Our Top Recommended Big Brake Upgrade Kits For Your Toyota MR2
The MR2 is a mid-engined car, which changes where the braking forces go compared with most front-engined road cars. The engine sits behind the driver, not over the front axle, so the front brakes are dealing with less weight transfer than they would on a front-engined road car of the same weight. That does not mean the standard setup is good enough for track use; it means the stopping improvement you get from a big brake conversion is felt very clearly at the pedal because the hardware itself is the limiting factor, not chassis weight.
The Mk1 AW11 ran 14-inch wheels from the factory and a 226mm disc. Every kit on this page starts at 285mm and needs at least a 15-inch wheel, so Mk1 owners fitting any kit here will need a set of 15s if they are still running standard alloys. Mk2 SW20 owners are generally better placed: most come with 14 or 15-inch wheels depending on the year and trim, and 17-inch aftermarket sets are common on modified cars.
This page covers the kits Garreth and Cameron would actually fit, from both brands we use for big brake conversions: HiSpec Motorsport in Dartford and Tarox in northern Italy. The full Toyota MR2 brake range is on the site if you want to compare everything side by side.
- The Mk1 (AW11) factory disc was 226mm; the smallest kit here is 285mm and needs a minimum 15-inch wheel
- Mk-specific kits exist at 285mm (Mk1 only) and 300mm (Mk2 only); above 300mm the kits fit both generations
- Tarox includes pads and braided hoses in the box, pre-fitted; HiSpec Monster kits include both; HiSpec Billet 4 kits price them separately
- Only one Tarox kit is in the MR2 range: the 320mm Sport, which clears a 17-inch wheel and is the only complete box-in-one option on the page
What is on this page
Two brands, two approaches
Both companies machine their own calipers from billet aluminium and build each kit around the specific car. The difference shows up in the box.
Tarox
Built at the Tarox factory in northern Italy. Calipers are CNC machined from European billet alloy, hand assembled, and individually tested. Discs are heat treated, CNC faced and balanced to 0.05mm. Vehicle-specific braided hoses and Corsa pads arrive pre-fitted; Tarox state full compatibility with ABS and ESP.
HiSpec Motorsport
Machined in Dartford from 6082 T6 billet aluminium. Made to order in up to 28 working days, with calipers in black, red, blue, gold or silver. Billet 4 kits price pads and hoses separately so you pick the compound. Monster kits include EBC Redstuff pads and braided hoses in the box.
Wheel sizes across the range
Wheel size is the first thing to pin down on the MR2. The Mk1 came with 14-inch factory alloys, which means any kit here requires a wheel swap if you are still on standards. The table below covers every kit from both brands. HiSpec publish the minimum wheel diameter on each listing. For the Tarox 320mm the wheel clearance was confirmed directly from the Tarox catalogue.
| Kit | Disc | Smallest wheel |
|---|---|---|
| HiSpec 285mm Billet 4 (Mk1) | 285mm | 15 inch |
| HiSpec 300mm Billet 4 (Mk2) | 300mm | 16 inch |
| Tarox 320mm Sport | 320mm | 17 inch |
| HiSpec 325mm Monster 4 | 325mm | 17 inch |
| HiSpec 325mm Monster 6 | 325mm | 17 inch |
| HiSpec 360mm Monster 4 | 360mm | 18 inch |
| HiSpec 360mm Monster 6 | 360mm | 18 inch |
HiSpec 285mm Billet 4: the starting point for Mk1 owners
The 285mm Billet 4 is the only kit in the HiSpec MR2 range built specifically for the AW11. It moves from the factory 226mm disc to a 285mm two-piece floating rotor, 24mm thick, and runs on a standard Billet 4 four-piston caliper machined from 6082 T6 billet aluminium. That is a 59mm increase in disc diameter, which means more leverage at the pad and a noticeably shorter pedal travel from cold.
