Our Top Recommended Big Brake Upgrade Kits For Your Ford Focus MK2
Ask which Mk2-shape Focus before anything else. The ST225 and the RS Mk2 share a shell and not a lot else where brakes are concerned. HiSpec now name three of their newest kits directly against that split, and Tarox split their whole MK2 range the same way: one set of listings for the ST225 2.5 Turbo, a separate set for the RS, because the mounting brackets are cut differently for each. Get the model right first and the rest of this page is a straightforward pick. The full MK2 Focus range is on the site if you want to see everything at once.
Those three newest HiSpec kits also show why a disc diameter alone does not tell you everything. All three are built around a 360mm disc with the same Monster 6 caliper, and all three need the same 18 inch wheel. But the ST225 disc is machined 28mm thick, and the RS Mk2 disc is 32mm. Same headline size on the box, a different rotor inside it, because the RS Mk2 carries more weight and more power under braking. Worth knowing before you assume two listings with matching numbers are the same part.
- Every kit on this page converts the front axle for a Mk2-shape Focus: ST225, RS Mk2, or the general MK2 range
- Nothing here clears anything smaller than a 17 inch wheel, the two entry kits already sit right at that mark
- HiSpec's three newest 360mm Monster 6 kits share a caliper, but the RS Mk2 disc is 32mm thick against 28mm on the ST225 kits
- Tarox split their MK2 range the same way as HiSpec: ST225 2.5 Turbo listings and RS listings are separate because the brackets differ
- Tarox kits arrive with Corsa pads and braided hoses fitted; HiSpec price those separately
Two brands, two ways of building a brake kit
Both companies machine their own calipers from billet aluminium and build each kit for the specific car. The difference comes down to two things: what is in the box, and where the work is done.
Tarox
Made at the Tarox factory in northern Italy. Calipers CNC machined from European billet alloy and hand assembled, each one tested before dispatch. Every disc is heat treated, CNC faced and hand balanced to 0.05mm. Sport and Super Sport kits arrive complete with vehicle-specific braided hoses and Corsa pads already fitted. Full ABS and ESP compatibility stated on every MK2 Focus kit.
HiSpec Motorsport
Machined in Dartford from 6082 T6 billet aluminium, calipers and pistons both. Every kit is made to order in up to 28 working days, with the calipers finished in your choice of black, red, blue, gold or silver. Pads and braided hoses are priced separately so you choose the compound for the way the car is used.
One external link worth bookmarking for Tarox: their wheel clearance template is the definitive check for spoke depth once you have the minimum diameter sorted.
The number that decides it: your wheel size
On the Focus MK2 the range runs 17 to 18 inch, nothing smaller. HiSpec publish the wheel size for every kit from their own catalogue. The Tarox figures were looked up individually on tarox.co.uk for each MK2 kit, never assumed from the disc size, because Tarox’s own minimums differ from car to car at the same diameter.
| Kit | Disc | Smallest wheel |
|---|---|---|
| HiSpec 325mm Monster 4 | 325 x 28mm | 17 inch |
| HiSpec 325mm Monster 6 | 325 x 28mm | 17 inch |
| Tarox 312mm Sport | 312 x 26mm | 17 inch |
| Tarox 318mm Sport | 318 x 26mm | 17 inch |
| Tarox 325mm Sport | 325 x 26mm | 17 inch |
| Tarox 330mm Super Sport | 330 x 26mm | 17 inch |
| HiSpec 360mm Monster 4 | 360mm | 18 inch |
| HiSpec 360mm Monster 6 | 360 x 28/32mm | 18 inch |
| HiSpec 360mm Mega Monster | 360mm | 18 inch |
| Tarox 345mm Super Sport | 345 x 26mm | 18 inch |
HiSpec 325mm and 360mm Monster 4: the entry point
The cheapest way onto this page. The Monster 4 caliper has a pad a third longer than the Billet 4, which is where the extra surface grip comes from, and HiSpec build it around discs from 310mm up to 360mm. On the Focus MK2 that gives you two sensible stopping points: 325mm on a 17 inch wheel, or 360mm if the car is already on 18s.
The gap between the two is about £39 inc VAT. If the wheels are already 18 inch, Garreth’s answer is the 360mm every time: more leverage for very little extra outlay. If you are keeping 17s, the 325mm does the job without asking for a wheel change.
- £1,596.00 inc VAT (325mm); £1,635.00 inc VAT (360mm)
- 325mm clears 17 inch wheels; 360mm needs 18 inch
- Monster 4 caliper, pad a third longer than the Billet 4
- Two piece discs, 310mm to 360mm range
- Pads and hoses priced separately; five caliper colours
Tarox 312mm and 318mm Sport: the complete kit at 17 inches
Tarox’s cheapest MK2 kits, and the pair where the whole job lands in one box: six piston caliper, two piece disc balanced to 0.05mm, Corsa pads already in and braided hoses fitted. Both the 312mm and the 318mm clear 17 inch wheels, so the choice between them comes down to budget, not fitment.
