Is That Brembo Big Brake Kit Really Brembo? (Updated for 2026)

Counterfeits are only part of the problem. Some kits use genuine Brembo parts but are still not genuine Brembo brake systems.

Brembo is one of the most recognizable names in performance braking, which unfortunately also makes it one of the most copied.

Counterfeit Brembo products have circulated in the Asian aftermarket for years, including the Philippines. Today, the problem is more complicated than simply distinguishing a genuine product from a fake one.

Some kits are complete counterfeits. Others contain an actual Brembo caliper, but a used and repainted one combined with discs, brackets, pads and hardware sourced elsewhere.

Brembo itself divides the problem into three broad categories: fakes, semi-fakes and what it calls “super fakes.” Fortunately, verifying a genuine Brembo performance brake system has also become much easier.

The most obvious problem: outright counterfeits

The first category is straightforward. These are components designed to resemble Brembo products, complete with Brembo logos, colors and even packaging, but manufactured by somebody else. Some are easy to recognize if you know what to look for, but others are surprisingly convincing. That means appearance alone is no longer a reliable test.

A caliper may look correct through the spokes of a wheel, but there is no way for the buyer to know whether its materials, pistons, seals and manufacturing processes meet Brembo specifications simply by looking at it. With a safety-critical component such as a brake system, that distinction matters.

Brembo says its own testing of counterfeit components has found problems ranging from reduced braking performance to component failures.

The most common case: the “Frankenstein” kit

This is probably the most confusing type in the performance aftermarket.

A seller may tell you: “The caliper is original Brembo. Only the disc and bracket are aftermarket.” That statement may even be true. But that does not make the complete system a genuine Brembo big brake kit.

Brembo calls these semi-fakes.

A common version starts with an original-equipment Brembo caliper originally designed for another vehicle, usually sourced from a vehicle scrap yard. The caliper is then repainted, paired with a different brake disc, a fabricated adapter brackets, different pads and other hardware to make it fit another car.

In local enthusiast language, we might simply call this a Frankenstein kit.

A genuine Brembo Upgrade big brake system is developed for a specific vehicle, taking into account factors such as vehicle weight, master-cylinder characteristics, wheel clearance, tires and electronic systems.

And just as important, it is unknown if the caliper itself is even in good condition - did it come from a car that was in an accident? Flood? Fire? Any of these can make it perform poorly at best, and dangerous at worst. This is especially important in Asian markets, where surplus parts, imported OE calipers and aftermarket conversion hardware are readily available.

The individual parts may look impressive. The question is whether you are getting the safety and performance that you expect out of it.

The easiest check in 2026: the Brembo Check App

For current Brembo Upgrade products, authentication begins with your phone. Brembo developed the Brembo Check app specifically to verify the authenticity of its performance products. You can get the app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Genuine applicable products carry a unique QR code on the component or its packaging, which you can scan in the app. The app then checks the code directly through Brembo's authentication system.

This is considerably better than relying on:

• the seller's popularity;

• photographs of the caliper;

• a printed “certificate” supplied by the seller;

• packaging that merely looks authentic;

• or a claim that the product came from overseas.

  
  

The verification comes from Brembo itself.

Brembo also designed the QR system so the authenticity code cannot simply be moved from one product to another. The unique code can only be registered only once, so that it cannot be reused or abused.

What about the old Brembo Genuine Card?

It is still relevant—but increasingly uncommon.

Older genuine Brembo performance products may have an anti-counterfeit scratch card inside the package instead of a QR code. While there may be a few of these left, Brembo says the card system has been phased out since 2021 - five years ago. Since then, QR authentication and Brembo Check has replaced them on current products.

So an older kit without a Brembo Check QR code is not automatically fake, but it should have the appropriate older authentication system. If neither exists, that deserves further investigation.

Check whether Brembo actually makes the kit

There is another very useful test. Before discussing price, color or piston count, ask: Does Brembo actually list a complete Upgrade system for this vehicle?

Genuine Brembo big brake kits are application-specific, and it is easy to check online if they exist. The Brembo Parts website has a searchable database that can be used to check available applications and part information.

If a seller is offering a “genuine Brembo GT kit” for a vehicle that doesn't show up in that database, it is very likely to not be genuine .

When in doubt, verify before buying

If you are considering a Brembo performance brake system in the Philippines and something does not look right, take the time to make sure you are getting exactly what you paid for.

And when in doubt, contact AutoPerformance Ph through our Facebook page or at info@autoperformanceph.com. We can help you find the right Brembo product for your needs, whether for street, track, or trail.