Our Top Recommended Big Brake Upgrade Kits For Your Mercedes CL-Class
Before Cameron can confirm a kit for the CL-Class, he needs the year, the generation and the engine. W215 (2000 to 2006) and W216 (2006 to 2014) use different front hub geometry. Within the W216, standard models and AMG variants use a different caliper bracket even where the disc and caliper body are the same hardware. The bracket question comes before the kit question does.
Tarox and HiSpec Motorsport do not list a front big brake kit for the CL-Class. Every kit on this page is Brembo. On a car that left the factory with 360mm or larger Brembo or ATE discs at both ends as standard equipment, that is not a step down: you are ordering from the same manufacturer that built the OEM brake system on cars at this level. All kits are made to order in Italy at six to eight weeks.
- Brembo only: Tarox and HiSpec do not list a kit for the W215 or W216 CL-Class
- The 405mm front disc hardware is shared across the W216 CL550, CL600, CL63 AMG and CL65 AMG; the bracket is model-specific
- The W215 CL55 AMG takes the GT-A 380mm 8-piston monobloc, the only new-format front kit for the older generation
- Six to eight weeks, made to order at the Brembo factory in Italy
Brembo on the Mercedes CL-Class
Brembo is the only brand in our range with a front big brake kit for the CL-Class. Tarox and HiSpec do not currently list for either generation. We have confirmed this through both catalogues and the vehicle category on our own site.
The Brembo GT family runs from the GT-A (two-piece cast caliper) up through the GT-M (monobloc cast) and GT-BM (4D cast) to the billet GT-S and GT-R. For the CL-Class, Brembo’s current GT catalogue moves from a special GT-A application on the W215 CL55 AMG straight to the GT-S and GT-R billet calipers for the W216. The GT-M and GT-BM rungs are not in the CL-Class line-up at the time of writing.
One detail that is worth knowing: the base disc part number for the W216 front kits (1N19503A) is shared across the CL550, CL600, CL63 AMG and CL65 AMG. The disc is the same hardware across those four variants. What changes between listings is the bracket suffix, because each model’s caliper mount is specific to that hub geometry. Four different model badges on one disc: it is the same part in the right bracket for each car.
Brembo GT Series
Made to order at the Brembo factory in Italy. The CL-Class line-up uses three caliper specifications: the GT-A 8-piston monobloc on the W215 CL55 AMG front axle; the GT-S billet aluminium nickel-finished 6-piston for the W216 front; and the GT-R hard anodised billet 6-piston for the W216 front flagship. All discs come cross-drilled or Type 3 slotted at the same price. Caliper colour is set by the last digit of the part number and costs nothing extra.
Tarox and HiSpec Motorsport
Tarox and HiSpec Motorsport do not currently list a front big brake kit for the Mercedes CL-Class. We have searched both catalogues and the Mercedes vehicle categories on our site: no listings for the W215 or W216. If either brand adds cover for the CL-Class, we will update this page. The Brembo catalogue for this car is thorough enough that the absence of Tarox and HiSpec is not a gap that needs filling.
Wheel clearance
Brembo publish a caliper clearance drawing for most GT kits and the product page links to it. The drawing gives three measurements: A (caliper height), B (caliper depth from the disc face to the wheel mounting surface) and C (caliper width). These are the numbers that determine whether a given wheel clears the caliper, not just the disc diameter on its own.
The CL-Class runs from 18-inch alloys on standard trim to 20-inch on AMG and later model year variants. The depth dimension is the one that catches owners out most often when switching to aftermarket wheels. A GT-R caliper at 405mm does not share its clearance envelope with a GT-S at the same disc size: they are different caliper bodies. If you are choosing between those two on the same car, check the right drawing for each.
W215 CL55 AMG: GT-A 380mm 8-piston
The GT-A normally sits at the entry point of the Brembo family as a two-piece caliper on lighter cars. On the W215 CL55 AMG, Brembo specify something different: the 1G series bracket with an 8-piston monobloc caliper body. The CL55 AMG is a heavy touring car and the front axle load puts it in a category where Brembo design a stiffer, higher-specification caliper at this entry level. Eight pistons in a cast monobloc housing, not the standard GT-A two-piece construction.
