Our Top Recommended Big Brake Upgrade Kits For Your Audi S3
Three brands cover the Audi S3: Tarox, HiSpec and Brembo. The original version of this guide said there was no Tarox for the S3. That was wrong. Tarox list six front kits across the 8L and 8P generations, and none of them were in the main S3 category on the site. They are covered fully on this page. Brembo joined the series in September 2026 and now covers the 8L, 8P, 8V and 8Y. HiSpec list the same six front kits without a generation split: the 8L, 8P and 8V all share the same range. The full Audi S3 range is on the site if you want to browse everything in one place.
The catalogue starts at 323mm for Tarox on the 8L and 325mm for HiSpec. Brembo begin at 323mm for the 8L, then jump to 380mm for the 8P, 8V and 8Y. Every HiSpec kit needs at least 17-inch wheels. Tarox 8L kits span 17 inch at the lower end to 18 inch, with the 8P 360mm kit stepping to 19 inch. Brembo wheel fitment comes from the clearance drawing on each product page. One pricing note: the HiSpec 360mm Monster 4 at £1,635.00 is £15 below the 335mm Monster 4 at £1,650.00, and both prices are correct.
- Three brands: Tarox (8L and 8P), HiSpec (all S3 generations), Brembo (8L, 8P, 8V and 8Y)
- Tarox kits were not in the main S3 category; the original guide had them wrong, now corrected
- HiSpec: six front kits, same range across 8L, 8P and 8V, no generation split
- Brembo: made to order in Italy, six to eight weeks
- 360mm Monster 4 (£1,635) lists below the smaller 335mm Monster 4 (£1,650): correct prices
What is on this page
- Three brands, three approaches
- Minimum wheel sizes
- HiSpec 325mm Billet 4
- Tarox for the 8L: four kits, 323mm to 360mm
- HiSpec 335mm Monster 4
- HiSpec 335mm Monster 6
- Tarox for the 8P: 355mm and 360mm
- HiSpec 360mm kits: three options at 18 inch
- Brembo GT range: from 323mm to 380mm
- What is in each box
- Every kit compared
- Common questions
- What we would actually fit
Three brands, three approaches
All three machine their own calipers from billet aluminium and build each kit for the specific car. Where they differ is what goes in the box, how long the build takes and how far up the caliper design tree you want to go.
Tarox
Made at the Tarox factory in northern Italy. Calipers CNC machined from European billet alloy and hand assembled, every one individually tested. Discs heat treated, CNC faced and balanced to 0.05mm. Every S3 kit arrives with vehicle-specific braided hoses and Corsa pads already fitted, and states full ABS and ESP compatibility.
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 pick the compound for the way the car is used.
Brembo
Made to order in Italy, six to eight weeks. The GT caliper families run from the GT-A two-piece through the GT-M monobloc to the GT-BM 4D cast and the GT-S and GT-R billet options. Every kit ships with a caliper clearance drawing showing the A, B and C dimensions. Disc face (cross-drilled or Type 3 slotted) and caliper colour are free choices at order.
Tarox publish a wheel clearance template that is useful reference once you have the minimum diameter sorted.
Minimum wheel sizes
Minimum wheel diameter for HiSpec road calipers is a property of the kit, not the car: the same disc and caliper sit in the same radial space regardless of which vehicle they are fitted to. The figures come from HiSpec’s own published statements. For Tarox, the figure is per-kit, confirmed against tarox.co.uk. For Brembo, the minimum wheel size is not published as a single figure; every kit ships with a caliper clearance drawing (A, B and C dimensions) and that drawing is on the product page. The depth check at the spokes is a separate question and the one we confirm with Cameron before an order goes in.
