Alcon Performance Braking | Motorsport Brake Kits

Alcon — 40+ Years of Motorsport Braking

Alcon was founded in 1983 by engineer and sports car racer John Moore, originally to design and supply brakes for Audi Sport's Group B Quattro rally cars. From that motorsport origin, the company has grown into one of the world's most respected specialist braking manufacturers — still headquartered in Tamworth, UK, still designing and manufacturing brake systems for the top tier of global motorsport, and now extending that expertise into elite road-car aftermarket applications. Approximately 75% of Alcon's sales are international exports, recognised in 2023 with the MIA Export Achievement Award.

Who uses Alcon brakes:

• F1, IndyCar & Formula E: Long-standing supplier to multiple championship-winning teams
• World Rally Championship: Brakes behind Sebastien Loeb's nine WRC driver titles
• NASCAR Cup Series: Kyle Busch's 2015 Sprint Cup Championship was won on Alcon brakes
• IMSA SportsCar Championship & FIA WEC: Including the Ford Mustang GT3 program
• GT3 racing: Aston Martin Vantage GT3, Bentley Continental GT3, McLaren GT3, Ford Mustang GT3
• OEM partnerships: Range Rover Sport SVR, Land Rover Defender, Ford Raptor R, Ariel Atom 500, Noble M600
• Australian motorsport: Used by Coore Racing for their Top 5 Open Class finish at the 2025 World Time Attack Challenge — genuine local race-proven credibility

The Alcon Caliper Range — How to Choose

Alcon's aftermarket caliper line is broader than most buyers realise. We've organised it into three clear tiers based on intended use, so you can quickly identify which caliper suits your build.

Street & Street/Track — "Advantage Extreme" Range

The Advantage Extreme line is Alcon's street-focused performance range. Dust-sealed for daily-driver durability, designed around OEM-style mounting for direct-fit installation, and engineered for the realities of road use including cold-start braking, wet weather, and occasional track days.

• CAR97 MONO6 — 6-piston monobloc, gravity die cast aluminium one-piece body, no seam down the middle, radial mount. The workhorse front caliper used across most Advantage Extreme BBK kits. ZG-spec piston configuration (30.2 / 34.9 / 38.1mm) for balanced pressure distribution and even pad wear.
• CAR98 MONO4 — 4-piston monobloc, same gravity die cast construction as CAR97 but in a 4-pot package. Commonly paired as the rear with a CAR97 front, or used as a 4-pot front on lighter-platform applications.
• CAR99 — 6-piston billet monobloc, machined from solid billet aluminium for superior rigidity and heat resistance vs the cast CAR97. The newest addition to Alcon's street range (launched 2024). ZG-spec pistons (30.2 / 34.9 / 38.1mm), fits 355–400mm rotors, dust sealed. The premium street/track upgrade option for owners who want billet-grade construction with daily-driver usability.
• CAR36 Street — 4-piston two-piece P-type caliper. Used in street BBK applications where the two-piece construction's thermal isolation is beneficial.

Performance Street/Track — Forged "TA+" Range

The TA6+ and TA4+ calipers bridge the gap between street and pure motorsport. Forged aluminium construction (stronger and lighter than cast), but with street-friendly dust sealing and pad compounds compatible with road use.

• CAR89 TA6+ — 6-piston forged aluminium. The daily-usable derivative of the CAR89 motorsport caliper, offering race-grade engineering with street-acceptable noise and pad wear characteristics.
• CAR49 TA4+ — 4-piston forged aluminium, radial mount, staggered piston configuration. The daily-usable derivative of the CAR49 motorsport caliper. Browse the dedicated Alcon CAR49 / TA4+ collection for kits and parts.

Motorsport / Race Calipers

Alcon's race caliper range is engineered for dedicated motorsport use. Most are non-dust-sealed for reduced friction and weight — they're designed to be inspected and serviced regularly, not driven daily.

