Our Top Recommended Big Brake Upgrade Kits For Your Ford Cortina MK5
The Ford Cortina MK5 was the last Cortina, produced from 1979 to 1982 before Ford replaced it with the Sierra. That puts it in an odd position in the classic car market: old enough for historic event classes, new enough that a lot of owners have no interest in keeping it factory spec underneath. Those two camps show up in the wheels. Some MK5s still run period-correct 13 or 14 inch alloys. Others have gained 15, 16 or 17 inch wheels over the years. The brake kit question on this car always starts there.
This guide covers the eight HiSpec Billet 4 kits listed against the Cortina MK5. They run on the same front hub as the Ford Escort MK2 and the Cortina MK3 and MK4, so the fitment is well proven across three generations of classic Ford. Two Ultralite 4 kits also appear in this category under the MK5 name at a lower price. Those are compact race calipers built for very lightweight competition cars and are not the right caliper for this car. The Billet 4 range at £672 is the correct starting point. The full Cortina MK5 range is on the site if you want to browse it first.
- Eight HiSpec Billet 4 kits from 245mm to 325mm, covering everything from period 13 or 14 inch alloys to 17 inch track setups
- Same front hub as the Ford Escort MK2, Cortina MK3 and Cortina MK4: one of the most proven hub fitments in the HiSpec classic Ford catalogue
- Pads and braided hoses priced separately on every kit, so you choose the compound to match how the car is used
- Two Ultralite 4 kits also appear in this category named for the MK5: see the warning below before ordering either of them
HiSpec in this catalogue
The Tarox catalogue does not cover the classic Ford front hub that the Cortina and Escort share, so there is no Tarox option for the MK5. The full range here is HiSpec. HiSpec Motorsport in Dartford built ten kits for this vehicle across two caliper families. Eight of them are the Billet 4, the road and track caliper that covers the hub from 245mm to 325mm. Every Billet 4 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.
HiSpec Motorsport
CNC machined in Dartford from 6082 T6 billet aluminium. Calipers and pistons machined at the same facility. Eight Billet 4 kits cover the Cortina MK5 front hub from 245mm to 325mm. Made to order in up to 28 working days, five caliper colours. Pads and hoses priced separately so you choose the compound for the car.
Which wheel size clears which kit
A bigger disc needs a bigger wheel to clear it. HiSpec publish a minimum wheel diameter for every Billet 4 size from 283mm up. The two smallest kits (245mm and 260mm) sit below the range where HiSpec have published a figure, so Cameron confirms the exact wheel and spoke profile before those go to build. For everything from 283mm, the figures are confirmed and are in the table.
| Kit | Disc | Type | Smallest wheel |
|---|---|---|---|
| HiSpec 245mm Billet 4 1P | 245 x 20mm | 1P | Ask us |
| HiSpec 260mm Billet 4 1P | 260 x 20mm | 1P | Ask us |
| HiSpec 283mm Billet 4 1P | 283 x 26mm | 1P | 15 inch |
| HiSpec 285mm Billet 4 2P | 285 x 24mm | 2P | 15 inch |
| HiSpec 300mm Billet 4 2P | 300 x 28mm | 2P | 16 inch |
| HiSpec 305mm Billet 4 1P | 305 x 28mm | 1P | 16 inch |
| HiSpec 310mm Billet 4 2P | 310 x 28mm | 2P | 16 inch |
| HiSpec 325mm Billet 4 2P | 325 x 28mm | 2P | 17 inch |
HiSpec 245mm and 260mm Billet 4 1P: the small-disc entry
These are the two smallest disc sizes in the Billet 4 range, both on a solid single-piece rotor, and both at £672. On a MK5 running 13 or 14 inch factory-era alloys they are the starting point: the Billet 4 four-piston caliper on the original hub, no wheel spend on top. HiSpec have not published a minimum wheel size for either disc, so Cameron checks the exact spoke profile before the kit is built. Confirmed figures start at 283mm.
If keeping period-correct wheels is the priority, these kits make that possible. If a confirmed 15-inch figure matters, step up to the 283mm 1P.