| Kit | Disc | Smallest wheel |
|---|---|---|
| HiSpec 325mm Billet 4 | 325mm | 17 inch |
| Tarox 323mm 6-piston (8L) | 323mm | 17 inch |
| HiSpec 335mm Monster 4 | 335mm | 17 inch |
| HiSpec 335mm Monster 6 | 335mm | 17 inch |
| Tarox 330mm 6-piston (8L) | 330mm | 17 inch |
| Tarox 340mm 8-piston (8L) | 340mm | 18 inch |
| Tarox 355mm 8-piston (8P) | 355mm | 18 inch |
| HiSpec 360mm Monster 4 | 360mm | 18 inch |
| HiSpec 360mm Monster 6 | 360mm | 18 inch |
| HiSpec 360mm Mega Monster | 360mm | 18 inch |
| Tarox 360mm 10-piston (8L) | 360mm | 18 inch |
| Tarox 360mm 10-piston (8P) | 360mm | 19 inch |
| Brembo 323mm GT-A (8L) | 323mm | See clearance drawing on product page |
| Brembo 380mm GT range (8P, 8V, 8Y) | 380mm | See clearance drawing on product page |
HiSpec 325mm Billet 4: the entry on 17-inch wheels
The 325mm Billet 4 is the entry HiSpec kit for the Audi S3, and the one listed jointly for the A3 and S3 because they share the same front hub at this disc size. Four pistons, a two-piece floating disc, external boots on the caliper to keep road grime out of the seals. Pads and hoses are priced separately, so budget for both alongside the kit price.
At £1,470.00 inc VAT it is the lowest entry point of the three HiSpec caliper options on this page. For an S3 on standard 17-inch wheels used on the road and the occasional track day, Garreth’s view is to start here and choose the pad compound to match the use case.
- £1,470.00 inc VAT
- Clears 17-inch wheels
- 325mm two-piece floating disc
- 4-piston Billet 4 caliper with external boots
- Pads and hoses priced separately; five caliper colours
- Made to order, up to 28 working days
Tarox for the Audi S3 8L: four kits, 323mm to 360mm
Tarox list four front kits for the S3 8L (1999 to 2003), ranging from 323mm at the entry to 360mm at the top. All four arrive with braided hoses and Corsa pads already in the box, and the discs are balanced to 0.05mm at the factory in northern Italy. The entry 323mm is the cheapest Tarox on this page at £1,748.98 inc VAT, already outclassing the standard cast setup with a six-piston billet caliper. It needs a 17-inch wheel, the same as the HiSpec entry below it.
Two sizing notes before you choose. The 340mm kit is listed as “10pot” in the title, but the pistons attribute and the caliper spec confirm it is an 8-piston design. The 360mm kit is correctly 10-piston. Both facts checked against the product data before this guide was updated. The 340mm and 360mm steps both need 18-inch wheels. If the 8L is on standard 17s, the 323mm or 330mm are the kits in range. Ring us on 0115 647 8650 with the generation and the wheel size and Cameron will confirm the right level.
- From £1,748.98 inc VAT (323mm entry)
- 323mm and 330mm: both clear 17-inch wheels
- 340mm and 360mm: 18-inch wheels required
- Pads and braided hoses included in the box
- Discs balanced to 0.05mm at the Tarox factory in Italy
- 340mm titled 10pot; actual caliper is 8-piston. 360mm is correctly 10-piston.
HiSpec 335mm Monster 4: larger pistons on 17-inch wheels
The Monster 4 is the step up from the Billet 4 in clamping force. The pistons are larger, the pad is one third longer than on the Billet 4, and the caliper runs high-temperature seals and stainless steel wear plates that the Billet 4 does not carry. The disc grows by 10mm to 335mm, staying in the 17-inch window. At £1,650.00 inc VAT it is the natural choice for an S3 that does regular track evenings on 17s.
A pricing note: the 360mm Monster 4 below lists at £1,635.00, which is £15 less than this kit despite the larger disc. That pricing runs backwards between those two kits; both prices are correct. If the car is already on 18-inch wheels the 360mm section below is worth reading before you commit here.
- £1,650.00 inc VAT
- Clears 17-inch wheels
- 335mm two-piece floating disc
- 4-piston Monster caliper, larger pistons than Billet 4
- High-temperature seals and stainless steel wear plates
- Pads and hoses priced separately
HiSpec 335mm Monster 6: six pistons on the same disc
The Monster 6 runs the same 335mm disc as the Monster 4 with six pistons giving up to 63% more piston area. The extra pistons clamp the pad with more force and give more feel at the pedal under hard use. On most road-going S3s the Monster 4 is enough. The six-pot version is for drivers who want a more progressive feel on circuit, or for a heavily modified car where the extra clamp makes sense. Both share the same 17-inch wheel requirement.
At £1,773.00 inc VAT, the Monster 6 costs £123 more than the Monster 4 for the same disc size. Cameron’s take is that the difference is most noticeable on a dedicated track car; for a road car used at weekend events the Monster 4 is the usual choice. If you are not sure which suits the build, ring us on 0115 647 8650 and we will ask the right questions.
