Our Top Recommended Big Brake Upgrade Kits For Your Ford Escort MK4
Browse the Ford Escort MK4 section on this site and you will find six HiSpec kits. There are seven. One of them sits on the Mk3 page as well, because the Mk3 and the Mk4 share the same front hub: HiSpec list the 325mm Billet 4 against both generations, and if you only follow the MK4 product category, that kit does not appear. The Escort MK4 ran from 1986 to 1990. The XR3i and RS Turbo came at the performance end of that range, and the standard sliding calipers were a compromise at the kind of speeds those cars were capable of.
Seven kits, all HiSpec. Tarox list no kit for the Ford Escort MK4. The range opens at £1,254.00 inc VAT for the 285mm Billet 4 on 15 inch wheels and runs to £1,863.00 for the 360mm Monster 6 on 18s. One pricing note to read before the picks: the 360mm Monster 4 at £1,635.00 lists below the 335mm Monster 4 at £1,650.00, despite the larger disc and the 18 inch wheel requirement. That is a data anomaly in the HiSpec catalogue; the compare table flags it. The full Escort MK4 range is on the site if you want the complete listing.
- Seven HiSpec kits available; Tarox make no kit for the Ford Escort MK4
- £1,254 to £1,863 inc VAT; 15 to 18 inch minimum wheels depending on kit
- All Billet 4 kits include EBC Standard Road pads and DOT 5.1 fluid; braided hoses are optional
- Monster 4 and Monster 6 kits include EBC Redstuff pads, DOT 5.1 fluid and braided hoses
- HiSpec are made to order in Dartford; allow up to 28 working days from confirmed order
The HiSpec range for the Ford Escort MK4
HiSpec is the only brand in the Escort MK4 catalogue. Tarox list no kit for this car, so there is no two-brand comparison to work through.
HiSpec are made to order at their facility in Dartford. Calipers are machined from billet aluminium alloy. Lead time is up to 28 working days from confirmed order. Caliper colours across all seven kits are black, red, blue, gold and silver. The HiSpec Motorsport site carries their full catalogue.
Box contents on this car run opposite to the standard rule for this series. On many cars in this guide programme, HiSpec Billet 4 kits exclude pads. On the Escort MK4, all three Billet 4 kits include EBC Standard Road pads and DOT 5.1 fluid. Braided hoses are optional on Billet 4. Monster kits include EBC Redstuff pads, DOT 5.1 and braided hoses as standard. The box table below lists it all per kit.
Billet 4 range
Four-piston caliper covering 285mm to 325mm. Three kits, three disc sizes, three minimum wheel sizes: 15, 16 and 17 inch respectively. The 285mm uses a single-piece disc; 300mm and 325mm use two-piece floating discs. All three include EBC Standard Road pads and fluid; hoses are optional. The 325mm is listed for both Mk3 and Mk4 because of the shared front hub.
Monster range
Monster 4 and Monster 6 calipers at 335mm and 360mm. Larger caliper body, four or six pistons depending on which you choose. The 335mm clears 17 inch wheels; the 360mm needs 18s. EBC Redstuff pads, DOT 5.1 fluid and braided hoses are all included in every Monster kit.
Minimum wheel sizes
Each kit has a minimum wheel diameter fixed by the disc and caliper geometry. It does not change between cars. The 285mm Billet 4 is the only kit on this page that clears 15 inch wheels. If the Escort is on factory 13 or 14 inch steels, no kit in this range will fit behind them, so confirm wheel size before ordering.