At £5,029.40 inc VAT this is the entry-point Brembo for the W215. The 380mm disc is a step up from the standard front disc on the CL55 AMG. Caliper colour options are Black, Red or Silver, set by the last digit of the part number at order.
This is the only new-format front Brembo GT kit listed for the W215 generation. The W215 CL500 and CL600 do have Brembo GT front listings in older product format: ring Cameron on 0115 9893488 if the car is a CL500 or CL600 W215 and he will confirm what is available for your chassis. Six to eight weeks, made to order.
- £5,029.40 inc VAT
- W215 CL55 AMG front hub (2003 to 2006)
- 380x34mm two-piece disc
- GT-A 8-piston monobloc caliper (1G series, not the standard GT-A two-piece)
- Caliper colours: Black, Red or Silver
- Made to order: six to eight weeks
W216 CL550 and CL600: GT-S 405mm
For the standard W216 engine variants, CL550 (V8) and CL600 (V12 bi-turbo), Brembo list separate brackets but the same GT-S 405mm front kit. The disc is a 405x34mm two-piece; the caliper is a 6-piston GT-S machined from billet aluminium with a nickel finish. Both the CL550 and CL600 listings are at £5,343.76 inc VAT.
The two products cover the same front disc and caliper specification, built with model-specific caliper mounts. If the car is a CL550, the CL550 listing is the correct one to order; if it is a CL600, ring Cameron on 0115 9893488 and he will confirm the right part number for your chassis.
The GT-S billet caliper is a step up from the GT-A in material and manufacturing method. The GT-A is a cast caliper; the GT-S is machined from a solid billet of aluminium. Brembo carry the same manufacturing approach from their competition caliper work down into the GT road range.
- £5,343.76 inc VAT (both CL550 and CL600 listings)
- W216 CL550 and W216 CL600 front hub
- 405x34mm two-piece disc
- GT-S billet aluminium caliper, nickel finished, 6 piston
- Cross-drilled or Type 3 slotted disc, same price
- Made to order: six to eight weeks
W216 CL63 AMG and CL65 AMG: GT-S 405mm
The AMG front axle in the W216 uses a different caliper bracket from the standard CL550 and CL600, even where the disc and caliper are identical hardware. This is Brembo’s catalogue pattern for the W216: one disc and caliper specification, model-specific brackets. The CL63 AMG (6.3 litre naturally aspirated V8) and the CL65 AMG (6.0 litre bi-turbo V12) share the same AMG-specific caliper mount.
The GT-S 405mm for the AMG is listed at £5,343.76 inc VAT, exactly as it is for the standard CL550 and CL600. The 405mm disc, the 6-piston billet caliper and the nickel finish are the same hardware. The bracket that connects the caliper to the hub is the AMG-specific piece. Order the AMG listing for the W216 CL63 or CL65.
- £5,343.76 inc VAT
- W216 CL63 AMG and CL65 AMG front hub
- 405x34mm two-piece disc
- GT-S billet aluminium caliper, nickel finished, 6 piston
- Cross-drilled or Type 3 slotted disc, same price
- Made to order: six to eight weeks
W216 CL550 and CL600: GT-R 405mm
The GT-R is Brembo’s top specification in the billet range. The caliper is machined from billet and hard anodised, which is the surface treatment Brembo use on their competition calipers. The Brembo logo is laser-engraved, and the same racing-style piston radiators and recessed dust seals used in the motorsport specification carry across to the GT-R road caliper.
For the standard W216, both the CL550 and CL600 have GT-R 405mm listings at £9,424.91 inc VAT each. The disc specification matches the GT-S: 405x34mm two-piece, cross-drilled or Type 3 slotted at the same price. The difference is in the caliper finish and manufacturing precision.
Garreth’s view: the GT-S at £5,343 does the job well on any CL-Class used hard on road and track. The GT-R at £9,424 is for the owner who wants the definitive specification and uses the car often enough for the hard anodised surface treatment to be the right call. Ring on 0115 9893488 if you want to talk through which suits the way the car is actually used.