- £1,773.00 inc VAT
- Clears 17-inch wheels
- 335mm two-piece floating disc
- 6-piston Monster caliper, up to 63% more piston area than Monster 4
- High-temperature seals and stainless steel wear plates
- Pads and hoses priced separately
Tarox for the 8P: 355mm and 360mm
Two Tarox kits cover the Audi S3 8P (2006 to 2012). The 355mm is the entry at £2,538.00 inc VAT with an 8-piston caliper on a 355mm disc, needing 18-inch wheels. The same note applies here as for the 8L kits: the title says “10pot” but the caliper specification and pistons attribute confirm it is an 8-piston design. The 360mm kit at £3,210.00 inc VAT is the genuine 10-piston version, and it is the only S3 kit on this page that needs 19-inch wheels, confirmed on tarox.co.uk.
Both kits arrive complete with braided hoses and Corsa pads fitted, discs balanced to 0.05mm. If the car is on 18-inch wheels, the 355mm is the one to start with. The 360mm demands 19-inch and a car genuinely set up around that size. Ring us on 0115 647 8650 with the wheel spec and Cameron will confirm clearance before anything is ordered.
- 355mm at £2,538.00 inc VAT, 18-inch wheels required
- 360mm at £3,210.00 inc VAT, 19-inch wheels required (confirmed on tarox.co.uk)
- 355mm titled 10pot; actual caliper is 8-piston
- 360mm is correctly 10-piston
- Braided hoses and Corsa pads included; discs balanced to 0.05mm
HiSpec 360mm kits: three options at 18 inch
Three kits share the 360mm HiSpec disc: the Monster 4, the Monster 6 and the Mega Monster. All three need 18-inch wheels. Pricing note before you look at the cards: the 360mm Monster 4 lists at £1,635.00, which is £15 below the 335mm Monster 4 at £1,650.00. Bigger disc, cheaper price. Both correct. If the car is on 18-inch factory wheels, the 360mm Monster 4 is the one Garreth would point you at over the 335mm on both spec and price.
The Mega Monster uses a different caliper entirely from the Monster range, with 70% greater pad surface area and sequentially larger pistons. It is designed for disc sizes from 335mm to 400mm and suits a car set up specifically for circuit use. For a road-biased S3 on 18s, the 360mm Monster 4 or Monster 6 is the proportionate choice.
Brembo GT range: from 323mm to 380mm
Brembo kits cover all four S3 generations. Lead time is six to eight weeks from the factory in Italy, made to order, and that is the first thing worth knowing if there is a deadline involved.
For the 8L (1999 to 2003), the entry is the GT-A 323mm 4-piston kit at £1,833.65 inc VAT. That sits £85 above the entry Tarox 323mm kit for the same generation, with the GT-A bringing a two-piece Brembo caliper and Brembo’s own clearance engineering rather than an aluminium billet competitor. For the 8P (2006 to 2012), 8V (2013 to 2020) and 8Y (2021 onwards), the disc steps to 380mm. The GT-M monobloc is the entry for those generations at £4,662.68 inc VAT. The GT-BM introduces a 4D cast process, the GT-S moves to a billet body with a nickel finish, and the GT-R is the stiffest billet option at £8,906.26. The 8V also has a 350mm option at the GT-M and above, if the wheel clearance conversation comes back tight.
Disc face (cross-drilled or Type 3 slotted) is a free choice at order, same price either way. Caliper colour is also a free option. Every kit ships with a caliper clearance drawing showing the A, B and C dimensions for the specific caliper body, and that is what Cameron uses to confirm wheel fitment before anything is built. Ring us on 0115 647 8650 with the generation and current wheel spec and we will pull the right drawing before the order goes in.
- 8L entry: GT-A 323mm at £1,833.65 inc VAT
- 8P, 8V and 8Y entry: GT-M 380mm at £4,662.68 inc VAT
- 8Y GT-R flagship at £8,906.26 inc VAT
- Made to order in Italy, six to eight weeks
- Disc face and caliper colour are free choices at order
- Caliper clearance drawing on every product page; Cameron confirms wheel fitment before ordering
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.