Both listings are cut for the ST225 2.5 Turbo specifically. If your MK2 is an RS, Tarox list that separately further down the range, and we will confirm the right one before anything is ordered.
- £2,010.00 inc VAT (312mm); £2,020.00 inc VAT (318mm)
- Both clear 17 inch wheels
- Six piston billet caliper, hand assembled in Italy
- Corsa pads pre-fitted, braided hoses included
- Listed for the ST225 2.5 Turbo; the RS has its own Tarox listings
HiSpec 325mm and 360mm Monster 6: more pedal feel
The Monster 6 uses the same size pad as the Monster 4 but with up to 63% more piston area, which is where the extra bite and pedal feel come from. The 325mm kit clears a 17 inch wheel and sits one step above the Monster 4 at the same disc size. For anyone weighing up four pot against six pot on a road car that gets driven properly, this is usually where the conversation lands.
The 360mm version is HiSpec’s newest listing for the ST225, built around a two piece floating disc and needing an 18 inch wheel. It is one of the three kits behind this guide’s headline point: same 360mm disc and same Monster 6 caliper as the RS Mk2 kit further down the page, but 28mm thick here against 32mm there.
- £1,773.00 inc VAT (325mm); £1,854.34 inc VAT (360mm two piece)
- 325mm clears 17 inch wheels; 360mm needs 18 inch
- Monster 6 caliper, up to 63% more piston area than the Monster 4
- 360mm kit uses a two piece floating disc, 28mm thick, for the ST225
- Pads and hoses priced separately; five caliper colours
Tarox 325mm and 330mm: six piston to eight piston
The 325mm Sport is the biggest of Tarox’s six piston kits for the MK2, one further step up from the two 17 inch kits earlier on this page. The 330mm moves to Tarox’s eight piston caliper, the B34GT. Our own titles for this kit and the two below it say 10pot, a legacy from an older caliper Tarox no longer fit. The current B34GT is an eight piston design and Tarox’s own kit description says so, so that is the figure we are using here.
Both still clear a 17 inch wheel. The 330mm is listed generically for the MK2, not split by ST225 or RS, the only Tarox kit on this page that is not model-specific.
- £2,128.20 inc VAT (325mm, six piston); £2,365.30 inc VAT (330mm, eight piston)
- Both clear 17 inch wheels
- 330mm moves to the eight piston B34GT caliper, our title says 10pot, corrected here
- Corsa pads pre-fitted, braided hoses included on both
- 330mm listed generically for the MK2, not model-specific
Tarox 345mm: the flagship, split by model
The biggest Tarox kit for the MK2 and the only Tarox kit on this page that asks for an 18 inch wheel. Same eight piston B34GT caliper as the 330mm above (again titled 10pot on our system, again worth correcting here), on a bigger 345mm disc. Corsa pads fitted at the factory, braided hoses in the box.
Listed twice at the same price: once for the ST225 2.5 Turbo, once for the RS. Order by the model you actually have, and if you are unsure, ring us before it goes to build.
- £2,465.00 inc VAT, same price for either listing
- Clears 18 inch wheels, the only Tarox kit here that needs the bigger wheel
- Eight piston B34GT caliper, our title says 10pot, corrected here
- Corsa pads pre-fitted, braided hoses included
- Listed separately for ST225 2.5 Turbo and RS; order by model
More options at 18 inches
If the car is already sitting on 18s, three more kits are worth knowing about. HiSpec’s newest 360mm Monster 6 build is listed three times: our ST225 kit above at 28mm thick, HiSpec’s RS3 listing badged for the Mk3 Focus RS at the same 28mm, and the RS Mk2 version at 32mm thick. All three price within a few pence of each other and need the same 18 inch wheel. If you are not sure which of the two 28mm listings matches your car, ring us before ordering and we will confirm it against the spec, not just the product name. Then there is the Mega Monster: HiSpec’s biggest caliper, built for discs from 335mm up to 400mm with a pad 70% bigger than the Monster kits, and the most expensive kit on this page.
