All about Subaru Brake upgrades from Brembo, Alcon, and AP Racing

If you have a WRX or and STI, and you have taken it to the track a few times, or have tuned it up to make more power, you may be at the point where you want or need to upgrade your brakes.

There are a number of common upgrades, such as the Subaru 4-Pot and 2-Pot calipers from the 06-07 WRX, or the STI Brembos.  And ever since the STI got the larger Brembo 6-piston calipers, those are becoming a more common upgrade as well for both WRXs and STIs.

So when would you want to go with a set of OEM Plus calipers, and when would you want to look at a motorsport brake option from AP Racing or Alcon?

We go through all of these options in this video and talk about the pros and cons of each.

Thanks for watching and Stay Tuned!

Summary of Each Brake Option

 

The Subaru 4-Pot & 2-Pot Calipers [01:04]
Origins: Came on the 2006-2007 WRX in the US and early JDM STIs.

Specs: Uses a 300mm front rotor and 290mm rear rotor. They are made of cast iron, making them the heaviest calipers discussed (almost 10.5 lbs).

Best Application: Light street upgrades or rally use. Because they use the stock WRX rotor size, they fit perfectly underneath 15-inch rally wheels, making them the "gold standard" for Subaru rally builds. They are not recommended for heavy track use as they can overheat quickly.

STI Brembos (Gold and Black) [02:50]
Origins: Standard on STIs from 2004 up to 2017. The gold ones were on the GD chassis, while the black ones were on the GR chassis (2008-2014).

Specs: A massive upgrade over standard WRX brakes, stepping up to a 325mm front rotor and 316mm rear rotor. The calipers weigh about 8 lbs.

Best Application: Great for aggressive street driving (like mountain roads) and light-to-moderate track use. They require at least 17-inch wheels for proper clearance.

AP Racing CP8350 [04:25]
Specs: A dedicated motorsport caliper that offers some of the best braking performance you can fit under a 17-inch wheel. It is astonishingly light—weighing only about 4 lbs.

Pad Advantage: It uses 325mm rotors, but the pads are twice as thick as standard Brembo pads, cost about half the price, and last twice as long.

Best Application: Excellent for track use with sticky tires. Because it lacks external dust seals, it requires more frequent cleaning and rebuilding if driven heavily on snowy or dirty streets. (Note: There is also a rally version that fits over a 300mm rotor).

2024 WRX TR 6-Piston Brembos [06:58]
Origins: These are the red OEM+ calipers coming on the 2024 WRX TR, basically identical to the silver/yellow ones found on the 2018-2021 STI Type RA.

Specs: Uses a massive 340mm front rotor and a rear rotor that is nearly as large as the old Brembo front rotors.

Best Application: A highly cost-effective upgrade for the newer VB chassis and fits underneath all 18-inch STI wheels going back to 2008. Ideal for street use and moderate track days. The only downside is a currently limited selection of rear brake pads due to the unique shape.

Roger Clark Alcon Brake Kit [09:24]
Specs: A top-tier, ultra-aggressive motorsport kit used on FlatironsTuning's Pikes Peak car. Features a massive 365mm two-piece front rotor, yet the heavily machined caliper only weighs about 6.1 lbs.

Best Application: Heavy, aggressive track use with high horsepower and aero setups. It manages heat incredibly well lap after lap. Similar to the AP Racing calipers, it takes thicker motorsport pads but lacks dust seals, making it less ideal for daily driving in harsh weather. Requires 18-inch wheels with aggressive caliper clearance.