Diameter is only part of the answer. A wheel at the right diameter can still foul a caliper at the spokes if the spoke profile is shallow. Cameron handles the clearance checks on wheel fitment. Give him the make and model of the wheels, not just the size, and he will confirm clearance before the kit goes to HiSpec. Tarox also publish a clearance template that applies equally to HiSpec caliper dimensions.
| Kit | Disc | Minimum wheel |
|---|---|---|
| 285mm Billet 4 (1-piece) | 285mm | 15 inch |
| 300mm Billet 4 (2-piece) | 300mm | 16 inch |
| 325mm Billet 4 Mk3-Mk4 (2-piece) | 325mm | 17 inch |
| 335mm Monster 4 | 335mm | 17 inch |
| 335mm Monster 6 | 335mm | 17 inch |
| 360mm Monster 4 | 360mm | 18 inch |
| 360mm Monster 6 | 360mm | 18 inch |
285mm Billet 4: entry kit on 15 inch wheels
At £1,254.00 inc VAT this is the entry point for the Escort MK4 range and the only kit on this page that clears 15 inch wheels. The 285mm uses a single-piece disc, which is where it sits differently from every other kit in this range. Single-piece means the disc is machined from one component: no separate hat and braking ring. On a road-driven MK4 or one used for occasional sprint events, that is the right construction for the braking loads involved and the price reflects it.
Garreth’s take: for a standard or lightly modified Escort MK4 on the road, this kit is proportionate to the car. Four pistons, billet caliper, and EBC Standard Road pads already in the box. Add braided hoses at the time of ordering if you want them. Ring us to talk through the disc construction before committing.
- £1,254.00 inc VAT
- 285mm single-piece disc, four-piston Billet 4 caliper
- Clears 15 inch wheels
- EBC Standard Road pads and DOT 5.1 fluid included; braided hoses optional
- Made to order in Dartford; up to 28 working days from confirmed order
300mm Billet 4: first two-piece disc in the range
The 300mm is where the disc construction changes. From here up, every kit uses a two-piece floating disc: a separate hat and braking ring joined by fixings that allow the ring to expand thermally without distorting its face. At £1,464.00 inc VAT, it needs a 16 inch minimum wheel and suits the road-modified or light-track Escort well.
Pads and fluid are included, same as the 285mm. Hoses are optional and worth adding if the car sees sustained braking. Cameron will check wheel clearance for any wheel on 16 inch fitment; give him the wheel make and model to be sure. If you are comparing the 300mm to the 325mm below, the price gap is only £6, so read both before deciding.
- £1,464.00 inc VAT
- 300mm two-piece floating disc, four-piston Billet 4 caliper
- 16 inch minimum wheel
- EBC Standard Road pads and DOT 5.1 fluid included; braided hoses optional
- Two-piece disc handles heat cycling better across sustained braking
325mm Billet 4: the kit that fits Mk3 and Mk4
This is the kit that MK4 owners browsing only the MK4 product category on this site would miss. HiSpec list it for both the Mk3 and the Mk4 because the two generations use the same front hub geometry. It does not appear in the MK4 section of the catalogue. At £1,470.00 inc VAT it costs £6 more than the 300mm two-piece and steps into the 17 inch wheel tier.
For an MK4 already on 17s, this is a clean pick: the biggest Billet 4 disc this hub takes, two-piece floating construction, and pads and fluid in the box. Hoses are optional. If you have an Mk3 alongside the MK4, one order covers both. Ring Cameron with the wheel spec for the clearance check. Garreth will tell you whether the extra disc size earns its money on your specific build.
- £1,470.00 inc VAT
- 325mm two-piece floating disc, four-piston Billet 4 caliper
- 17 inch minimum wheel
- Listed for Ford Escort Mk3 and Mk4 (shared front hub) but not visible in the MK4 catalogue section
- EBC Standard Road pads and DOT 5.1 fluid included; braided hoses optional
335mm Monster 4 and Monster 6: the track pick on 17s
The Monster caliper body is larger than the Billet 4, with a longer pad and more pad area in contact with the disc. Both 335mm variants need 17 inch wheels, so the decision between them comes down to piston count. Monster 4 is four pistons at £1,650.00 inc VAT; Monster 6 is six pistons at £1,740.00. The six-piston version gives a more progressive pedal feel under sustained braking loads, which matters on a circuit Escort doing multiple sessions.