- £672.00 inc VAT each
- 245x20mm and 260x20mm solid single-piece discs
- Minimum wheel: ring Cameron, confirmed before build
- Four-piston Billet 4 caliper, five finish colours
- Made to order in up to 28 working days
HiSpec 283mm and 305mm Billet 4 1P: first confirmed wheel sizes
Both kits run the solid single-piece disc and the same Billet 4 caliper. The 283mm clears a 15-inch wheel at £785.44. The 305mm needs 16s at £817.24. The gap between them is £31.80 for 22mm more disc. On a MK5 that has already gained 16-inch wheels, Garreth’s answer is the 305mm without much thought: the extra disc costs next to nothing at this level.
On a car staying on 15s, the 283mm is a real step up over the factory hardware and the cheapest kit in this catalogue with a confirmed wheel clearance.
- 283mm at £785.44, 305mm at £817.24, both inc VAT
- 283mm clears 15 inch, 305mm needs 16 inch
- Single-piece solid discs, 26mm and 28mm thick
- Pads and hoses priced separately
- Made to order in Dartford
HiSpec 285mm Billet 4 2P: the floating disc at 15 inch
The 285mm two-piece kit at £1,188.53 clears the same 15-inch wheels as the 283mm 1P at £785.44. The extra £403 buys a two-piece floating disc: the rotor sits on an aluminium bell and can move fractionally as heat cycles in and out. On a road car, the 283mm 1P does the job. On a Cortina MK5 doing regular track evenings, the floating disc keeps pad contact more even as temperatures climb, which is the case where the two-piece construction earns the extra cost.
The disc diameter is nearly identical to the 283mm 1P, so both kits work with the same 15-inch minimum wheel. The decision is purely road or track intent.
- £1,188.53 inc VAT
- Clears 15 inch wheels
- 285x24mm two-piece floating disc
- Four-piston Billet 4 caliper
- Pads and hoses priced separately
HiSpec 300mm and 310mm Billet 4 2P: the 16 inch build
Two floating disc kits at the 16-inch minimum, sitting £21.48 apart. The 300mm at £1,233.29 and the 310mm at £1,254.77 both use the Billet 4 caliper with a two-piece floating disc. At this price level the 310mm is the sensible pick on most MK5s: the extra 10mm of disc costs nearly nothing more and on a car seeing track use the bigger rotor has more material to deal with heat.
If the car is on 16s and you are setting it up for a mix of road and track, this is the range. Both kits share the same caliper and the same 16-inch minimum.
- 300mm at £1,233.29, 310mm at £1,254.77, both inc VAT
- Both clear 16 inch wheels
- Two-piece floating discs, 300x28mm and 310x28mm
- Pads and hoses priced separately
- Made to order in Dartford
HiSpec 325mm Billet 4 2P: the 17 inch track build
The 325mm two-piece kit is the top of the range for this car and needs 17-inch wheels. At £1,320.18 it is the most capable option in the catalogue. On a Cortina MK5 built for regular circuit work, this is where the money would go: the largest rotor in the range, two-piece floating construction, and the same Billet 4 caliper that runs across every disc size from 245mm to 325mm. The 17-inch minimum is a reasonable wheel size on a modified MK5 without going outside what suits the car.
- £1,320.18 inc VAT
- Needs 17 inch wheels minimum
- 325x28mm two-piece floating disc
- Four-piston Billet 4 caliper, five finish colours
- Pads and hoses priced separately
What is in each box
Every Billet 4 kit includes the calipers, the discs and all MK5-specific brackets, bells and fitting hardware. Pads and braided hoses are not in the box and are priced separately. That means you choose the pad compound to match how the car is used: a road compound for a daily driver, something more aggressive for track evenings. Both can be added when the kit is ordered.
