Our Top Recommended Big Brake Upgrade Kits For Your Caterham
Most brake upgrades in this series start with a wheel size question. On a Caterham Seven, that question is almost irrelevant. The compact race calipers HiSpec make for the Seven are designed to put a bigger disc behind a smaller wheel: the car runs 13 or 15 inch wheels, and the kits here go from 232mm at the entry end to 270mm with a two-piece floating disc at the top. The disc size question on a Caterham is about thermal capacity, not wheel clearance.
The question that matters first is your upright. Caterham has been building the Seven since 1973 across several different chassis and front upright configurations, and HiSpec build every kit to fit the specific mounting geometry. Send Cameron the build details before you order and he will confirm the right kit. The full Caterham range is on the site, and the category page carries the full fitment checklist.
- All five kits use compact race calipers (Ultralite 2, Ultralite 4 or RS114-4) designed for lightweight circuit cars
- No Tarox coverage for the Caterham: every kit here is HiSpec Motorsport
- Disc sizes run from 232mm to 270mm, all designed for small wheels
- Three of the five kits include EBC pads, braided hoses and DOT 5.1 fluid in the price; the two HISC- format kits price those separately
What is on this page
- The caliper families
- Disc size: thermal capacity, not wheel clearance
- 232mm Ultralite 2: the entry two-pot
- 232mm Ultralite 4: four pistons on the smaller disc
- 260mm/10mm Ultralite 4 (HISC-042)
- 260mm/20mm Ultralite 4: more thermal mass
- 270mm RS114-4 2P: the radial mount step-up
- What is in each box
- Every kit compared
- Common questions
- What we would actually fit
The caliper families
Three caliper families cover the Caterham range: the Ultralite 2, the Ultralite 4, and the RS114-4. All are compact race designs built for very light cars and small wheels, and they work differently from the road calipers you see on the heavier cars in this series.
Ultralite 2 and Ultralite 4
An ultra-narrow, lightweight design: the Ultralite 4 weighs under 800g and uses flex technology where the mounting bolts reinforce the caliper body for a firm, balanced pedal. The Ultralite 2 runs two pistons; the Ultralite 4 runs four. Both mount axially and use a solid one-piece disc. Built in 6082 T6 billet aluminium with high-temperature EPDM seals.
RS114-4
A radial mount four-piston caliper built for 13 to 15 inch wheels. Billet body with billet pistons, stainless inserts, high-temperature EPDM seals and stainless wear plates. It pairs with HiSpec's 270mm two-piece floating disc, the largest and heaviest disc in the Caterham range. Built in 6082 T6 aluminium, made to order in Dartford.
Disc size: thermal capacity, not wheel clearance
On most cars in this series, the disc size determines the smallest wheel the kit will clear. On a Caterham it works the other way round: the compact race calipers are designed to fit a bigger disc behind a smaller wheel. A 232mm disc runs behind a 13 inch wheel. So does the 270mm RS114-4 kit. The disc size question on a Seven is about how much heat the disc can absorb and reject on circuit, not about what wheels you need.
Thicker discs store and shed more heat. The two 260mm options on this page illustrate the point: 10mm and 20mm thick versions of the same caliper at the same diameter. Sprint or hillclimb use in short bursts suits the thinner disc well. Hard circuit driving with repeated braking zones is where the extra thermal mass in the 20mm disc earns its money. Cameron can help place your use case in the right part of the range if you are not sure which fits the build.
| Kit | Disc diameter | Disc thickness | Disc type | Caliper | Min wheel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 232mm Ultralite 2 | 232mm | Not stated | One piece | 2 piston | Ask us |
| 232mm Ultralite 4 | 232mm | 9mm | One piece | 4 piston | Ask us |
| 260mm/10mm Ultralite 4 | 260mm | 10mm | One piece | 4 piston | Ask us |
| 260mm/20mm Ultralite 4 | 260mm | 20mm | One piece | 4 piston | Ask us |
| 270mm RS114-4 2P | 270mm | 24mm | Two piece floating | 4 piston radial | Ask us |
HiSpec 232mm Ultralite 2: the entry two-pot
The entry kit in the Caterham range: a two-piston caliper, a 232mm solid disc, and the full bundle in the box. EBC Standard Road pads, braided hoses and DOT 5.1 fluid are all included at £528.00 inc VAT. It is the lightest caliper on this page. The Ultralite 2 is a purpose-built compact race design, not a road caliper scaled down, and it weighs under 800g.
For a road-registered Seven or a car used at sprints and hillclimbs where the braking zones are short and the car seldom runs hot, this is an honest, properly specced conversion at a price that makes sense. Garreth’s view: the two-pot is right for the car that uses its brakes moderately hard but not all day. If the car goes circuit racing regularly, the four-pot options lower on this page earn their money.