• CAR89 Motorsport — 6-piston race-spec, used in GT racing, Touring Cars and LMP-grade applications
• CAR49 Motorsport — 4-piston forged motorsport-only rear caliper
• CAR36 Motorsport — 4-piston two-piece P-type rear, race version
• CR6420 — 4-piston billet aerospace aluminium, differential piston diameters to minimise pad taper wear
• CAR95 — 6-piston billet GT race caliper, aerospace-grade billet aluminium construction — Alcon's top-tier GT-race option
• CRB343 — 4-piston radial mount B-type. ⚠️ NON DUST SEALED — TRACK USE ONLY. 2.4kg dry, fits Ø280–343mm rotors (28–32mm thick). Used in Rally, Group N+, Touring Car and General Race applications. Not suitable for street use — fit only to track-only cars or dedicated motorsport builds.

Important — CAR89 and CAR49 each come in TWO versions: the "Motorsport" race-only variant and the "TA6+/TA4+" street-friendly variant. Same caliper family, different seal configurations and intended use. If you're spec'ing a street/track build, you want the TA6+/TA4+ versions — the Motorsport versions are for dedicated race cars.

Engineering Detail — Why Alcon Calipers Work

• Monobloc construction (cast or billet): One-piece caliper body for maximum stiffness, which translates to firmer pedal feel and improved braking precision at the limit
• Staggered piston bores: Different piston diameters across the caliper to compensate for uneven pad temperature distribution, dramatically reducing tapered pad wear
• Nitrile rubber wiper seals: Internal seals (outboard of EPDM pressure seals) protect against the elements without external boots that get damaged by hot brake pads
• Nickel-plated steel pistons: Standard fitment for durability and corrosion resistance, with stainless steel pistons available as an upgrade for further heat-transfer reduction
• Radial-mount design: Maximum rigidity and firm, consistent pedal feel under load
• Forged aluminium (TA+ range) and billet aluminium (CAR99, CR6420, CAR95): Higher strength-to-weight ratio than cast, with superior heat resistance for sustained track use

Platform-Specific Big Brake Kits

Alcon's aftermarket Big Brake Kits are engineered as complete, bolt-on solutions for specific vehicle platforms. Each kit includes calipers, 2-piece rotors, mounting brackets, brake lines and pads matched to the platform's weight, brake bias and wheel envelope. Common applications include:

• Toyota GR Yaris, GR Corolla & Supra A90 — Modern GR platform BBK solutions
• BMW G80/G82 M3/M4, F80, E90 & 1M — Including the famous RC4/RC6 kit family
• Nissan R34 GT-R, R35 GT-R & Skyline platforms — Replacing aging factory Brembos
• Honda Civic Type R FK8 & FL5 — Track-grade upgrade for the K20C1 platform
• Subaru WRX, STI & BRZ — Direct replacement for factory Brembos
• Mitsubishi Evo 4–9 & Evo 10 — Classic Time Attack platform support
• VW/Audi MQB chassis — Golf R, GTI, Audi S3, RS3
• Porsche 911, Cayman & GT cars — Iron BBK alternatives to PCCB
• Honda Civic EG/EK & Integra DC2 — 4x100 platform BBKs

Pad Compounds & Replacement Parts

Most Alcon calipers use industry-standard pad shapes that accept a wide range of friction materials. Pair Alcon calipers with quality pad compounds from DIXCEL for street/track applications, or upgrade to motorsport-grade compounds for dedicated race use. Replacement 2-piece rotors are available through Paragon Performance — the rotor partner that pairs natively with Alcon BBK kits.

Completing the Build — Cross-Brand Pairings

Alcon brakes are typically the final piece in a serious performance build. Most owners arrive at Alcon after upgrading the rest of the car — and the natural cross-brand pairings at Chicane are:

• Cooling: KOYORAD aluminium radiators for the same JDM, Subaru, Civic Type R, GR Yaris and R35 GT-R platforms Alcon supports
• Civic Type R intake/turbo: PRL Motorsports for the FK8 and FL5
• Fuel system: Injector Dynamics for E85, methanol and built-motor applications
• Suspension: Hardrace control arms, bushings and supporting suspension components
• Exhaust: KORSH downpipes and catbacks
• Pads & rotors: DIXCEL pads and Paragon 2-piece rotors

Sourcing & Lead Times

Alcon brake kits are application-specific and built to order in many cases. Lead times vary by caliper colour, piston configuration, pad compound and rotor specification — typically 2–4 weeks for in-stock configurations and 4–6 weeks for bespoke specifications. We hold inventory of the most-requested AU platforms (GR Yaris, WRX/STI, FK8/FL5 Civic Type R, R35 GT-R, BMW M platform) for faster turnaround.