EBC Redstuff pads, DOT 5.1 fluid and braided hoses are all included with both Monster kits. For an MK4 used regularly on track, this is the natural starting point. Garreth will give you a direct call on whether Monster 4 or Monster 6 suits the specific build.
- Monster 4: £1,650.00 inc VAT
- Monster 6: £1,740.00 inc VAT
- 335mm two-piece disc; 17 inch minimum wheel for both
- Monster 4 is four pistons; Monster 6 is six pistons with more pad area
- EBC Redstuff pads, DOT 5.1 fluid and braided hoses all included
360mm Monster on 18s: the biggest kit in the range
The 360mm Monster needs 18 inch wheels and is the top of the MK4 range. Monster 4 at £1,635.00 inc VAT, Monster 6 at £1,863.00. One thing to read before comparing these: the 360mm Monster 4 at £1,635 lists below the 335mm Monster 4 at £1,650 in price, despite the bigger disc and the 18 inch requirement. This is a pricing anomaly in the HiSpec catalogue. The compare table below flags it; do not read the price order as a spec ranking between those two kits.
Ring us on 0115 9893488 with your wheel spec and what the car does. Cameron handles the clearance checks; Garreth will talk through Monster 4 against Monster 6.
- Monster 4: £1,635.00 inc VAT price note: below the 335mm M4
- Monster 6: £1,863.00 inc VAT
- 360mm disc; 18 inch minimum wheel for both
- EBC Redstuff pads, DOT 5.1 fluid and braided hoses all included
If the car is on 18s
The two 360mm Monster kits are the only options on this page that need 18 inch wheels. Note: the Monster 4 at £1,635 lists below the 335mm Monster 4 at £1,650 despite being a bigger kit. Read the section above and the compare table before ordering.
What is in each box
Box contents on this car run opposite to the standard rule for this series. On many cars in this guide programme, HiSpec Billet 4 kits exclude pads and braided hoses. On the Escort MK4, all three Billet 4 kits include EBC Standard Road pads and DOT 5.1 fluid. Braided hoses are optional on Billet 4. Monster kits include EBC Redstuff pads, DOT 5.1 fluid and braided hoses on every size.
Caliper colour is your choice on all seven kits. Black, red, blue, gold and silver are available. Note your preference at the time of ordering.
| Kit | Caliper | Disc type | Pads | DOT 5.1 | Braided hoses | Colours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 285mm Billet 4 (1P) | 4 piston | Single-piece | EBC Standard Road | Included | Optional | 5 colours |
| 300mm Billet 4 (2P) | 4 piston | Two-piece | EBC Standard Road | Included | Optional | 5 colours |
| 325mm Billet 4 Mk3-Mk4 (2P) | 4 piston | Two-piece | EBC Standard Road | Included | Optional | 5 colours |
| 335mm Monster 4 | 4 piston | Two-piece | EBC Redstuff | Included | Included | 5 colours |
| 335mm Monster 6 | 6 piston | Two-piece | EBC Redstuff | Included | Included | 5 colours |
| 360mm Monster 4 | 4 piston | Two-piece | EBC Redstuff | Included | Included | 5 colours |
| 360mm Monster 6 | 6 piston | Two-piece | EBC Redstuff | Included | Included | 5 colours |
Every kit on this page compared
| Kit | Disc | Caliper | Min wheel | Pads | Hoses | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 285mm Billet 4 1P | 285mm | Billet 4, 4 piston | 15in | EBC Standard Road | Optional | £1,254.00 |
| 300mm Billet 4 2P | 300mm | Billet 4, 4 piston | 16in | EBC Standard Road | Optional | £1,464.00 |
| 325mm Billet 4 2P (Mk3+Mk4) | 325mm | Billet 4, 4 piston | 17in | EBC Standard Road | Optional | £1,470.00 |
| 335mm Monster 4 | 335mm | Monster 4, 4 piston | 17in | EBC Redstuff | Included | £1,650.00 |
| 335mm Monster 6 | 335mm | Monster 6, 6 piston | 17in | EBC Redstuff | Included | £1,740.00 |
| 360mm Monster 4 price anomaly | 360mm | Monster 4, 4 piston | 18in | EBC Redstuff | Included | £1,635.00 |
| 360mm Monster 6 | 360mm | Monster 6, 6 piston | 18in | EBC Redstuff | Included | £1,863.00 |
Prices include VAT and were correct on 18 September 2026. The 360mm Monster 4 at £1,635.00 inc VAT lists below the 335mm Monster 4 at £1,650.00 despite a larger disc and an 18 inch wheel requirement. This is a pricing anomaly in the HiSpec catalogue. The lower price does not indicate a lower-spec kit.