The minimum wheel clearance is 15 inches. Mk1 owners on standard 14-inch factory alloys will need a new set of wheels before this kit goes on, which is worth factoring into the total cost of the conversion. Pads and braided hoses are not included in the box and need to be added; HiSpec supply both, and Cameron can advise on compound for road or track use.
- £1,188.53 inc VAT
- Fits Mk1 (AW11) only
- Clears 15 inch wheels (14 inch factory wheels need replacing)
- 285mm two-piece floating disc, 24mm thick
- Billet 4 four-piston caliper, 6082 T6 billet aluminium, external boots
- Pads and braided hoses priced separately
- Made to order in Dartford, up to 28 working days, five caliper colours
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Hi Spec 285mm Billet 4 Conversion kits, Hi Spec Road Car Front Big Brake kits, Toyota MR2 Brake Kits
£1,188.53 Incl. VATPayPal CreditFinance availableAdd to basket
HiSpec 300mm Billet 4: the Mk2 entry kit
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Hi Spec 300mm Billet 4 Conversion kits, Toyota MR2 Brake Kits
£1,464.00 Incl. VATPayPal CreditFinance availableSelect options
The 300mm kit is the Mk2-specific entry in the Billet 4 range. It clears 16-inch wheels, which is the size most Mk2 SW20 owners are on once they have moved away from factory alloys. Above 300mm the kits in this range stop being model-specific and fit both generations.
The Billet 4 caliper is the same four-piston design as on the Mk1 kit: CNC machined from billet aluminium, external boots, no flex under heavy braking. The disc steps up to 300mm and switches to a two-piece vane rotor design with aluminium bells. Braided hoses are listed as optional on this kit; the listing includes EBC standard road pads as standard. Give us a ring if you want to upgrade the compound or add hoses at the same time.
- £1,464.00 inc VAT
- Fits Mk2 (SW20) only
- Clears 16 inch wheels
- 300mm two-piece disc, aluminium bells, vane rotor
- Billet 4 four-piston caliper, 6082 T6 billet aluminium
- EBC standard road pads included, braided hoses optional
- Made to order in Dartford, up to 28 working days, five caliper colours
Tarox 320mm Sport: the complete kit on 17-inch wheels
The 320mm Tarox Sport is the only Tarox kit in the MR2 range, and it is also the only kit on this page where everything arrives ready to fit in one box. The B32 six-piston caliper is hand assembled at the Tarox factory in northern Italy. The disc is a two-piece floating design balanced to 0.05mm. Vehicle-specific braided hoses are included, and Corsa pads come pre-fitted on the caliper. Nothing extra to source.
The minimum wheel size is 17 inches, which marks the step up from the Mk2-specific 300mm kit above. Garreth’s view on this kit: for a Mk2 already on 17s where the owner wants to bolt it on and forget about pad selection, this is the clean choice. The caliper is available in black, red, blue, green or gold finish; Tarox confirm full ABS and ESP compatibility.
- £2,000.89 inc VAT
- Fits Mk1 and Mk2, clears 17 inch wheels
- 320mm two-piece floating disc, 26mm thick, balanced to 0.05mm
- B32 six-piston caliper, billet alloy, hand assembled in Italy
- Corsa pads pre-fitted, vehicle-specific braided hoses included
- Black, red, blue, green or gold caliper finish
- ABS and ESP compatible
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Tarox 320mm 6 pot sport conversion kits, Toyota MR2 Brake Kits
£2,000.89 Incl. VATPayPal CreditFinance availableSelect options
HiSpec 325mm Monster 4 and Monster 6: the track-day step
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Hi Spec 325mm Monster 6 Conversion kits, Toyota MR2 Brake Kits
£1,683.00 Incl. VATPayPal CreditFinance availableSelect options -
Hi Spec 325mm Monster 4 Conversion kits, Toyota MR2 Brake Kits
£1,596.00 Incl. VATPayPal CreditFinance availableSelect options
The Monster caliper runs a longer pad than the Billet 4, which gives about 33% more pad surface area in contact with the disc. On a car the weight of the MR2 the Billet 4 is a solid road upgrade; the Monster makes sense when the car is going to track days or is running more power than standard and the existing pads are working hard.