Based on the Central Coast, NSW, we provide technical guidance on caliper selection, piston configuration, rotor diameter and pad compound for your specific vehicle and intended use. We're a working performance shop — not a marketplace listing — and we'd rather sell you the right kit once than the wrong kit twice.

Alcon Specialist Braking — Frequently Asked Questions

Why choose Alcon CAR series calipers?
The Alcon CAR series are genuine motorsport-derived calipers. Unlike mass-produced aftermarket options, Alcon calipers are designed with focused attention to caliper body stiffness (cast monobloc for CAR97/CAR98, billet monobloc for CAR99, billet aerospace aluminium for CAR95/CR6420), staggered piston bores for even pad wear, and internal seal designs optimised for high-temperature operation. The result is a more immediate and consistent pedal feel — particularly as temperatures climb during a track session.

What's the difference between CAR97 and CAR99?
Both are 6-piston monobloc calipers using Alcon's ZG-spec piston configuration (30.2 / 34.9 / 38.1mm), and both are designed for street/track applications. The key difference is construction method: CAR97 is gravity die cast aluminium (Alcon's proven workhorse design), while the newer CAR99 is machined from solid billet aluminium for superior rigidity and heat resistance. The CAR99 sits above the CAR97 in the Advantage Extreme range — same engineering philosophy, premium billet execution.

Are Alcon Big Brake Kits a direct fit?
Yes. Alcon BBK kits for platforms like the GR Yaris, BMW G80/G82, R35 GT-R, Civic Type R and WRX/STI are engineered as complete bolt-on solutions. Each kit includes the necessary brackets, hardware, brake lines and pads to integrate with your factory spindles and master cylinder without fabrication. Alcon makes both front and rear BBK options for most major platforms — and full front/rear sets where the platform supports it.

Which Alcon caliper suits my build — Motorsport or TA6+/TA4+?
CAR89 and CAR49 each come in two versions. The "Motorsport" variants (CAR89 Motorsport, CAR49 Motorsport) are race-only — designed for dedicated track cars where the calipers are regularly inspected and serviced. The "TA6+" and "TA4+" variants are street-friendly equivalents — same engineering core but with dust seals and pad options suited to daily-driver use. If your car sees street use, you want the TA6+/TA4+ versions.

Can I use Alcon CRB343 calipers on a road car?
No — the CRB343 is non-dust-sealed and intended for track use only. The non-sealed design reduces friction and weight for race applications, but on a road car the lack of dust sealing dramatically shortens caliper service life (brake dust and water enter the piston bores). The CRB343 is the right choice for dedicated track cars, Rally/Group N+ builds and Touring Car applications. For a street-driven car, choose CAR97, CAR99, or one of the TA6+/TA4+ options instead.

How quickly can you source Alcon parts in Australia?
Most in-stock Alcon caliper configurations and replacement rotors despatch within a short timeframe from our Central Coast NSW base. Custom-colour and bespoke piston configurations typically run 2–4 weeks for standard specifications and 4–6 weeks for full custom builds. We hold inventory for the highest-volume AU platforms — GR Yaris, WRX/STI, FK8/FL5 Civic Type R, R35 GT-R, BMW M platforms — for faster turnaround.

Does Alcon make kits for the BMW M3 G80?
Yes — Alcon offers both front and rear BBK options for the G80/G82 platform (M2, M3, M4), featuring motorsport-derived CAR-series calipers paired with platform-specific 2-piece rotors. The G8x kits are particularly well-suited as a cost-effective alternative to replacing the factory Carbon Ceramic Brake (CCB) system when worn — Alcon iron BBKs deliver track-grade performance at a fraction of CCB replacement cost.