What is actually in each box
The headline prices sit further apart than the finished builds do once you spec them level. Add pads and braided hoses to the HiSpec side and the gap with the Tarox kits narrows. Compare finished builds, not the headline numbers.
| In the box | HiSpec | Tarox |
|---|---|---|
| Calipers | Monster 4, Monster 6 or Mega Monster, 6082 T6 billet aluminium | Sport 6pot or Super Sport 8pot (B34GT), billet alloy, hand assembled in Italy |
| Discs | Two piece floating, with mounting bells | Two piece floating, balanced to 0.05mm |
| Brackets and hardware | Included | Included |
| Braided hoses | Priced separately | Included |
| Pads | Priced separately, your choice of compound | Corsa pads, fitted |
| Caliper finish | Black, red, blue, gold or silver | Black, red, blue, green or gold anodised |
| Built in | Dartford, UK, up to 28 working days | Northern Italy |
Every kit on this page compared
| Kit | Disc | Caliper | Smallest wheel | Pads and hoses | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HiSpec 325mm Monster 4 | 325mm | 4 piston | 17in | Extra | £1,596.00 |
| HiSpec 325mm Monster 6 | 325mm | 6 piston | 17in | Extra | £1,773.00 |
| Tarox 312mm Sport | 312mm | 6 piston | 17in | Included | £2,010.00 |
| Tarox 318mm Sport | 318mm | 6 piston | 17in | Included | £2,020.00 |
| Tarox 325mm Sport | 325mm | 6 piston | 17in | Included | £2,128.20 |
| Tarox 330mm Super Sport | 330mm | 8 piston | 17in | Included | £2,365.30 |
| HiSpec 360mm Monster 4 | 360mm | 4 piston | 18in | Extra | £1,635.00 |
| HiSpec 360/32mm Monster 6 (RS Mk2) | 360mm | 6 piston | 18in | Extra | £1,854.30 |
| HiSpec 360/28mm Monster 6 | 360mm | 6 piston | 18in | Extra | £1,854.30 |
| HiSpec 360/28mm Monster 6 2P (ST225) | 360mm | 6 piston | 18in | Extra | £1,854.34 |
| HiSpec 360mm Mega Monster | 360mm | 6 piston | 18in | Extra | £2,196.85 |
| Tarox 345mm Super Sport (ST225) | 345mm | 8 piston | 18in | Included | £2,465.00 |
| Tarox 345mm Super Sport (RS) | 345mm | 8 piston | 18in | Included | £2,465.00 |
Prices include VAT and were correct on 16 August 2026. Tarox piston counts are taken from their own kit descriptions, not our product titles, which still say 10pot on the three biggest kits here.
Common questions
Which Ford Focus MK2 does this page cover?
Mostly the ST225, the Mk2 Focus's hot hatch. HiSpec's newest kits and most of the Tarox range are listed against the ST225 2.5 Turbo specifically. The RS Mk2 gets its own listings on both brands, and Tarox also have one 330mm kit listed generically for the MK2, not tied to either model. Tell us which one you have and we will point you at the right listing.
Why does the RS Mk2 disc have a different thickness to the ST225 kit at the same 360mm size?
HiSpec's three newest kits all use a 360mm disc and the same Monster 6 caliper, but the RS Mk2 version is machined 32mm thick against 28mm on the ST225 kits. The RS Mk2 carries more weight and more power, so the thicker disc gives it more mass to soak up heat under harder, more frequent braking. Same headline diameter, genuinely different part.
What is the difference between the Sport and Super Sport Tarox kits?
Caliper and piston count. The Sport kits use a six piston caliper and cover the 312mm to 325mm discs. The Super Sport kits step up to Tarox's eight piston B34GT caliper on the 330mm and 345mm discs. Our own titles for those two sizes say 10pot, a name held over from an older caliper. The B34GT that actually ships today is eight piston, and that is the figure Tarox's own kit description gives, so it is the one we use in this guide.
Why are pads and hoses extra on the HiSpec kits?
HiSpec price their kits without pads or hoses so you choose the compound. A street pad and a track pad are very different things, and the right choice depends on how and where the car is used. Both pads and braided hoses can be added when you order, and we will put the finished build price together so you are comparing like for like against the Tarox kits. The headline gap between brands narrows once everything is in the box.
Will these kits work with ABS and ESP on the Focus MK2?
Tarox state full ABS and ESP compatibility on every MK2 kit. For HiSpec, the fitment is to the front hub and does not touch the ABS sensor or reluctor ring, so compatibility on a standard MK2 should be fine. If your car has had any non-standard ABS modifications, tell us when you order and we will check with HiSpec before the kit goes to build.
What we would actually fit
On a 17 inch ST225 kept for the road, the HiSpec 325mm Monster 6 is where Garreth’s money goes: a real step up in pedal feel over the Monster 4 for not much more outlay. If the car is already on 18s, the 360mm Monster 6 at £1,854.34 is the one we would point most people at. It is the newest listing and the two piece disc handles heat cycles better over time.
For a car doing proper track use, or an RS Mk2 that already runs the thicker disc from the factory, the Tarox 330mm Super Sport is Cameron’s usual answer: eight piston caliper, the whole box in one delivery, still on a 17 inch wheel. Want the biggest kit Tarox build for the MK2? The 345mm is it, and it is split by model, so order the ST225 or RS listing to match your car.
Call 0115 9893488 and tell us the model, what wheels are on it now and what the car is used for. Settling ST225 against RS takes seconds once we know which you have, and if the wheels are a question mark Cameron will run the spoke clearance check with you on the same call.