- £528.00 inc VAT, pads, hoses and fluid included
- 232mm solid disc
- 2-piston Ultralite 2 compact race caliper, under 800g
- EBC Standard Road pads, braided hoses and DOT 5.1 fluid in the box
- Made to order in up to 28 working days, five caliper colours
HiSpec 232mm Ultralite 4: four pistons on the smaller disc
Four pistons on the same 232mm disc, still with the full bundle in the box. The Ultralite 4 uses flex technology: the mounting bolts reinforce the caliper body under load for a firmer, more consistent pedal than a conventional four-pot at the same weight. At £625.48 inc VAT it includes EBC pads, braided hoses and DOT 5.1 fluid. The caliper weighs under 800g and mounts axially, like the two-pot.
One pricing note worth reading before you get to the next section: the HISC-042 kit below uses the same Ultralite 4 caliper with a larger 260mm disc and lists at £566.40 inc VAT, which is £59.08 less than this kit in headline terms. HISC-042 does not include pads or hoses; once consumables are added the comparison equalises and this bundle can work out better value depending on pad choice. Both options are here so you can compare the finished build cost.
- £625.48 inc VAT, pads, hoses and fluid included
- 232mm solid disc, 9mm thick
- 4-piston Ultralite 4 compact race caliper, under 800g
- Flex technology for firm, consistent pedal feel
- EBC Standard Road pads, braided hoses and DOT 5.1 fluid in the box
HISC-042: 260mm/10mm Ultralite 4 one-piece
The new HISC- format version of the 260mm Ultralite 4, with a single-piece disc 10mm thick. Same caliper as the 232mm Ultralite 4 above, 28mm bigger in diameter. At £566.40 inc VAT it is cheaper than the 232mm Ultralite 4 bundle in headline terms, but pads and hoses are not included on this HISC- format kit and need to be priced separately. Once consumables are added, the two work out at a similar finished cost.
The bigger disc gives more swept area and slightly more thermal capacity than the 232mm options. For a circuit car on a budget, this is probably the pick: Ultralite 4 four-piston caliper, bigger disc, new format with the colour choice at order. Cameron will quote pads and hoses alongside it so you know the finished number before anything is built.
- £566.40 inc VAT, pads and hoses priced separately
- 260mm solid disc, 10mm thick
- 4-piston Ultralite 4 compact race caliper, under 800g
- Mounting brackets, calipers, disc and hardware in the box
- Made to order in up to 28 working days, five caliper colours
HiSpec 260mm/20mm Ultralite 4: twice the disc thickness
The same Ultralite 4 four-piston caliper paired with a 260mm disc that is 20mm thick, double the 10mm of the HISC-042 above. More disc mass absorbs and sheds more heat before fade sets in, which matters on a circuit car that brakes hard at the end of a long straight multiple times a session. At £708.96 inc VAT the full bundle is in the box: EBC pads, braided hoses and DOT 5.1 fluid.
This is Cameron’s usual recommendation for a Seven doing regular circuit days. The extra 10mm of disc thickness costs about £140 over the HISC-042 once consumables are accounted for, and for a car that is genuinely hard on brakes it is money well spent. If the car is primarily sprint or road use, the thinner disc is probably enough.
- £708.96 inc VAT, pads, hoses and fluid included
- 260mm solid disc, 20mm thick
- 4-piston Ultralite 4 compact race caliper, under 800g
- Double the disc thickness of the 10mm option for more thermal capacity
- EBC Standard Road pads, braided hoses and DOT 5.1 fluid in the box
HISC-043: 270mm RS114-4 two-piece floating disc
The top of the Caterham range: a radial mount four-piston caliper, a 270mm two-piece floating disc 24mm thick, and a different mounting geometry from the Ultralite family. The RS114-4 mounts radially to the upright; the Ultralite calipers mount axially. HiSpec describe it as a compact race caliper for 13 to 15 inch wheels. At £1,186.13 inc VAT it is more than double the entry kit, and pads and hoses are priced separately on this HISC- format listing.
The two-piece floating disc is the other key difference from the kits above: the aluminium bell runs separately from the iron ring, so the ring can expand under heat without distorting the mounting bell or wearing the pads unevenly. For a car doing full circuit sessions regularly or preparing for sprints and hillclimbs at a competitive level, this is where the range finishes. Cameron will confirm the mounting geometry against your specific upright before it goes to build.
- £1,186.13 inc VAT, pads and hoses priced separately
- 270mm two-piece floating disc, 24mm thick
- RS114-4 radial mount 4-piston caliper, for 13 to 15 inch wheels
- Billet body, billet pistons, stainless inserts and wear plates
- Made to order in up to 28 working days, five caliper colours
What is actually in each box
The box contents split along format lines. The three older-format kits in this guide (232mm Ultralite 2, 232mm Ultralite 4, 260mm/20mm Ultralite 4) include EBC Standard Road pads, braided hoses and DOT 5.1 fluid in the price. The two new HISC- format kits (HISC-042 and HISC-043) price pads and hoses separately, so you choose the compound. For the finished build cost, add pads and hoses to the HISC- headline prices before comparing across the table.