- £9,424.91 inc VAT (both CL550 and CL600 listings)
- W216 CL550 and W216 CL600 front hub
- 405x34mm two-piece disc
- GT-R billet aluminium, hard anodised, 6 piston
- Cross-drilled or Type 3 slotted disc, same price
- Made to order: six to eight weeks
W216 CL63 AMG and CL65 AMG: GT-R 405mm
At £9,424.91 inc VAT, the GT-R 405mm for the W216 AMG models is the top of the CL-Class Brembo range. The CL63 AMG with its 6.3 litre naturally aspirated engine and the CL65 AMG with the 6.0 litre bi-turbo V12 share the same AMG-specific front hub bracket at this level.
The hard anodised surface treatment is what separates the GT-R from the GT-S here. On a road car that gets regular track use, the anodising handles the thermal cycling and environmental exposure that a nickel-finished caliper does not encounter with the same consistency over time. The caliper clearance drawing on the product page is different from the GT-S 405mm: the two calipers have different envelopes, so check the right drawing if wheel fit is a question.
Confirm caliper colour at order: GT-R colour options can differ from the GT-S. Everything on this page is six to eight weeks from the Brembo factory in Italy. Cameron can confirm current lead time when you call on 0115 9893488.
Rear kits for the CL-Class
Brembo list rear kits for both generations. For the W216 standard models, the GT-A 328mm rear covers the CL550 and CL600 at £3,510.11 inc VAT each, with model-specific brackets. For the W215, rear GT-A kits at the same price cover the CL500, CL55 AMG and CL600.
The W216 AMG rear uses a larger 380mm disc. The GT-S 380mm rear for the CL63/CL65 AMG is £4,138.78 inc VAT; the GT-R 380mm rear is £7,439.34 inc VAT. The AMG rear bracket differs from the standard model.
If you are planning a combined front and rear conversion, ring Cameron on 0115 9893488 before placing the order. He will check the brake balance across the axles for your specific variant and confirm that the rear bracket is correct for your build year.
What is in each Brembo kit
Every Brembo kit on this page is a complete axle conversion. All front kits include the calipers, matched two-piece discs with bells, Brembo pads, caliper mounting brackets, vehicle-specific braided brake lines and all fitting hardware. The rear kits in the section above follow the same format.
| In the kit | All Brembo CL-Class kits |
|---|---|
| Calipers | GT-A 8-piston monobloc (W215 CL55 AMG front), GT-A 4-piston (rear), GT-S billet nickel 6-piston (W216 front) or GT-R hard anodised billet 6-piston (W216 front flagship) |
| Discs | Two-piece with bells. Front: 380x34mm (W215) or 405x34mm (W216). Rear: 328x28mm (W216 standard and W215) or 380x28mm (W216 AMG) |
| Pads | Brembo pads, included |
| Braided lines | Vehicle-specific, included |
| Mounting brackets and hardware | Included |
| Disc face | Cross-drilled or Type 3 slotted, same price either way |
| Caliper colour | Set by part number last digit. W215 GT-A: Black, Red or Silver. W216 GT-S and GT-R: confirm at order. |
| Lead time | Six to eight weeks, made to order at the Brembo factory in Italy |
Every kit on this page compared
| Kit | Disc | Caliper | Pistons | Fits | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GT-A 380mm front | 380x34mm | GT-A monobloc | 8 | W215 CL55 AMG | £5,029.40 |
| GT-S 405mm front | 405x34mm | GT-S billet nickel | 6 | W216 CL550 | £5,343.76 |
| GT-S 405mm front | 405x34mm | GT-S billet nickel | 6 | W216 CL600 | £5,343.76 |
| GT-S 405mm front | 405x34mm | GT-S billet nickel | 6 | W216 CL63/CL65 AMG | £5,343.76 |
| GT-R 405mm front | 405x34mm | GT-R hard anodised billet | 6 | W216 CL550 | £9,424.91 |
| GT-R 405mm front | 405x34mm | GT-R hard anodised billet | 6 | W216 CL600 | £9,424.91 |
| GT-R 405mm front | 405x34mm | GT-R hard anodised billet | 6 | W216 CL63/CL65 AMG | £9,424.91 |
| GT-A 328mm rear | 328x28mm | GT-A cast | 4 | W216 CL550 rear | £3,510.11 |
| GT-A 328mm rear | 328x28mm | GT-A cast | 4 | W216 CL600 rear | £3,510.11 |
| GT-A 328mm rear | 328x28mm | GT-A cast | 4 | W215 CL500 rear | £3,510.11 |
| GT-A 328mm rear | 328x28mm | GT-A cast | 4 | W215 CL55 AMG rear | £3,510.11 |
| GT-A 328mm rear | 328x28mm | GT-A cast | 4 | W215 CL600 rear | £3,510.11 |
| GT-S 380mm rear | 380x28mm | GT-S billet nickel | 4 | W216 CL63/CL65 AMG rear | £4,138.78 |
| GT-R 380mm rear | 380x28mm | GT-R hard anodised billet | 4 | W216 CL63/CL65 AMG rear | £7,439.34 |
Prices include VAT and were correct on 22 September 2026. All kits are made to order at the Brembo factory in Italy; current lead time is six to eight weeks. The W215 CL500 and CL600 have older-format Brembo GT front listings not shown in the picks above: ring Cameron on 0115 9893488 with your build year and variant and he will confirm the right part number before ordering.