Both the four-piston Monster 4 and the six-piston Monster 6 clear a 17-inch wheel, the same as the Tarox 320mm. Cameron’s guidance on the Monster 4 versus Monster 6 call: on the road the Monster 4 has plenty of bite for the car. On track, if the pads are coming off warm or the sessions run long, the Monster 6 adds piston area and keeps the clamping force up when the fluid starts to heat. The price difference is not large. Both include EBC Redstuff pads and braided hoses in the box.
- Monster 4 at £1,596.00 inc VAT, Monster 6 at £1,683.00 inc VAT
- Fits Mk1 and Mk2, both clear 17 inch wheels
- 325mm two-piece floating disc
- Monster 4: four pistons; Monster 6: six pistons, 63% more piston area
- EBC Redstuff pads and braided hoses included in the box
- Made to order in Dartford, up to 28 working days, five caliper colours
HiSpec 360mm Monster 4 and Monster 6: the full build
The 360mm is the biggest kit in the MR2 range and it needs 18-inch wheels to clear. At 75mm bigger than the factory disc on the Mk2, this is a significant conversion and the one Garreth reserves for cars that are genuinely built for track use or competition. On a car as light as the MR2 it is serious hardware, and the improvement over the 325mm Monster above is most obvious in repeated high-speed braking rather than the first application.
The same Monster 4 versus Monster 6 question applies here as at 325mm. Both include EBC Redstuff pads and braided hoses. The Monster 6 is the better spec for hard track use; the Monster 4 handles everything a fast road car needs. Both clear an 18-inch wheel.
- Monster 4 at £1,780.50 inc VAT, Monster 6 at £1,863.00 inc VAT
- Fits Mk1 and Mk2, both clear 18 inch wheels
- 360mm two-piece floating disc
- Monster 4: four pistons; Monster 6: six pistons with up to 63% more piston area
- EBC Redstuff pads and braided hoses included in the box
- Made to order in Dartford, up to 28 working days, five caliper colours
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Hi Spec 360mm Monster 6 Conversion kits, Toyota MR2 Brake Kits
£1,863.00 Incl. VATPayPal CreditFinance availableSelect options -
Hi Spec 360mm Monster 4 Conversion kits, Toyota MR2 Brake Kits
£1,780.50 Incl. VATPayPal CreditFinance availableSelect options
What is actually in each box
The Billet 4 and Monster kits price differently on pads and hoses, so the gap between a Billet 4 and a Monster narrows once the kit is completed. The Monster kits include EBC Redstuff pads and braided hoses; the Billet 4 kits price them separately. Add both to a Billet 4 and the final cost sits closer to the Monster than the headline prices suggest.
