The MG ZR, ZS and ZT cover five distinct front brake configurations, all sharing common Lockheed and TRW caliper families but in model-specific sizes. The ZR 105 and ZR TD 100 (and equivalent ZS 110 entry models) use 262mm solid front discs (SDB100500) with rear drums. The ZR 120 and ZR TD 115 step up to 262mm vented front discs (SDB100600) with 239mm solid rear discs. The ZR 160 and ZS 180 share the largest FWD setup, 282mm vented front discs (SDB000440) with 260mm solid rear discs and red-painted calipers.
The ZT, ZT-T and CDTi run a 284mm vented front disc with single-pot sliding calipers; the ZT 190 and ZT 260 step up to a 325mm vented front, and the ZT 260 alone receives 332mm vented rear discs with AP Racing twin-pot alloy calipers. Crucially, the ZR/ZS calipers are 4-stud-hub fitment and the ZT calipers are 5-stud-hub fitment, they do not interchange. Identifying car, engine and (on the ZT) whether the disc is 284mm or 325mm is essential before ordering.
ZR and ZS Brake Components
The ZR/ZS brake range is the most widely catalogued at MGOC Spares. Front pads for the ZR 160 and ZS 180 share a common application (SFP000370Z) thanks to the shared 282mm caliper and disc; the wider ZR/ZS 262mm fitment uses a separate pad set (SFP000390Z). Front discs are catalogued in three variants, 262mm solid (SDB100500) for the entry models with solid discs, 262mm vented (SDB100600) for the 1.8 and TD 115 spec, and the larger 282mm vented disc (SDB000440) for the ZR 160 and ZS 180. The ZR 160's red-painted 282mm front calipers are interchangeable with the ZS 180, which is the basis for one of the most popular owner upgrades on lower-spec ZR and ZS cars, fitting the larger discs and calipers from a donor 160/180 to step up the smaller setup.
ABS and Electronic Brake-force Distribution were standard on all ZR 160 and ZS 180 cars from launch. Rear shoes for the drum-braked entry cars and rear pads for the disc-braked cars are catalogued separately, and the rear hub bearing kit (RLB000070, GHK1951) suits drum-braked cars with ABS as a typical service item on higher-mileage examples.
ZT and ZT-T Brake Components
The ZT range uses larger components again. The standard 284mm vented front disc (SDB000880Z) covers the ZT 120, 160, 180, CDTi 116 and CDTi 135, paired with a single-pot sliding caliper carrying a wear-indicator lead (SOM100030) which warns the driver of pad wear via the dashboard, replace this lead at every pad change. The ZT 190 and ZT 260 use a different 325mm vented front disc with a larger caliper that mounts to a different position on the upright, a swap from the 284mm to the 325mm setup requires uprights, calipers, carriers, ABS sensors and (often) replacement wheel bearings, so it is not a casual upgrade. Rear brakes on the ZT 120/160/180 are typically solid discs with a Porsche-style integrated handbrake shoe; the ZT 190 received a vented rear, and the ZT 260 alone received the 332mm vented rear with AP Racing twin-pot alloy calipers. ZT brake pipes are a recognised long-term wear point, the steel sections under the floor corrode on cars used through UK winters and are best addressed proactively with a replacement set.
ZT 260 V8 Brake Components
The ZT 260 deserves separate treatment because the rear brake hardware is shared with no other car in the range. The 325mm vented front disc and caliper are inherited from the ZT 190, but the 332mm vented rear disc and AP Racing twin-pot alloy caliper are bespoke to the V8 RWD platform. MGOC Spares catalogues the front disc as the RV8 part (GBD90838) and an upgraded RV8 brake disc kit (BDK10) bundled with Q Parts ceramic pads, the ceramic upgrade addresses the additional thermal load of the 256-bhp V8 launch and the heavier RWD chassis. With around 717 ZT 260 cars built (of 883 V8 cars combined with Rover 75 V8), RV8-specific brake parts are intrinsically rarer than FWD ZT components.
As with all V8 components, identifying the car as a ZT 260 specifically (rather than an FWD ZT 190) before ordering is essential, the calipers, mounting brackets and pad shapes are not interchangeable.
Modern MG ZS SUV and Handbrake Hardware
The catalogue also covers the modern SAIC-era MG ZS SUV (2017 onwards, unrelated to the MG Rover ZS): front brake pads (10343249), front discs (10266048) and rear discs (10266049) for owners servicing the modern crossover. These parts are distinct from anything in the MG Rover-era ZR/ZS catalogue and are not interchangeable. On the handbrake side, MGOC Spares catalogues the left-hand handbrake cable relay lever bracket (SPU000050) for the FWD cars where the bracket can corrode at the chassis pivot.