| In the box | HiSpec Billet 4 |
|---|---|
| Calipers | Billet 4, 4-piston, 6082 T6 billet aluminium |
| Discs | 1P solid single-piece (245-305mm) or 2P two-piece floating with aluminium bell (285-325mm) |
| Brackets, bells and hardware | Included |
| Braided hoses | Priced separately |
| Pads | Priced separately, your choice of compound |
| Caliper finish | Black, red, blue, gold or silver |
| Built in | Dartford, UK, made to order, up to 28 working days |
Every kit on this page compared
| Kit | Disc | Type | Smallest wheel | Pads and hoses | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HiSpec 245 Billet 4 1P | 245x20mm | 1P | Ask us | Extra | £672.00 |
| HiSpec 260 Billet 4 1P | 260x20mm | 1P | Ask us | Extra | £672.00 |
| HiSpec 283 Billet 4 1P | 283x26mm | 1P | 15in | Extra | £785.44 |
| HiSpec 305 Billet 4 1P | 305x28mm | 1P | 16in | Extra | £817.24 |
| HiSpec 285 Billet 4 2P | 285x24mm | 2P | 15in | Extra | £1,188.53 |
| HiSpec 300 Billet 4 2P | 300x28mm | 2P | 16in | Extra | £1,233.29 |
| HiSpec 310 Billet 4 2P | 310x28mm | 2P | 16in | Extra | £1,254.77 |
| HiSpec 325 Billet 4 2P | 325x28mm | 2P | 17in | Extra | £1,320.18 |
Prices include VAT and were correct on 8 September 2026. Wheel size figures are from HiSpec’s published statements across the catalogue. The 245mm and 260mm 1P kits have no published figure: ring Cameron with your wheel and spoke profile and he will confirm clearance before the kit is built. The two Ultralite 4 kits (245mm £597, 260mm £625) are not listed here as they are not the appropriate caliper for this car.
Common questions
What are the two cheaper kits in this category named for the Cortina MK5?
They are the HiSpec Ultralite 4, a compact race caliper HiSpec built for very lightweight competition cars and motorcycle-engined builds under around 800kg. A Cortina MK5 weighs around 1,000kg. HiSpec list these wherever the caliper physically mounts, so they appear in the category, but they are not designed for normal road or track use on this car. The Billet 4 range at £672 is the appropriate starting point.
Do these kits fit the Cortina MK3 and MK4 as well?
Yes. All eight HISC- Billet 4 kits in this category are listed for the Ford Escort MK2, Cortina MK3, MK4 and MK5 on the same front hub. Disc sizes, caliper mounting and brackets are consistent across all of them. If you have a MK3 or MK4, any kit from this guide applies to your car.
What wheel size did the Cortina MK5 come with from the factory?
Most Cortina MK5 models left the factory on 13 or 14 inch wheels, depending on spec and trim level. The 245mm and 260mm Billet 4 kits are sized for that range, though HiSpec have not published a confirmed minimum wheel figure for either. Ring Cameron with your specific wheel and he will confirm before anything is built.
What is the difference between a 1P and 2P disc?
1P is a solid single-piece disc machined in one casting. 2P is a two-piece floating disc: the rotor bolts onto a separate aluminium bell and can move fractionally as it heats and cools. On a road car the 1P is a genuine upgrade. On a car doing regular track sessions, the 2P keeps pad contact more even as temperatures rise, which is where the extra cost earns its place.
How long does a HiSpec build take?
All HiSpec kits are made to order in Dartford. Allow up to 28 working days from order. Lead times can vary through the year, so ask when you place the order and we will give you the current picture.
What we would actually fit
On a MK5 staying on smaller period wheels with a confirmed wheel clearance needed, the 283mm 1P at £785.44 is the starting point. Fifteen-inch minimum, a solid step over the factory hardware, and nothing else to spend on.
On a 16-inch car used on road and the odd track day, Garreth’s pick is the 310mm 2P at £1,254.77. Two-piece floating disc, confirmed 16-inch minimum, and £21 more than the 300mm for 10mm extra rotor. On most MK5s at this budget, that is the right call.
For a car built for regular circuit work on 17s, the 325mm 2P at £1,320.18 is the answer. It is the largest disc in the catalogue for this hub, and the 17-inch minimum fits what a properly set-up MK5 race car typically runs.
If you are not sure which kit clears your wheels, ring us on 0115 9893488 with the wheel make, diameter and spoke profile. Working out the spoke clearance is Cameron’s part of the business and it usually takes about five minutes.