Our Top Recommended Big Brake Upgrade Kits For Your Nissan Pulsar
Most conversations about the Nissan Pulsar start with one specific car: the N14 GTI-R. From 1990 to 1994 Nissan built a turbocharged all-wheel-drive version of the standard Pulsar hatch to satisfy Group A homologation rules, and the resulting car carries 220-odd brake horsepower on a 15 inch factory wheel. The rest of the N14 range runs on 13 or 14 inch wheels and sits outside what any kit on this page clears. This page is about the GTI-R.
There are two manufacturers to consider. Tarox in northern Italy list one kit that works behind the factory 15 inch wheels, so a GTI-R stays on its original rubber. HiSpec Motorsport in Dartford have five kits ranging from 325mm to 335mm discs, all of which need a 17 inch wheel, so fitting one means planning a wheel upgrade alongside the brakes. The wheel question is the first thing to settle, and the full Pulsar brake range is on the site if you want to browse it first.
- The GTI-R has 220-odd bhp, a turbocharger and four-wheel drive on factory 15 inch wheels. Standard N14 variants run 13 or 14 inch wheels and cannot take any of the kits listed here
- Tarox 285mm: the only big brake kit that clears the factory 15 inch wheel, so no wheel change needed
- All five HiSpec kits need a 17 inch wheel minimum, clearing 325mm or 335mm discs
- On this vehicle, every HiSpec kit includes pads, which is different from the standard HiSpec arrangement on most other cars
Two brands, two approaches
Both companies machine their own calipers from billet aluminium and both build every kit for the specific car it is going on. Where they differ is the detail: how they handle pads, hoses, and lead times, and on the Pulsar that difference is more pronounced than on most cars.
Tarox
Made at the Tarox factory in northern Italy. Calipers are CNC machined from European billet alloy and hand assembled, discs are heat treated and hand balanced to 0.05mm. Every kit arrives complete: braided hoses and Corsa pads are already installed, and Tarox state full compatibility with ABS and ESP. The Pulsar kit is built for the GTI-R and clears the factory 15 inch wheel.
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. On the Pulsar, HiSpec's kits take a different approach to box contents than they do on most vehicles: pads are included in every kit here, and on the Monster range braided hoses are in the box too. Caliper colours run to black, red, blue, gold or silver.
The wheel question
The GTI-R leaves the factory on 15 inch wheels. Only one kit on this page clears them: the Tarox 285mm, which was designed exactly for that application. All five HiSpec kits need a 17 inch wheel, with the table below confirming the minimum for each. If you are planning HiSpec, the wheel upgrade is part of the budget alongside the brake kit.
| Kit | Disc | Smallest wheel |
|---|---|---|
| Tarox 285mm Sport (GTI-R) | 285mm | 15 inch |
| HiSpec 325mm Billet 4 | 325mm | 17 inch |
| HiSpec 325mm Monster 4 | 325mm | 17 inch |
| HiSpec 325mm Monster 6 | 325mm | 17 inch |
| HiSpec 335mm Monster 4 | 335mm | 17 inch |
| HiSpec 335mm Monster 6 | 335mm | 17 inch |
Tarox 285mm Sport: on factory wheels, complete
The Tarox kit is the natural starting point for a GTI-R that is staying on its original 15 inch wheels. Tarox list it specifically for the Pulsar GTI-R and it is the only kit here that clears the factory wheel size, so there is nothing else to change on the car before it fits. The kit uses a 285mm two piece floating disc with a billet caliper that Tarox assemble by hand at the factory in Italy, and everything needed to fit it arrives in the box: caliper, disc, bells, brackets, braided hoses and Corsa pads already installed. The only choice is the caliper colour and disc face.
- £1,889.57 inc VAT, complete
- Clears the factory 15 inch wheel, no wheel upgrade needed
- 285mm two piece floating disc, heat treated and balanced to 0.05mm
- Billet caliper, hand assembled in Italy
- Corsa pads and braided hoses included and fitted
- Full ABS and ESP compatibility confirmed by Tarox
HiSpec 325mm Billet 4: the entry point on 17s
Once the Pulsar is on 17 inch wheels, the HiSpec options open up. The Billet 4 is HiSpec’s most popular caliper design, a four piston unit with external boots protecting the seals from road grime, and at 325mm the disc is a significant step over the standard hardware. On this vehicle, pads are included in the kit, which is different from the standard HiSpec arrangement where pads are priced separately. Braided hoses are still priced separately, so factor those into the budget alongside the kit. Made to order in Dartford, five caliper colours.
- £1,470.00 inc VAT
- Needs 17 inch wheels
- 325mm two piece floating disc
- Four piston Billet 4 caliper, external boots
- Pads included in this kit (hoses priced separately)
- Made to order in up to 28 working days
HiSpec 325mm Monster 4 and Monster 6: complete at 325mm
The Monster caliper runs larger pistons than the Billet 4 for more clamp, with high temperature seals and stainless steel wear plates for track use. On the Pulsar, both Monster kits at 325mm include pads and braided hoses, so the price is the finished build. The Monster 4 is right for most GTI-Rs; the six pot is there for cars doing regular track evenings or carrying power upgrades. Both use the same 325mm disc and need the same 17 inch minimum wheel.
