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One more question, that SS shim plate is touted as better for heat dissipation - is heat really an issue with street driving including occasional hard pulls and stops?
Highly unlikely. Both shims are steel, but the rubberized version included with the Z23 pads is designed to absorb a little additional vibration and noise. With that said, I have not had any noise or squeal issues with my Z26 stainless steel shims. In theory, that should give the Z26 pads a little more precise/direct pedal feel, but it's likely so minor its to the point of being unnoticeable. Knowing what I know now, if I were to do it all over again, I'd likely opt for the Z23 pads to save a few bucks on a nearly identical product. To reiterate though, I am very happy with my Z26 pads and have no complaints on their street manners.
I put Z17 Powerstops on my new AWD CTS @ 3,000 miles...now have 7,000 on them with NO DUST and perfect performance, just to make sure. I will put the Z26's on my C7 which I have about 1,000 miles on now. I was questioning the price but not now.......excellent value. Rock Auto had the best price. BTW, my CTS has the same Brembo's that the C7 has so i'm sold. To prior post, no rust on rotors.....FWIW.
Last edited by jimmie jam; Mar 27, 2018 at 06:32 PM.
Interestingly, my 2017 GS and 2016 Challenger Hellcat have the same front brakes. I have Z23's on the Cat and Z26's on the Vette. Neither has caused any rotor discoloring and both are quiet. Very little dust on either car.
I had a brown discoloration after the initial break-in... maybe 500 miles later it was gone, no further issues... again, 9K and no brown...
Interesting. Now that you mentioned it, I thought I saw a slight brown tint at one time, but now a year later I just don't see it anymore. In fact, had I not read about it here I would never had noticed it in the first place.
Well my email about browning fell upon deaf ears and basically was told to go fly a kite. Seems like I am in the minority with pads not working out.
I am not an expert, but I do know other have had issues with "other manufacturers" brake pads then moving to another brand. It's basically an incompatible metal/component issue. How long did you have brembos, or did you perhaps have a different manufacturers pads BEFORE the Powerstops?
Like I said... I don't know. I just changed my Pads in the first 100 miles... 9000 miles later... zero issues.
Can anyone speak to their performance? Obviously they are not meant for the track, but spirited driving through mountains where you are using the brakes decently.
I have a 17 GS, non z07, what part number would I need? I have 750 miles on my GS and the brake dust is insane. I would like a set of track pads tho for track days. Maybe just keep the stock ones around.
on my z51 I spent $325 Or whatever on Carbotech 1521s and honestly, I still thought their was a good amount of brake dust. The pads did though feel like they had more bite to them. Was impressed with their stopping power.
I am not an expert, but I do know other have had issues with "other manufacturers" brake pads then moving to another brand. It's basically an incompatible metal/component issue. How long did you have brembos, or did you perhaps have a different manufacturers pads BEFORE the Powerstops?
Like I said... I don't know. I just changed my Pads in the first 100 miles... 9000 miles later... zero issues.
Well my email about browning fell upon deaf ears and basically was told to go fly a kite. Seems like I am in the minority with pads not working out.
Perhaps you're with a minority but you are not alone! Weaker 3 had pics of his! I installed PowerStops with 30 miles on my Grand Sport. After 900 miles I saw a brown residue in my Rotors that took a Dremel tool and power wire wheels to remove. BUT most important to me was braking with cold pads on my Grand Sport was not as good as my 3 year experience with Carbotech 1521's on my Z51.
I have a bit of a unique requirement in that from my street I have to merge into a divide highway with cars/trucks traveling 65/70 mph (60 mph speed limit.) In a short distance I turn on another rural road! There is no shoulder so I must brake in the right lane. I use the brakes aggressively so as not to force cars/trucks to hit their brakes! Gave the Powerstops enough time to see if they would get better - NOT. Took them off and installed the more expensive, made in USA Carbotech 1521s. Stopping with cold pads is even better than my Z51 (should be with 6 pistons/side twice the size front pads!) Peddle has very linear modulation. Lots of confidence especially needed when there is a car on that rural road waiting to coming into the highway-not a lot room!
Don't want to be accused of being negative on PowerStops BUT I bought them after many folks said they were fine and because they were so cheap. I only paid $125 from Amazon with free freight and including SC 6% sales tax! Considering UPS covered their costs and made a profit, Amazon covered their costs and made a profit, PowerStop paid to bring them from China, covered all costs and made a profit, wonder how much was left for QA! IMO not enough with some of us getting a brown residue!
To each their own and if folks are happy great but forum members should be able to make decisions based on others experience! The above are mine!
Maybe they are OK, but I just have to think these things are ridiculously cheap for a reason I want no part of. I'll always pay more for known quality.