| In the box | HiSpec | Tarox | Brembo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calipers | Billet 4, Monster 4/6 or Mega Monster, 6082 T6 billet aluminium, Dartford | Sport 6-piston or Super Sport, CNC machined billet alloy, hand assembled in Italy | GT-A two-piece, GT-M monobloc, GT-BM 4D cast, GT-S or GT-R billet aluminium |
| Discs | Two-piece floating, with mounting bells | Two-piece floating, balanced to 0.05mm | Two-piece, cross-drilled or Type 3 slotted (your choice, same price) |
| Brackets and hardware | Included | Included | Included |
| Braided hoses | Priced separately | Included | Confirm at order |
| Pads | Priced separately, your choice of compound | Corsa pads, fitted | Confirm at order |
| Caliper finish | Black, red, blue, gold or silver | Black, red, blue, green or gold anodised | Choice of colour, free option |
| Wheel clearance | Minimum diameter from HiSpec catalogue | Confirmed per-kit on tarox.co.uk | Caliper clearance drawing (A, B and C) on every product page |
| Lead time | Made to order, up to 28 working days, Dartford | Northern Italy | Italy, six to eight weeks made to order |
Every kit on this page compared
| Kit | Disc | Caliper | Min wheel | Pads and hoses | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HiSpec 325mm Billet 4 | 325mm | 4 piston | 17 inch | Extra | £1,470.00 |
| Tarox 323mm 6-piston (8L) | 323mm | 6 piston | 17 inch | Included | £1,748.98 |
| HiSpec 360mm Monster 4 * | 360mm | 4 piston | 18 inch | Extra | £1,635.00 |
| HiSpec 335mm Monster 4 | 335mm | 4 piston | 17 inch | Extra | £1,650.00 |
| HiSpec 335mm Monster 6 | 335mm | 6 piston | 17 inch | Extra | £1,773.00 |
| HiSpec 360mm Monster 6 | 360mm | 6 piston | 18 inch | Extra | £1,863.00 |
| Brembo GT-A 323mm (8L) | 323mm | 4 piston | See drawing | Confirm at order | £1,833.65 (6-8 wks) |
| Tarox 330mm 6-piston (8L) | 330mm | 6 piston | 17 inch | Included | £2,280.00 |
| HiSpec 360mm Mega Monster | 360mm | 6 piston (larger pad) | 18 inch | Extra | £2,196.85 |
| Tarox 340mm 8-piston (8L) ** | 340mm | 8 piston | 18 inch | Included | £2,610.00 |
| Tarox 355mm 8-piston (8P) ** | 355mm | 8 piston | 18 inch | Included | £2,538.00 |
| Tarox 360mm 10-piston (8L) | 360mm | 10 piston | 18 inch | Included | £3,210.00 |
| Tarox 360mm 10-piston (8P) | 360mm | 10 piston | 19 inch | Included | £3,210.00 |
| Brembo GT-M 380mm (8P) | 380mm | 6 piston | See drawing | Confirm at order | £4,662.68 (6-8 wks) |
| Brembo GT-M 380mm (8V) | 380mm | 6 piston | See drawing | Confirm at order | £4,662.68 (6-8 wks) |
| Brembo GT-M 380mm (8Y) | 380mm | 6 piston | See drawing | Confirm at order | £4,662.68 (6-8 wks) |
| Brembo GT-S 380mm (8P/8V/8Y) | 380mm | 6 piston | See drawing | Confirm at order | £4,767.47 (6-8 wks) |
| Brembo GT-R 380mm (8P/8V/8Y) | 380mm | 6 piston | See drawing | Confirm at order | £8,906.26 (6-8 wks) |
Prices include VAT and were correct on 22 September 2026. Brembo wheel clearance comes from Brembo’s own caliper clearance drawing, available on each product page. Brembo kits are made to order in Italy; lead time is six to eight weeks. * The 360mm Monster 4 at £1,635.00 lists £15 below the 335mm Monster 4 at £1,650.00; both correct. ** Tarox 340mm and 355mm kits are titled “10pot” in the catalogue but the caliper specification confirms 8-piston.
Common questions
Does Tarox make kits for the Audi S3?
Yes. Six front kits cover the S3: four for the 8L (1999 to 2003) from 323mm to 360mm, and two for the 8P (2006 to 2012) at 355mm and 360mm. There is no Tarox coverage for the 8V or the 8Y. The original version of this guide said there was no Tarox for the S3. That was incorrect. None of the Tarox kits were filed under the main S3 vehicle category, so they were not found when the guide was first written. They have now been added. Ring us on 0115 647 8650 to confirm the right kit for the car.
Does this guide cover all four S3 generations?