Common questions
Does Tarox or HiSpec make a big brake kit for the CL-Class?
Neither Tarox nor HiSpec list a big brake kit for the Mercedes CL-Class in their current catalogues. We have searched both the Tarox and HiSpec catalogues and the Mercedes CL-Class vehicle category on our own site. There are no listings for the W215 or W216. The only brand in our range with a front big brake kit for the CL-Class is Brembo. If either brand adds cover for this car, we will update this page.
Why does the same 405mm disc number fit four different W216 models?
The base part number for the W216 front disc (1N19503A) is shared across the CL550, CL600, CL63 AMG and CL65 AMG. The disc hardware is the same across all four variants. What changes between the individual listings is the bracket suffix on the part number, because each model uses a slightly different hub geometry for the caliper mount. Brembo package the same disc with the correct bracket for each car. The shared disc part number is a sign that the hardware is genuinely common across those applications, not a corner being cut.
Why does the W215 GT-A have 8 pistons when GT-A calipers are normally 4 or 6?
The 1G series caliper that Brembo specify for the W215 CL55 AMG is an 8-piston monobloc design. It sits in the GT-A family by virtue of its two-piece disc construction and its position in the CL55 AMG catalogue, but it is a more substantial caliper than the standard two-piece 4-piston GT-A used on lighter cars. The CL55 AMG is a heavy touring car and Brembo specify accordingly at the entry point for this application.
How long does a Brembo kit take to arrive?
Six to eight weeks from order is Brembo's current lead time for made-to-order GT kits built in Italy. The precise figure can move through the year. Ask when you call on 0115 9893488 and we will give you the current picture before you commit. Brembo GT kits are not shelf stock: each one is built to the caliper colour and disc face specification you choose at order.
Can I run a front and rear conversion together?
Rear kits for the CL-Class are listed in the rear kits section above. The W216 standard models have a GT-A 328mm rear option; the W216 AMG has GT-S 380mm and GT-R 380mm rear options. Before ordering a combined front and rear conversion, ring Cameron on 0115 9893488. He will check that the brake balance is correct for your specific variant and that the rear bracket is right for your build year before anything goes on order.
What we would actually fit
For a W215 CL55 AMG, the GT-A 380mm 8-piston at £5,029.40 is the kit. It is the only new-format front Brembo for the older generation, and at this price it is a meaningful upgrade on a car that is already heavy and fast.
For a W216 CL550 or CL600, Garreth’s recommendation is the GT-S 405mm at £5,343.76. The billet aluminium caliper suits a grand tourer that sees track days, and the 405mm disc has the thermal mass that a 2,000 kg car needs on repeated hard laps. On road only the GT-S is still the right level: the disc size is well matched to a car of this weight.
For the W216 AMG, the GT-S at the same price is the natural starting point. The CL63 AMG with the naturally aspirated V8 or the CL65 AMG with the V12 bi-turbo both generate the heat and inertia that justify the upgrade, and the AMG-specific bracket puts the kit on correctly for that hub geometry.
The GT-R at £9,424.91 is the definitive specification for an owner who competes or wants Brembo’s top finish on the road car. The GT-S stops the car just as well; the GT-R is for the owner who wants the hard anodised surface treatment and wants to know the caliper specification is not the limit.
Ring us on 0115 9893488 before ordering. Cameron will confirm the clearance drawing against your wheels, check the correct part number for your model year and variant, and give you the current lead time from Brembo. Nothing on this page is shelf stock.