EVO X Front Big Brake Kits: 4-Piston PA055 vs 6-Piston PA015/PA035

The Paragon PA015/PA035 6-piston kit is the correct front big brake upgrade for the EVO X (CZ4A): it is purpose-engineered for the CZ4A knuckle, steps up rotor diameter beyond the OEM 350 mm, and delivers more clamping force for serious track and time-attack use. The PA055 4-piston kit is catalogued for the EVO 1/2/3 (CD9A/CE9A) only; Paragon publishes no CZ4A fitment for it, and its 295 x 28 mm rotor is smaller than the EVO X's stock 350 x 32 mm unit, making it a step backward for a track build.

Spec Comparison

Wheel clearance varies by wheel design. Verify fitment against Paragon's wheel template PDF before purchasing. Actual offset clearance limits are not numerically published for either kit on the CZ4A.

PA055 4-Piston Kit: EVO 1/2/3 (CD9A/CE9A)

The PA055 is a legitimate competition caliper. At 5.4 lbs per side, it is the lighter of the two and carries the same competition credentials as the calipers used by Team Honda Research West in endurance racing. The staggered 38.1/41.3 mm bore arrangement addresses pad taper, and the billet 6061-T6 construction with TiN-coated pistons holds up to sustained heat cycles.

What it is not is a CZ4A part. Paragon's published fitment covers the EVO 1 (CD9A), EVO 2, and EVO 3 (CE9A) from 1992 to 1996. No Paragon source lists the PA055 bracket as compatible with the EVO X knuckle geometry. Equally important: the rotor supplied with this kit measures 295 x 28 mm. The EVO X leaves the factory with a 350 x 32 mm front rotor. Fitting a 295 mm rotor to a CZ4A track car would be a meaningful reduction in swept area and thermal mass, not an upgrade.

Honest trade-off: If you own an EVO 1, 2, or 3 and want a lightweight, proven 4-piston competition setup that clears 15-inch wheels, this kit makes genuine sense. If you own an EVO X, this is not your kit. Attempting the swap would require confirmation from Paragon that the bracket fits the CZ4A knuckle, and you would still be contending with a rotor that is smaller than stock.

PA015/PA035 6-Piston Kit: EVO X CZ4A

The PA015/PA035 kit was built specifically for the CZ4A. The caliper runs three staggered bore sizes per side (27, 31.8, and 38.1 mm), distributing clamping load more evenly across the pad face than a two-bore arrangement can. The replaceable stainless abutment plates are a practical track-day detail: pad drag and heat cycles wear abutment surfaces over time, and being able to replace them rather than the caliper body keeps long-term running costs in check.

The rotor choice is where this kit establishes its performance argument. The PA015 pairs with a 355 x 32 mm fully floating 2-piece rotor, already 5 mm larger in diameter than OEM. The PA035 steps up to 370 x 36 mm, adding both diameter and 4 mm of extra thermal mass, along with 72 directional vanes to move heat out of the rotor faster. Both configurations use stainless bobbins and anti-rattle clips. The floating mounting allows the rotor ring to expand under heat without transmitting that stress to the hat, which matters during the kind of repeated hard-stop cycles that define time-attack sessions.

The trade-off is wheel clearance. Both configurations require 18-inch or larger wheels as a general guideline, with Paragon confirming fitment on a Konig Hypergram 18x11 +15 for the 370 mm kit. The 6-piston caliper also weighs 6.5 lbs per side versus the PA055's 5.4 lbs, and the larger rotors add rotating mass over OEM. For a dedicated time-attack build those are acceptable costs. For a light street-to-track car where unsprung weight is a priority, they are worth factoring in.

Honest trade-off: The 355 mm PA015 configuration is the straightforward upgrade path: it surpasses OEM rotor size, fits within a realistic wheel package, and is engineered to the CZ4A hub and knuckle. The 370 mm PA035 delivers more thermal capacity but demands careful wheel selection and adds the most unsprung weight of any option here. Neither configuration requires a master cylinder upgrade according to Paragon's published guidance, though that guidance does not specifically address high-power time-attack use; confirm with Paragon if your build sits at the aggressive end.

How to Choose

The decision here is less a comparison than a clarification of fitment. If your car is a CZ4A EVO X, the PA015/PA035 6-piston kit is the one Paragon engineered for your platform, and the choice within that kit comes down to rotor size: 355 mm if you want a clean, well-rounded track setup that is easier to package in a wider range of wheels, or 370 mm if heat capacity and maximum braking force are the priority and you have confirmed 18-inch wheel clearance. The PA055 4-piston kit belongs on an EVO 1/2/3 build, where its lighter caliper weight and compatibility with 15-inch wheels are genuine advantages.

For either kit, verify wheel clearance with Paragon's fitment template before ordering. Both kits include Goodridge stainless lines and P3 Street/Track pads, so you can run them from the first session; upgrading to a more aggressive Winmax compound is a straightforward step once you know your heat range. And if you are building a dedicated time-attack car rather than a dual-purpose street/track machine, consider whether a matched rear big brake kit belongs on the shopping list alongside whichever front kit you choose.