All five kits include the calipers, discs, mounting bells, vehicle-specific brackets and fitting hardware. The only items that split are consumables.
| In the box | Old format (984, 983, 994) | HISC- format (9649, 9651) |
|---|---|---|
| Calipers | Ultralite 2 or Ultralite 4, billet aluminium, Dartford | Ultralite 4 or RS114-4, billet aluminium, Dartford |
| Discs | Solid one-piece | One-piece (HISC-042) or two-piece floating (HISC-043) |
| Mounting bells | Included | Included |
| Vehicle-specific brackets and hardware | Included | Included |
| EBC Standard Road pads | Included | Priced separately |
| Braided hoses | Included | Priced separately |
| DOT 5.1 fluid | Included | Not in box |
| Caliper colour | Black, red, blue, gold or silver | Black, red, blue, gold or silver |
| Lead time | Up to 28 working days | Up to 28 working days |
Every kit on this page compared
| Kit | Disc | Thickness | Caliper | Disc type | Pads/hoses | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 232mm Ultralite 2 | 232mm | Not stated | 2 piston axial | Solid | Included | £528.00 |
| HISC-042 260mm Ultralite 4 10mm | 260mm | 10mm | 4 piston axial | Solid | Extra | £566.40 |
| 232mm Ultralite 4 | 232mm | 9mm | 4 piston axial | Solid | Included | £625.48 |
| 260mm Ultralite 4 20mm | 260mm | 20mm | 4 piston axial | Solid | Included | £708.96 |
| HISC-043 270mm RS114-4 2P | 270mm | 24mm | 4 piston radial | Two piece floating | Extra | £1,186.13 |
Prices include VAT and were correct on 17 September 2026. Minimum wheel sizes are not published in the series wheel-size reference for these compact race disc sizes; Cameron checks every Caterham build. Note: HISC-042 lists at £566.40 without consumables; the 232mm Ultralite 4 at £625.48 includes pads, hoses and fluid. Add consumables to HISC-042 before comparing finished build cost.
Common questions
How do I know which kit fits my upright?
HiSpec build every Caterham kit for the specific mounting geometry. Before ordering, send Cameron the build details: chassis year, front upright type, any previous brake work and clear photographs of the hub and upright. The category page on the site carries the full fitment checklist. If there is any doubt, we would rather take the time to confirm than have a kit arrive that does not bolt up.
What wheel sizes do these kits need?
The RS114-4 kit is described in the listing as being for 13 to 15 inch wheels. For the Ultralite 2 and Ultralite 4 kits, the compact race caliper design is built for similar wheel sizes. We do not publish a confirmed minimum for the 232mm and 260mm disc sizes on the Caterham without checking the specific wheel and spoke profile first. Cameron does this as part of every Caterham order. Give him the wheel size and spoke dimensions when you enquire and he will confirm whether the caliper clears.
What is the difference between the 10mm and 20mm disc?
Both use the same Ultralite 4 four-piston caliper with a 260mm disc. The 20mm disc has double the material between the disc faces, which means it stores more heat before the surface temperature rises and holds it longer between braking zones. For sprints and short circuit sessions the 10mm disc usually does the job. For a car doing a full day on circuit with repeated hard braking, the extra thermal mass in the 20mm disc keeps fade at bay longer. The difference in finished build cost is about £140 once pads and hoses are added to the HISC-042 price.
What is the difference between the Ultralite and RS114-4 calipers?
The Ultralite 2 and 4 mount axially: the caliper sits parallel to the disc face and clamps from both sides. The RS114-4 is a radial mount design, which means it bolts at right angles to the disc face. Radial mounting gives a stiffer connection to the upright under hard use. The RS114-4 also pairs with a two-piece floating disc, where the iron ring and aluminium bell run as separate components so the ring can expand under heat without distorting the bell or affecting pad wear. It is the more track-focused option of the two caliper families.
Are these kits road-legal?
HiSpec make these as road-use kits. Whether the specific installation on your Caterham passes an SVA or IVA check, or a track day noise and safety inspection, depends on the car and the use. If the car is registered for road use or is going through scrutineering, tell Cameron when you enquire and he will confirm the relevant spec details with HiSpec before you commit. Ring us on 0115 9893488 with the build details.
What we would actually fit
For a road-registered Seven or a car used at occasional sprints, the 232mm Ultralite 2 is the honest answer: it is the lightest caliper, it includes everything in the box, and at £528.00 inc VAT it does the job without overspeccing the car. If the car does track days and you want four pistons rather than two, the 260mm/10mm HISC-042 at £566.40 plus consumables is Garreth’s recommendation: bigger disc, same caliper family, new format.
For a Seven that is circuit racing regularly or running sprint events hard, Cameron puts the 260mm/20mm Ultralite 4 in front of most customers: the thicker disc, the full bundle in the box, and a caliper designed for exactly this kind of use. The RS114-4 270mm two-piece at the top of the range is the answer for a dedicated competition car or a car that is genuinely at the limit of what a single-piece disc can handle.
Whatever you are looking at, ring us on 0115 9893488 with the upright spec and what the car does at weekends. Working out bracket fitment against the specific Caterham build is Cameron’s corner of the business, and getting that right first saves the car sitting in the garage waiting for parts. Have the build details to hand and we will go from there.