[holycow]

I have only had my STI a little over a week, and am still getting used to it. I have noticed that the "bite" in the breaking seems a tad weak. It almost feels like I have to use a LOT of foot pressure to stop the car.

I am coming from a VW R32, where breaking was so powerful, if you weren't careful and pushed the breaks too hard, it would throw you into the seat belt and scare the crap out of you.

I guess it almost feels like the R32's breaks were VERY power assisted, but the STI's feel almost like non-powered breaks. I have yet to REALLY hit the breaks hard in the scoobie, but the couple of times I have breaked moderately, I have said to myself "sheesh... if i had to push really hard to get the car to stop on a dime, I could actually injure my foot or ankle"

Anyboyd know what I'm talking about? (cause i dont)... is this normal?

-HC

[Majin]

maybe your leg is weak since you came from a VW?

[holycow]

Originally Posted by Majin

maybe your leg is weak since you came from a VW?

oh i dunno.. but I would be willing to wager quite a bit that the 4 days i spend on the soccer field, every week, would yield me stronger legs than you, my friend

[Majin]

Originally Posted by holycow

oh i dunno.. but I would be willing to wager quite a bit that the 4 days i spend on the soccer field, every week, would yield me stronger legs than you, my friend

not likely. weight training, hockey and soccer legs are better than just soccer legs.

maybe you just need to build them up a little bit.

[holycow]

Originally Posted by Majin

not likely. weight training, hockey and soccer legs are better than just soccer legs.

maybe you just need to build them up a little bit.

OK let me step it up... soccer, a drummer of 20 years, AND weight training here....

So.. anybody have any actual input in relation to my question?

[xnthuzst]

As far as "breaking" goes, the STi's are quite reliable. In terms of "braking," I find the brakes modulate very well and aren't a light switch like a lot of cars. I'd think this would be a plus... of course, my last car was a Chevy truck with the mushiest brakes ever. Maybe I'm just biased.

[xnthuzst]

Maybe you're right though... a lot of people do end up replacing the brake lines

[Majin]

Originally Posted by holycow

OK let me step it up... soccer, a drummer of 20 years, AND weight training here....

So.. anybody have any actual input in relation to my question?

weaksauce. drumming for 20 years, you got me there - i've only been that for 8 years. you haven't stepped anything up unless you play toe up instead of heel up, then you'd have nice shin splints.

what year R32? what year STi?

comparing the 2004 for each model, the STi is about 7 lbs. heavier than the R32 (3,263 lbs versus 3,256 lbs) and needs 4 feet more than the R32 to stop from 60 - 0 (110 feet for the R32 versus 114 feet for the STi). doesn't sound like much, but it's something that is very noticeable in the car. tires make a big difference in stopping power, but if you are on the RE070s, then maybe you should upgrade your rotors and pads once those have worn out (they wear fast).

[ESmooth]

The STi calipers are quite stiff and there is a large master cylinder so you will generally have to apply more pressure to actuate the brakes due to the lack of compliance in the system. A system with a smaller master cylinder and larger caliper pistons (like your R32) will generally have a softer pedal with more gain that will tend to make them feel bitier but more difficult to modulate. If you havent done so, a thorough bed in procedure can help to up the bite in the system and improve overall performance. Our recommeded procedure is avialable on our website here:

https://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_bedinstock.shtml

[holycow]

Originally Posted by Majin

weaksauce. drumming for 20 years, you got me there - i've only been that for 8 years. you haven't stepped anything up unless you play toe up instead of heel up, then you'd have nice shin splints.

I play toe up AND heal up, depending on what I am doing. Toe up doesn't give shin splints at all... only powerful shin muscles. I DO get shin splits from soccer if I use boots with too much traction.

Originally Posted by Majin

what year R32? what year STi?

R32s were only available one year, 04. My STI is a week old

[holycow]

Originally Posted by ESmooth

The STi calipers are quite stiff and there is a large master cylinder so you will generally have to apply more pressure to actuate the brakes due to the lack of compliance in the system. A system with a smaller master cylinder and larger caliper pistons (like your R32) will generally have a softer pedal with more gain that will tend to make them feel bitier but more difficult to modulate.

I think that is it right there... They don't feel like they have less stopping power... it just feels like my foot has to do more of the braking, where as the R32 it felt like the "power" side of the power brakes was doing more work.

I can see how the brake setup in the STI would be easier to modulate and control.

Originally Posted by ESmooth

If you havent done so, a thorough bed in procedure can help to up the bite in the system and improve overall performance. Our recommeded procedure is avialable on our website here:

https://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_bedinstock.shtml

Is that really necessary for factory / street pads?

Thanks for the fantastic explinations....

[ESmooth]

A thorough bed in procedure is most important for street perormance pads to keep them at their best performance and lowest bite. Its also the best way to keep uneven pad deposits from developing later on which are most commonly (and incorrectly) attributed to "warped rotors".