- Monster 4 at £1,596.00, Monster 6 at £1,683.00, both inc VAT
- Both need 17 inch wheels
- 325mm two piece floating disc
- High temperature seals and stainless steel wear plates
- Pads and braided hoses included in both kits
- Made to order in up to 28 working days
HiSpec 335mm Monster 4 and Monster 6: the top of the HiSpec range
The 335mm kits add 10mm of disc over the 325mm Monsters, same caliper architecture, same 17 inch minimum wheel. For a GTI-R being used hard on track, or for a car that has had engine work done and is genuinely pushing the standard front axle, this is where to look. Both include pads and braided hoses. The Monster 6 here is for the driver who is genuinely brake-limited at the end of a long straight; the Monster 4 does the job for everything else.
- Monster 4 at £1,650.00, Monster 6 at £1,773.00, both inc VAT
- Both need 17 inch wheels
- 335mm two piece floating disc
- High temperature seals and stainless steel wear plates
- Pads and braided hoses included in both kits
- Made to order in up to 28 working days
What is actually in each box
The Pulsar kits differ from what HiSpec typically do on other vehicles. Pads are included in every HiSpec kit listed here, and in all four Monster kits braided hoses are in the box as well. The Billet 4 still prices hoses separately. Tarox arrive complete as always. The table below shows what is in what for each kit.
| Kit | Pads | Braided hoses | Brackets and hardware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tarox 285mm Sport | Included (Corsa) | Included | Included |
| HiSpec 325mm Billet 4 | Included | Priced separately | Included |
| HiSpec 325mm Monster 4 | Included | Included | Included |
| HiSpec 325mm Monster 6 | Included | Included | Included |
| HiSpec 335mm Monster 4 | Included | Included | Included |
| HiSpec 335mm Monster 6 | Included | Included | Included |
Every kit compared
| Kit | Disc | Minimum wheel | Pads and hoses | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarox 285mm Sport (GTI-R) | 285mm | 15 inch | Both included | £1,889.57 |
| HiSpec 325mm Billet 4 | 325mm | 17 inch | Pads incl, hoses extra | £1,470.00 |
| HiSpec 325mm Monster 4 | 325mm | 17 inch | Both included | £1,596.00 |
| HiSpec 325mm Monster 6 | 325mm | 17 inch | Both included | £1,683.00 |
| HiSpec 335mm Monster 4 | 335mm | 17 inch | Both included | £1,650.00 |
| HiSpec 335mm Monster 6 | 335mm | 17 inch | Both included | £1,773.00 |
Prices include VAT and were correct on 28 August 2026. The Billet 4 hoses are the one extra line on the HiSpec side: budget around £80 to £120 depending on spec, and Cameron can add them to the order when you call.
Common questions
Will the Tarox 285mm clear my factory 15 inch wheels?
Yes, Tarox build this kit specifically to clear the GTI-R's standard 15 inch wheels. If you are on aftermarket 15s, give Cameron the make, model and offset of the wheel when you call and we will confirm clearance with Tarox before anything is ordered.
Why do the HiSpec kits need 17 inch wheels when the discs start at 325mm?
HiSpec publish the minimum wheel size for every kit and all five Pulsar listings state 17 inch. A 325mm disc that clears 15 or 16 inch on another vehicle may not clear the Pulsar hub and caliper combination, so the minimum is 17 inch regardless of disc size. If you are planning new wheels, the brake choice and the wheel choice are the same conversation.
Do the HiSpec kits on the Pulsar always include pads?
On this specific vehicle, yes. HiSpec typically price pads separately so you can choose the compound, but on the Pulsar kits pads are included in every kit. In the Monster range, braided hoses are included too. The Billet 4 still prices hoses separately. When you order, tell us how the car is used and we can advise whether the included pad compound suits it or whether it is worth upgrading.
How long before the HiSpec kits arrive?
HiSpec kits are made to order in Dartford; allow up to 28 working days. The Tarox kit is built in Italy and lead times vary through the year, so ask at the time of order and we will give you the current picture.
Can I use these on a standard N14 Pulsar, not the GTI-R?
No. The standard Pulsar runs 13 or 14 inch wheels and there are no kits from either brand listed for those fitments. If you have a standard variant and want to explore what is possible, ring us on 0115 9893488 and Cameron will look at what options exist.
What we would actually fit
The Tarox 285mm is the sensible first move if the car is staying on its factory wheels: it is the only kit here that fits without touching anything else, and everything needed is in the box. For a GTI-R that is being driven properly and the owner is prepared to put 17 inch wheels on it, Garreth’s pick is the 325mm Monster 4. The Billet 4 at 325mm is cheaper but once you add the hoses it closes the gap, and the Monster caliper is better suited to a car with 220 bhp and four-wheel drive doing track evenings. The 335mm Monster 4 is there for a car carrying engine work, and the Monster 6 options at either disc size are for drivers who are genuinely hard on brakes.
If you are deciding between the Tarox kit and committing to a wheel upgrade for HiSpec, that is a conversation worth having on the phone. Ring Cameron on 0115 9893488 with your wheel spec and what the car does at weekends and you will get a straight steer, usually in five minutes.
What is the best big brake kit for a Nissan Pulsar?
This only really applies to the GTI-R, standard N14 Pulsars run smaller wheels and there isn’t a kit that clears them. On a GTI-R running proper 17 inch wheels, Garreth’s pick is the HiSpec 325mm Monster 4, pads and braided hoses both come included.
If you want a kit that fits down to the factory 15 inch wheel, the Tarox 285mm Sport is the option. It’s a six-piston kit with the pads and hoses already installed.