| In the box | HiSpec Billet 4 (285+300mm) | HiSpec Monster (325+360mm) | Tarox 320mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calipers | Billet 4, four-piston, 6082 T6 billet | Monster 4 or Monster 6, 6082 T6 billet | B32 six-piston, hand assembled |
| Discs | Two-piece floating, with bells | Two-piece floating, vane rotor, with bells | Two-piece floating, balanced to 0.05mm |
| Brackets and hardware | Included | Included | Included |
| Braided hoses | Optional, priced separately | Included | Included |
| Pads | 285mm: priced separately; 300mm: EBC Standard Road included | EBC Redstuff, included | Corsa pads, pre-fitted |
| Caliper finish | Black, red, blue, gold or silver | Black, red, blue, gold or silver | Black, red, blue, green or gold anodised |
| Built in | Dartford, UK, up to 28 working days | Dartford, UK, up to 28 working days | Northern Italy |
Every kit on this page compared
| Kit | Disc | Caliper | Smallest wheel | Pads and hoses | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HiSpec 285mm Billet 4 (Mk1) | 285mm | 4 piston | 15in | Extra | £1,188.53 |
| HiSpec 300mm Billet 4 (Mk2) | 300mm | 4 piston | 16in | Pads included, hoses optional | £1,464.00 |
| Tarox 320mm Sport | 320mm | B32, 6 piston | 17in | Included | £2,000.89 |
| HiSpec 325mm Monster 4 | 325mm | 4 piston | 17in | Included | £1,596.00 |
| HiSpec 325mm Monster 6 | 325mm | 6 piston | 17in | Included | £1,683.00 |
| HiSpec 360mm Monster 4 | 360mm | 4 piston | 18in | Included | £1,780.50 |
| HiSpec 360mm Monster 6 | 360mm | 6 piston | 18in | Included | £1,863.00 |
Prices include VAT and were correct on 19 August 2026. The Tarox 320mm Sport sits above the HiSpec 325mm Monster 4 in price despite being a smaller disc; the premium covers the Italian-built six-piston caliper, the pre-fitted pads and the included braided hoses. Monster kits already have pads and hoses in the box, so the total-build gap is smaller than the headline prices show.
Common questions
Will any of these kits fit my Mk3 (ZZW30) MR2 Roadster?
No. The kits on this page are listed for the Mk1 AW11 and Mk2 SW20. The Mk3 Roadster (ZZW30) uses a different hub and is not covered by any of these fitments. If you have a Roadster, ring us and we will check what is available for that car specifically.
The Tarox 320mm costs more than the HiSpec 325mm Monster 4. How does that make sense?
The Tarox kit includes braided hoses and Corsa pads in the box, already fitted. The HiSpec 325mm Monster 4 also includes pads and hoses at that price level, but the Tarox caliper is a six-piston design built in Italy, which carries a premium over the four-piston HiSpec at the same wheel size. If six pistons and a complete box appeals, the Tarox is the pick. If you want to choose your own compound and run more than 325mm, the HiSpec Monster 6 is worth comparing directly on full build cost.
My Mk1 still has 14-inch factory wheels. Can I run any of these kits?
Not with the factory wheels. The 285mm Billet 4, which is the Mk1-specific kit, needs a minimum 15-inch wheel. Every other kit on the page needs 16, 17 or 18 inches. If a wheel change is part of the plan, the kit and wheels can be ordered at the same time; give Cameron the wheel spec before anything is confirmed and he will check the clearance.
Do these kits work with my ABS?
Tarox confirm full ABS and ESP compatibility on the 320mm Sport. For the HiSpec kits, give us the car spec when you order and we will confirm with HiSpec before the build goes in. The conversion replaces the caliper and disc, not the ABS pump or sensors, so in most cases it is straightforward, but confirming in advance is the right thing to do.
How long does a HiSpec kit take?
HiSpec build to order in Dartford; allow up to 28 working days from order confirmation. Tarox lead times vary through the year; ask when you place the order and we will get a build slot confirmed before you pay.
What we would actually fit
For a Mk2 on 16-inch wheels: the 300mm Billet 4, and we would add braided hoses to complete the build at the same time. For a Mk2 already on 17s that sees regular track use, Garreth’s money goes on the HiSpec 325mm Monster 4 and we would upgrade the pad compound to match how hard the car works. If the owner wants a one-box solution on 17s without having to choose a pad, the Tarox 320mm Sport is the clean pick. For a full track build on 18-inch wheels, the 360mm Monster 6 is the endpoint.
Mk1 owners: the 285mm Billet 4 is the right kit, and a set of 15-inch wheels is part of the conversion cost. Cameron has spec’d a few AW11 builds and can point you at an alloy that works with the clearance if you need a recommendation.
Ring us on 0115 9893488 with the wheel size, the generation, and how the car is used. Cameron deals with the clearance questions and Garreth deals with everything else. You will get a straight answer.