing hub assy. bolts to rear control arm.

 

That rear setup doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling.

 

If one know how to set up & weld. It will be fine.

 

Mike

Mileage:331487 Retired/Sold

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Yes that is the ideal way to do it; if you have a set of front Brembo discs lying around. I don't think they will be a straight fit either and abit of adjustment maybe required to clear the disc still.

 

Using 04 Brembo rotors, it's a straight fit. No grinding or anything else required. Remove stock caliper, remove stock rotor. Install Brembo rotor, slide Brembo caliper into place and bolt down.

 

Unfortunately, if you do it the way you've described (modifying the knuckle) you will never be able to use Brembo rotors. You'll always have to use LegacyGT rotors.

[URL="http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/proper-flip-key-interesti-159894.html"]Flip Key Development Thread[/URL] "Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped." - E. Hubbard
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  • 1 year later...
I was more referring to how the caliper is now mounted off axis to the rotor. I think I'm going with a bracket, but to each his own.

 

Could you please elaborate on what you mean by "off axis"? Are you referring to the rotor not being centered in the caliper front to back or side to side? or both?

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