Brake discs size for focus mk3 1.0 is 280mm or 300mm?

Which brake discs and pads are the best for performance for this size?

280mm

Standard, you haven't got the weight or performance to require any more.

If you're cooking them by braking late then fit standard sized crossed drilled.

If you want a performance car with performance brakes buy one

So far for better performance found ATE, Brembo for discbrakes and ATE, Brembo and EBC for brake pads.

The front brake disc size of a Focus MK3/MK3.5 1.0 EcoBoost is 278 mm.

The 278 mm frond disc brakes however can easily be upgraded to 300 mm by changing the caliper brackets and discs. The calipers and brake pads are both identical between the 278 and 300 mm front disc brakes.

The 300 mm front disc brakes are fitted as standard to all Kuga MK2/MK2.5 2WD versions without factory fitted painted calipers. Since many Kuga's were sold, used 300 mm brackets are extremely common and inexpensive. From experience I can tell that upgrading the 278 mm front disc brakes to 300 mm makes quite a difference.

Yes but I searched for new or used calipers for 300mm size there are nowhere to be found.

300 mm calipers including the brackets for less than €35,- a piece.

https://www.ebay.de/itm/376780256582?_skw=kuga+bremssattel
https://www.ebay.de/itm/397373599198?_skw=kuga+bremssattel


After media or grit blasting the brackets will be in excellent (like new) condition.

I performed several 278 mm --> 300 mm front brake conversions. I usually buy the calipers and brackets from Ebay or local scrap yards, keep the brackets and throw the calipers away or sell them on.


Even the Kuga MK2/MK2.5 4X4 brake calipers and brackets (which are identical to the Focus MK3/MK3.5 ST calipers) can usually be found for little money.

Thank very interesting.

Also for brake pads i fount that Brembo's xtra pads can fit this model.

BREMBO Xtra P 24

BREMBO Xtra P 59 042X

17 hours ago, JW1982 said:

I performed several 278 mm --> 300 mm front brake conversions. I usually buy the calipers and brackets from Ebay or local scrap yards, keep the brackets and throw the calipers away or sell them on.

After doing this the brake pads should be bigger or/and the brake discs?

The brake pads are identical between the 278 and 300 mm front disc brakes.

Only the brackets and discs are different.

So if the calipers are changed the discs should also be changed?

Any other part like the pump?

Just buy heavier shoes

Perhaps ATE powerdiscs (grooved), with Brembo Xtra pads plus the bigger brackets (already has High-pressure brake lines) would bring a nice result.

If anyone could recommend grooved brake discs brand or have tried ATE powerdiscs is welcome to write a review or a recommendation.

 If you can’t find what you’re looking for, it’s worth checking out AUTODOC MARKETPLACE. I stumbled across this site whilst searching for brake parts, and there turned out to be far more options than I’d expected.

If the the brake pads be changed and later (example one year later) the dics' brackets be replaced (from 1.5's for 300mm discs) so that bigger discs be installed.

Could the brake pads for 278mm discs be compatible with 300mm discs?

Calipers and brake pads are identical for the 278 mm and 300 mm front disc brakes.

However, I would not install used brake pads on new discs. Once bedded in the brake pads form a hard surface layer. When installing used brake pads onto new discs the hard surface layer prevents the pads from bedding in properly. There will be an uneven contact surface between the used pads and the new discs which causes noise or even uneven wear of the new discs.

When using used brake pads the hard surface layer should at least be removed. This can be done by either milling or sanding. When doing this care must be taken that the friction surface becomes absolutely straight and in parallel with the metal backplate of the pad.

It is much easier to just install new discs and pads at the same time.

10 minutes ago, JW1982 said:

When using used brake pads the hard surface layer should at least be removed. This can be done by either milling or sanding. When doing this care must be taken that the friction surface becomes absolutely straight and in parallel with the metal backplate of the pad.

Would that be very hard to do?

11 minutes ago, JW1982 said:

However, I would not install used brake pads on new discs. Once bedded in the brake pads form a hard surface layer. When installing used brake pads onto new discs the hard surface layer prevents the pads from bedding in properly. There will be an uneven contact surface between the used pads and the new discs which causes noise or even uneven wear of the new discs.

Would it be unsafe?

1 hour ago, Bol said:

Would that be very hard to do?

You can just remove the top layer using for example a belt sander while checking the straightness and weather the surface is still parallel to the backing plate regularly using a vernier caliper. .

1 hour ago, Bol said:

Would it be unsafe?

Not really, but I do not see why you would risk to mess up a brand new set of disc by re-using the old brake pads.


Brake pads for the Focus MK3/MK3.5 are quite inexpensive. Personally, I would just replace them instead of doing so much effort to re-use them.

Because possibly Brembo xtra brake pads will be installed which are expensive and (theoretically) they last longer.

If you plan to upgrade to 300 mm front discs next Year, I strongly suggest to upgrade to the Brembo Xtra ceramic pads at the same time. If the pads need to be replaced now, I suggest to just install a set of cheap brake pads and consider them sacrificial. A set of standard front brake pads of a reputable brand can be found for less than €25,-.

Thank you.

The first option are Brembo Xtra brake pads.

What about the brake fluid.

What are the requirements for this model?

Can it be any fluid? Even dot 5.1?

Any ISO 4925?

Could the old discs have problem with the new pads?

Especially strong pads like Xtra?

Anyone knows where/how to find bigger brackets for 300mm discs?

To have bigger size discs (upgrade).

Someone higher up mentioned Kugas