Brake system Toyota Supra A90 Mk5/ BMW 240 G29
Toyota Supra A90 (Mk5) and the BMW Z4 (G29) share the same CLAR platform, their braking systems are virtually identical in terms of mounting points and hardware. However, there are significant differences depending on the trim level (4-cylinder vs. 6-cylinder) and the specific performance package chosen.
1. Factory Brake Configurations
The braking hardware is divided into two main categories across both the Supra and the Z4:
Standard “Base” Brakes (2.0L / 4-Cylinder)
-
Front: Single-piston floating calipers.
-
Rear: Single-piston floating calipers with an integrated Electronic Parking Brake (EPB).
-
Rotors: 330mm ventilated discs.
-
Note: These are generally considered adequate for street use but prone to significant fade during spirited driving or track sessions.
Sport/M-Sport Brakes (3.0L / 6-Cylinder & Special Trims)
-
Front: Brembo 4-piston fixed aluminum calipers.
-
Rear: Larger single-piston floating calipers (standard BMW/Continental design).
-
Rotors: 348mm x 36mm (Front) / 345mm x 24mm (Rear).
-
Master Cylinder: These models use a larger bore master cylinder to accommodate the increased fluid displacement of the 4-piston fronts.
2. Technical Commonalities
-
Bolt Pattern: Both vehicles use the 5×112 bolt pattern (a shift from the older BMW 5×120).
-
Electronic Parking Brake (EPB): The rear calipers on both cars are controlled electronically. Retracting the pistons for a brake job requires a diagnostic tool (like ISTA or a specialized OBDII scanner) to put the car into “Service Mode,” or the manual removal of the EPB motor.
-
Fluid: Both systems utilize DOT 4 Low Viscosity fluid. For track use, many owners swap to high-temp fluids like Castrol SRF or Motul RBF660.
3. Key Upgrade Paths
Since the Z4 and Supra are mechanically twins, parts are highly interchangeable.
| Upgrade Level | Description |
| Stage 1 (Street/Track) | High-friction pads (e.g., Hawk 5.0 or Endless MX72) and Stainless Steel lines. |
| Stage 2 (OEM+) | Retrofitting the BMW M-Performance red/blue calipers or the Supra A91-CF Edition matte grey calipers. |
| Stage 3 (Full BBK) | Moving to 6-piston systems like the StopTech ST60 or AP Racing Radi-CAL kits. These offer massive thermal capacity for heavy track use. |
4. Maintenance & Service Notes
-
Coded Features: The Supra and Z4 feature “Brake Drying” and “Cornering Brake Control” (CBC) as part of the DSC system. If you change the caliper size significantly (e.g., going from 1-piston to 6-piston), the ABS module should ideally be coded to recognize the new piston area to maintain proper pedal feel.
-
Wheel Clearance: The 4-piston Brembo calipers on the 3.0L models are quite wide. If you are swapping these onto a 2.0L model, factory 18″ wheels will usually clear, but some aftermarket 17″ wheels will not.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.