1989-1994 Lotus Esprit Brake Upgrades

These front brake upgrade kits are for the 1989-1994 Esprit that was originally equipped with the TMC (Toyota Motor Company) front brakes and Girling rears. The original equipment front brake disks are 264mm x 22mm and utilize a sliding single piston caliper. They were used on the early-80s Toyota Celica which weighed in around 2650 pounds. The rear calipers are the same that were used on the inboard Citron transaxle equipped cars with different bracketry and parking brake cables, along with 258mm solid disks. Although these parts are fine for a street driven Esprit, anyone considering doing any type of spirited driving should consider better brakes. The calipers and rotors are totally unacceptable for any type of track event.

After purchasing a brake upgrade kit for the Celica and trying to adapt it, then three different kits for the Esprit, and being disappointed with all of them, WC Engineering went into development of its own brake kits. What we have is what we feel is the best brake upgrade path for the Esprit owner. We offer two front kits and one rear kit with options for the parking brake caliper. All of the kits fit inside 17" wheels, including the three-piece OZ original equipment wheels. We must state again: these front kits fit the cars that came with TMC brakes, not the cars that came with Brembo or AP racing front brakes. We currently do not offer front kits for these cars. The rear kits will fit the 1989-present Esprit (not the inboard rear brake Citron equipped Esprit). We typically build these 4 or 6 kits at a time, so please contact us for availability.

This system uses a differential bore four piston AP Racing caliper similar in size to the ones on the late Esprit. These calipers have the dust seals for street or track use. Along with the calipers are 330mm rotors that are 28mm thick. This system is a direct bolt-on kit, and includes two calipers, pads, stainless lines, two rotors with hats, mounting brackets and bolts. It is properly sized to use with the stock master cylinder (normal or ABS). NOTE: This kit will fit inside some 16" wheels!! Contact us for details. The stock rear brakes can be used but an upgrade to the later Brembo rears from the 1995-2000 Esprit are a great improvement.

Fits 1989-1994 Lotus Esprit that was originally equipped with TMC front brakes.

This kit is similar to the four-pot front kit, but uses a slightly larger differential bore six piston AP Racing caliper (also with dust seals). It still uses a 330mm x 28 mm rotor, but it requires the use of 17" wheels. The additional pad area gained by using this caliper allows a few more options for different pads. This kit requires the use of a rear brake upgrade. The minimum is the rear Brembo system from the 2001 or later Esprit. The recommended system is our four-pot rear AP Racing kit.

Fits 1989-1994 Lotus Esprits that were originally equipped with TMC front brakes.

This kit was designed to compliment our six-pot front kit. This uses a differential bore four piston caliper similar to the caliper used on the late Esprit in the front. However, due to the use of the caliper in a "leading" configuration on the rear as opposed to the "trailing" position in the front, the offset piston bores are different. For the same reason, the front caliper from a late Esprit should not be used in this rear position. Included are two calipers, pads, stainless lines, two rotors (304mm x 25mm) with hats, mounting brackets and bolts. This kit does not include a parking brake.

Fits 1989-Present Lotus Esprit.

This kit includes two Brembo parking brake calipers and cables as used on the rear of the later Esprit. It also has a set of brackets and bolts that allows them to align with our rear rotors. These calipers are also available from your local Lotus dealer. And we also offer the brackets separately for those choosing to source their own calipers.

This is a kit to convert the stock master cylinder from a 1989-1990 Esprit to a dual master cylinder with brake bias adjustment. The kit includes the bracket, piston rod, adjustment bar, and extension cable. It is designed to use Girling, AP, or Tilton master cylinders with a 2.5" hole center. Master cylinders can be chosen for each application and the brake bias is then cockpit adjustable. WC Engineering recommends the use of a .63 and a .81 Girling master cylinder with the six-pot front and four-pot rear brake kits, but your needs may vary.