We take a look at why you might need a brake upgrade kit and why DBA’s kit is a top choice.
Alright, let’s get real for a moment. If you’re using your 4WD the way it was meant to be used—hitting steep trails, tackling rugged outback terrain, or towing your camper trailer —chances are, your stock brakes might not be cutting it. You see, most of the 4WDs you see cruising the streets were built with a pretty standard type of driving in mind. They’re designed to be comfortable for the school run, easy enough for a highway cruise, and good for the occasional bit of gravel. But if you’re seriously getting off the beaten path or lugging around a load of camping gear, that stock setup can start to feel a bit flimsy.
This is where DBA steps in with their Brake Upgrade Kits. It’s not about overkill—it’s about having enough stopping power for the job. The kit packs in their renowned 4000 Series brake rotors, bigger 6-piston calipers, Xtreme-Performance pads, and steel braided hoses, all tuned to keep you stopping confidently when it matters most.

Bigger pistons mean better brakes—here’s why
Take the new Upgrade Kit for the VW Amarok and Ford Ranger, for example. It uses a beefy 6-piston caliper, compared to the standard twin-piston job. So, why are more pistons better? In short, pistons push the brake pads against the rotor, creating friction to slow you down. More pistons mean more even pressure across the pads and a greater surface area in play. The end result? Better stopping power and less effort on the pedal when you need to bring that beast to a halt—especially when you’re on a steep decline or towing a camper.
Why the rotors are bigger and better in the DBA brake upgrade kit
You might have noticed that the 4000 Series rotors that come in the Brake Upgrade Kit are a bit different from the standard ones your 4WD came with. They’re bigger, and they’ve got a different offset. That’s because with those six-piston calipers, you need a larger rotor to match, giving you more surface area and, as a result, better braking. Plus, the new caliper itself is larger, so the whole setup needs a bit more room.
DBA has even worked their magic to make this setup fit under the standard 17” wheels on the Ford Ranger. That’s a big win if you don’t want to mess around with new rims just to fit an upgrade kit.

Keeping cool: the Kangaroo Paw vane system
When you’re hitting the trails or pushing your rig up steep climbs, your brakes can get mighty hot. Too much heat, and you’ll start to notice fade—that squishy feeling when your brakes aren’t biting like they used to. DBA’s got you covered with their Kangaroo Paw (KP) vane system on the 4000 Series rotors. The KP design maximises airflow through the rotor, which helps dissipate heat faster. Just like how a radiator needs fins to keep things cool, these vanes work to make sure the heat goes away quicker, so your brakes stay sharp even under pressure.
TSP treatment and the colour-coded stripes
Another fancy bit of tech on the 4000 Series rotors is the TSP (Thermal Stability Profiling) treatment. In plain English, this treatment changes the structure of the rotor material to make it more durable. It means less warping and a longer life, whether you’re braking hard on sand, mud, or bitumen.
And those three little paint stripes on the side? They’re not just there to look cool. That’s DBA’s Thermo-Graphic Heat Paint (TGHP), and it changes colour depending on how hot the rotor gets. It’s a neat way to keep track of whether you’re using the right gear for your driving style—if those stripes are always changing colour, you might need a heavier-duty setup.

The verdict: is a brake upgrade kit worth it?
Look, at the end of the day, upgrading your brakes isn’t just about going bigger for the sake of it. If you’re putting your 4WD through its paces— hitting tough trails, carrying a load or towing—then an upgrade kit for your brakes is just common sense. DBA’s kit isn’t just about more pistons and bigger rotors—it’s about having the stopping power when you actually need it. And for those of us who like to push our rigs beyond the daily drive, that’s a pretty solid reason to consider an upgrade.
I fitted a set of DBA slotted and grooved discs rotors and upgraded pads to my Nissan STX 550 and had a very noticeable increase in breaking performance and feel. My question now is should grooved disc rotors be used on off road vehicles due to the possibility of small stones , dirt , mud etc lodging in the groves and causing extra wear , damage or noise ? This seems highly possible particularly driving through deep muddy bogs.