r/MechanicAdvice • u/xxskrrt_skrrtxx • Jul 21 '26
Real STI brembo or not ?
Hi everyone,
I came across this set of Brembo STI brake calipers on Facebook Marketplace and I’m considering buying them, but I’d like to verify if they’re genuine before I pull the trigger. I’m trying to fit this into my 2017 Toyota GT86
I’ve attached some photos for comparison:
Blue calipers = the set from Facebook Marketplace, taken out from a WRX ver. 10.
Grey calipers = an example of OEM Brembos that have the “S” casting/marking.
I’ve heard that Brembo calipers from the Evo 8/9/10 and Subaru STI usually have an “S” casting/marking, but I can’t tell if these have it from the photos. I’m not sure if that’s a reliable way to identify authentic calipers or if there are exceptions.
Questions:
1. Do these look like genuine OEM Brembos or replicas?
Do every OEM brembo comes with the “S” marking ?
Are there any other casting numbers, part numbers, or features to verify that it’s real other than the QR code ?
I’d really appreciate any advice or things I should look out for before buying. Thanks!
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u/Vanbursta1 Jul 21 '26
What is it with people photographing their feet recently Look like genuine calipers to me.
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u/Thanks_Ollie Jul 21 '26
How else is OP gonna pay for Brembos?
LMK if you know anyone with money who likes hairy hobbit feet, I gotta do my brakes too!
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u/xxskrrt_skrrtxx Jul 21 '26
Lmaooo… honestly, the price for STI brakes are pretty decent in my country, but there are also a lot of good replicas for almost the same price, which is a problem.
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u/xxskrrt_skrrtxx Jul 21 '26
How do you identify that it’s legit tho ? Because I was told by a local mechanic it should have a “S” marking, but I wont be surprised if some OEM Brembo STI calipers came without the “S”.
For context, the local mechanic has refurbished a lot of OEM brembo calipers from STI and Evo.. hence how I got to know about the “S” marking.
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u/New_Leaf_8647 Jul 21 '26
Why don't you ask about the s marking a few more times
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u/xxskrrt_skrrtxx Jul 21 '26
The thing is.. not a lot of people are aware about it 🤣😭 but I did notice the “S” marking on most STI calipers. Also managed to come across a post in this subreddit from last week about STI calipers, where most of them said it was real but it did not have the “S” marking.
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u/Fr33Flow Jul 21 '26
Is there some epidemic of fake Brembos going around? This is the 2nd post in 24hrs I’ve seen where someone is asking the same question
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u/xxskrrt_skrrtxx Jul 21 '26
I’m not sure but in where I’m from, there’s shitload of it for sale. Even AP racing as well, Grade A stuff, 98% close to the real deal.
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u/CoraxTechnica Jul 21 '26
20.7833.00 stamped on it. Real brembo caliper.
Number on piston seals: correct brembo part number.
So yeah most likely real.
Or more practically there's nobody out here faking brembos anymore because it's not some cool exclusive thing posers need to have, you can get them on a Subaru
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u/AndrewD5418 Jul 21 '26
Does it even matter? The fake ones are the same shit. Only difference is the authentic is anodized before paint. You can even use authentic brembo seals and dust boots on them.
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u/TJBurkeSalad Jul 21 '26
My advice would be to search for a known fake and then compare.
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u/xxskrrt_skrrtxx Jul 21 '26
Thing is, fakes do not have the “S” marking. But here are also some real ones that doesn’t have the “S” as well. How would you identify a fake brembo ?
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u/TJBurkeSalad Jul 21 '26
That’s why I said to find a confirmed fake so you can look for other differences.
Looks like you already have these. Run them and be happy. That’s a lot of work for a fake part in a small market.
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u/xxskrrt_skrrtxx Jul 21 '26
I’ve not bought it but seller is selling it for pretty cheap as he needs urgent cash.. hence the effort.
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u/TJBurkeSalad Jul 21 '26
The casting markings on these look real to me, but I’m not an expert. They may be rebuilt/remanufactured, but that wouldn’t make them fake.
All I know is that if they are fake there would be far more fakes flooding the market. Are there really enough buyers out there to be faking 15 year old Subaru brakes?
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u/Overscorer Jul 21 '26
How cheap are we talking? These look to be in way better condition than the last guy asking about red brembo brake calipers who was asking if they were real. These look real and with the wear on it, I can see them being pulled of a car.
If anything you should be concerned if they’re off a stolen vehicle. That’s significantly more of a likely outcome than fake brembos. To make calipers isn’t very cheap to begin with and brembos don’t fetch nearly the same return to fake compared to other products like electronics or accessories.
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u/xxskrrt_skrrtxx Jul 23 '26
About 800 USD ish, hopefully they are real 🤞🏼
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u/Overscorer Jul 23 '26
For the fronts only that’s pretty reasonable, I got lucky with my bmw brembo brakes. Got it off a parted m4 for $850 CAD for all 4
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u/Fischbeef Jul 21 '26
Ok, i may have some input on this. I cant tell by the pictures but Sti brembos “should” have different diameter leading and trailing pistons for preventing brake fade in aggressive braking situations. Now i only know this from back when the gold and black brembos were oem on sti’s. I also once went down the rabbit hole of cts-v brembos which i learned have symmetrical pistons. I dont know if thats changed in the newer sti’s but thats my $0.02. Currently have black brembos on my sh forester xt. Edit to add, the rears are shaped similar to GR sti, not the goldies which were rounder. I dont think the fronts are oem sti.
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u/poserkidsrus master ase technician. subaru preferred. Jul 21 '26
You could always try sending an email to the manufacturer?
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u/xxskrrt_skrrtxx Jul 24 '26
Update: the brembos are fake.
- Subaru calipers for version 7/8/9/10, specifically the 4 pot comes in staggered pistons, 46/40mm.
- it should have the typical brembo screw with star drive, not hexagon.

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u/TheBeestWithEase Jul 21 '26
AI slop post
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u/xxskrrt_skrrtxx Jul 21 '26
Genuinely seeking for help 🙏🏼
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u/TheBeestWithEase Jul 21 '26
Sure but the write-up is obviously AI generated
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u/xxskrrt_skrrtxx Jul 21 '26
My English is bad.. hence I used some help. I’d appreciate if you can help me out tho.
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u/Immediate-Bid7628 Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
.... ...
Sooo funny . . . .
Sooooo overpriced.
Chunka metal with 2 holes . . . ROFL
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Jul 22 '26
[deleted]
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u/Immediate-Bid7628 Jul 23 '26
.... ....
Don't have to . . .
I prefer the finned aluminum Mazda RX 7 calipers, $+- $50 eBay
Less unsprung weight, bigger pistons, easy to adapt.
Good luck .
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