Common questions
Why does the 360mm Monster 4 cost less than the 335mm Monster 4?
The 360mm Monster 4 lists at £1,635 inc VAT. The 335mm Monster 4 lists at £1,650. Bigger disc, 18 inch wheel requirement, lower price. We have checked this and it is a data anomaly in the HiSpec catalogue. The price order is not a spec ranking. If you are comparing these two kits, ring us and we will talk through the actual differences before you order.
Why does the 325mm kit not appear in the MK4 product category?
The 325mm Billet 4 (product ID 267 in our system) is listed by HiSpec for both the Mk3 and the Mk4 because the two generations share the same front hub geometry. Our WooCommerce catalogue lists it under the Mk3 category, which means it does not show up if you only browse the MK4 section. This page includes it because it is a confirmed fitment. If you have any doubt about whether it covers your specific car, ring us before ordering.
Does the 325mm Billet 4 really fit both Mk3 and Mk4?
Yes, according to HiSpec's own catalogue. The Mk3 (1980 to 1986) and the Mk4 (1986 to 1990) use the same front hub geometry, and HiSpec list the 325mm Billet 4 against both generations. The other six kits on this page are listed for the MK4 only. Ring us if you want to confirm the exact fitment for your car before placing an order.
What is the difference between a single-piece and a two-piece disc?
A single-piece disc is one machined component. A two-piece floating disc separates the hat from the braking ring; the ring can expand thermally without distorting its face. On a road-driven Escort or one doing occasional sprint work, single-piece is the right fit at the 285mm size. On a car that does sustained circuit sessions where brake temperatures build over multiple laps, the two-piece construction at 300mm and above handles that heat cycling more reliably. If you are unsure which suits your use case, Cameron will give you a direct answer.
How long does it take and what colours are available?
HiSpec build each kit to order at their Dartford facility. Lead time is up to 28 working days from confirmed order. Caliper colours across all seven kits are black, red, blue, gold and silver. Note your preference when you place the order. Current lead times can vary through the season, so ask us at the time of ordering and we will give you the up-to-date picture.
What we would actually fit
For an MK4 driven on the road and occasional trackdays, the 285mm Billet 4 at £1,254 is a proportionate starting point. Four-piston billet caliper, single-piece disc, 15 inch clearance, pads and fluid in the box. Add braided hoses at the time of ordering if you want the full set.
For a car already on 17 inch wheels with a proper circuit programme, the 325mm Billet 4 at £1,470 is where Garreth would start the conversation. Only £6 more than the 300mm two-piece, more disc area, same wheel requirement, and it is the kit that most MK4 owners looking at this car would never find in the catalogue. If the car does sustained braking over full track sessions, the step to 335mm Monster territory earns its money: Redstuff pads and hoses in the box, larger caliper body, and the choice between Monster 4 and Monster 6 comes down to how progressive you want the pedal under load.
Ring us on 0115 9893488 with your wheel size and what the car does. Cameron handles the clearance checks on wheel fitment, so have the make and model of your wheels to hand. Garreth will give you a direct call on which kit suits the build.