For HiSpec, yes. HiSpec do not split their S3 range by generation: the same six front kits cover the 8L (1999-2003), 8P (2006-2012) and 8V (2013-2020) without distinction. For Tarox, coverage is 8L and 8P only. There is no Tarox for the 8V or 8Y. For Brembo, all four generations are covered: 8L at 323mm GT-A, and 380mm GT range for 8P, 8V and 8Y.
Why do some Tarox kits say "10pot" in the title when the caliper is 8-piston?
The "10pot" label follows Tarox's own naming for the Super Sport range. The caliper specification and the pistons attribute on the product pages confirm that the 340mm and 355mm kits carry 8-piston calipers, not 10. The 360mm kits are genuinely 10-piston. We note the discrepancy on the relevant sections above so you know what to expect before ordering. The B34GT/B360 caliper code is an 8-piston design; it is a strong caliper either way.
Why is the 360mm Monster 4 cheaper than the 335mm Monster 4?
The 360mm Monster 4 lists at £1,635.00 inc VAT and the 335mm Monster 4 at £1,650.00. Bigger disc, lower price: the numbers run backwards at those two kits and both figures are correct. If the car is on 18-inch wheels the 360mm Monster 4 is the better buy at any level, both disc size and price. If it is on 17s, the 335mm Monster 4 is the right kit regardless of the price difference.
Are there Brembo kits for the S3, and which generation do they fit?
Yes. Brembo kits cover all four S3 generations. The 8L entry is the GT-A 323mm at £1,833.65 inc VAT. For the 8P, 8V and 8Y the disc is 380mm, with the GT-M monobloc starting at £4,662.68. The GT-S and GT-R billet options go up to £8,906.26. All are made to order in Italy, six to eight weeks. Garreth's view is that a Brembo kit makes the most sense on an S3 going on circuit regularly or carrying significant engine work. Ring us on 0115 647 8650 and we will talk through whether the lead time and price premium make sense for the way the car is used.
Why are pads and hoses extra on the HiSpec kits but included on Tarox?
HiSpec price their kits without pads or hoses so you choose the compound, since a street pad and a track pad suit very different driving. Tarox fit Corsa pads and braided hoses as standard. Both routes can end up at a similar finished price once you spec the HiSpec side up, so ask us for a like-for-like comparison against the Tarox kit you are looking at.
Will these work with the factory ABS and traction control?
HiSpec design their road kits for use with standard ABS and stability systems, and Tarox state full ABS and ESP compatibility on every S3 kit. For the S3 specifically, confirm the exact car spec when you order and we will check the fitment details before the kit is built. If the car has any modifications to the braking or stability hardware, mention those too. Ring us on 0115 647 8650.
What we would actually fit
On an S3 8L or 8P on standard 17-inch wheels, road use with occasional track days: the HiSpec 325mm Billet 4 at £1,470.00 is the starting point. Four-piston, 325mm, made in Dartford. Add a good pad compound and braided hoses and you have a proper conversion without moving into Monster pricing. If the 8L is the car and the complete kit in one delivery sounds better value, the Tarox 323mm at £1,748.98 comes with pads and hoses already in the box for £279 more.
For an S3 that does regular circuit sessions on 17s, Garreth’s pick shifts to the HiSpec 335mm Monster 4. Larger pistons, higher temperature seals, stainless wear plates. The Tarox 330mm 6-piston is also in play at this level if the complete package matters more than the caliper spec. Both stay on 17-inch wheels.
On 18-inch wheels: the HiSpec 360mm Monster 4 is the first look, partly for the bigger disc and partly because it currently costs less than the 335mm Monster 4. For the 8P on 18s, Tarox’s 355mm 8-piston at £2,538.00 is the competing option, complete with pads and hoses. Those two sit close enough in price that the choice comes down to caliper preference and whether you want the Tarox complete package.
For an S3 going on circuit regularly, or with serious engine work behind it, the Brembo conversation is worth having. The 8L GT-A at £1,833.65 is the most affordable Brembo on this page and comes in at less than £100 above the entry Tarox. For modern S3s the GT-M 380mm at £4,663.00 is the entry point, and the six to eight week lead time is real so build it into the schedule. The GT-R at £8,906.26 is for a car that lives on track.
Not sure which suits the build? Ring us on 0115 647 8650 with the generation, the wheel size and what the car does at weekends. Cameron handles the fitment and clearance side; most of these calls are done in five minutes.