321gooo

I’ve searched the forum and I see a lot of guys like the powerstop pads and they say that they don’t notice any decrease in performance from the stock pads. The big one is I hear they create a lot less dust. Is it that much a difference? When searching I don’t see which ones people are going with is it the Z26 performance?

Mayor111

PowerStop pads and rotors are absolutely amazing. They literally produce close to zero dust. Worth every penny...

321gooo

I see that lol, which model though? And their pads are fine on the stock rotors right? Just leave a color on em I’ve read.

speed4tu

The only person that says they will change the rotor color is the one selling a set of pads for 500 bucks. lol

Marcho Polo

not true.

I don't sell any pads and I had powerstops make my Z51 rotors brown.

It's not a huge deal, but some are bothered by it.

DeStreGa5

I sometimes go months before washing my car and the wheels look 10 times cleaner than with stock pads. I've used the Carbotech's as well and still had dust problems. The stopping performance seems to be fine. If there's any difference, it's hard for the average person to tell. I do have stock rotors on my Z51 and have had the PowerStop Z26 for about 3 years now. My rotors are still normal color. Stop asking questions and just buy it!

KenHorse

3,000 miles on my Powerstops and my rotors are as brown-free as the day I took delivery of the car

Marcho Polo

and I'm not a powerstop basher... I put them on my wife's ATS-V, they are the exact same brakes as my GS, just solid rotors. They look fine on that car, no browning. Just saying, it's not a lochness monster myth, I have seen brown rotors from powerstops.

JerryU

I'll jump in and cause some controversy!

I bought Carbotech 1521, made in US, ceramic pads for my 2014 Z51. Car stopped the same as OEM with cold, warm or hot pads. They have ~85% less dust IMO and most important what is there does not pit my wheels! Wheel pitting was happening on my Z51 if iI did not clean it off every few trips into town (100 miles.) With Carbotech 1521 pads I cleaned the wheels (as I do not with my Grand Sport) only when I wash the car!

Some reports (not all) said PowerStop pads worked fine so I tried them on my new Grand Sport. I only paid $125 from Amazon, delivered, including SC tax. Bedded per their recommendations. They stopped fine when warm or hot BUT NOT WHEN THE PADS WERE COLD. I have a somewhat unique situation as at the end of my street I merge into a 65+ mph traffic on a 4 lane divided highway and shortly after turn onto another rural road. I use the brakes aggressively so cars/trucks behind don't have to slow down excessively. If there is a car waiting to merge onto the highway it leaves me little room! A number of times with the PowerStop pads, before they were at least warm from braking, I had to pass-up turning and had to go to the next road. The very confident stopping I had experienced for 6 months with the Z51 OEM pads and 3 years with Carbotech 1521 pads was not there! I tossed them after 900 miles, bought and installed the more expensive Carbotech 1521 pads. Stopping was back to what I was used to, perhaps better as the front pads are significantly larger! In now 2 years I stop with total confidence, excellent pedal modulation and have never had to pass up turning onto that rural road.

Before the usual few start saying it's only me; I have Forum Quotes from others and researched the reason for the difference in cold pad performance after I switched pads. They are in this detailed "How To Install" PDF: http://netwelding.com/Ceramic_Pads.pdf

Here are two comments from a forum post:
Z06NJ CF Senior Member
"Initially you will feel that you have to step harder to make them brake the same as OEM. That's because all you know up to that time are the OEM brakes. However, with time, it becomes like muscle memory. Now I just brake like normal and don't even think about it.
But I'll never forget the 1st day I got them installed and I was driving home, I was like "WTF's going on here...I'm gonna end up rear ending somebody" LOL But you get used to them."

Runner61627 CF Senior Member
"Have had both the PowerStop’s and Carbotechs. On my previous Vette-a 2015 3LT Z51, the PowerStops eliminated most brake dust, but noticeable reduction in stopping power. Some folks reported discolored rotors. The Carbotechs are on my Grand Sport now and take care of the brake dust without any reduction in stopping power and no discoloring of the rotors. While more expensive, the Carbotechs – in my experience – are the better choice."

There are others sited in the PDF and one from an avid tracker who understands braking! Your car your choice.

This simple pic is one of many in the PDF. If your a bit technical you will see the PowerStop pads are more like racing pads that need to be warm/hot to stop well.

C7Flash

I have 3,000 miles on my GS with Z26 Power Stop pads and stock rotors. I cannot tell any difference in stopping, don’t track car, and rotors are shiny with no hint of browning.

Bubbletop409

Put Powerstop Z-26's on my 16 Z-51 within a week after purchase, 12,000+ miles and 2+ years later no dust, no brown, no regrets.

LuisZ51

Not this **** again . . . .

lakemg

Yep...tomorrow's feature will be auto vs manual and on Thursday we'll do chrome vs black wheels and we'll round the week off with 1LT vs 3LT.

KenHorse

And maybe Mac vs PC, iPhone vs Android......

poughkeepsie

The OP asked what model of powerstop to use. His mind is already set on them. I'm tired of every time I go to read a post about brakes that I have to look at the same *** clowns posting their nonsense and trying to push other brands. Is there a way to block these people so I don't have to see them?

JerryU

For the few who have posted referring to the data I present (as expected) the OP can read, try to understand the cold pad braking issue and make a decision. I don't care if they buy any quality pads like Hawk, EBC, or Carbotech, which many of us have used since 2014. They have 8 pad compounds most for racing, sell pads at the same prices as Vettes for many cars including for autocross, open wheel racing and endurance racing. Some of the other quality pad companies do as well. I encourage the OP to investigate and read more than a few forum comments especially more than from those that recently joined the Forum!

Yep I can understand many folks with cheap PowerStops are happy. Some feel they must defend their purchase decision- get that. That is what got me to switch for my Grand Sport from what I knew worked perfectly for 3 years on my Z51 - to save money! Foolish in my part having spent ~$70,000 on a car and worry about saving a few dollars for a critical item like bakes and getting cheap Chinese pads! My only consolation is I only spent $125 for the mistake! I could care less what pads the OP gets, their car their choice!

Granted many with PowerStops are happy and that's fine. But some understand the data and information I present (and read the references to others who have posted similar observations.) I get many PM's thanking me from folks who won't post on this forum and put up with insulting posts! In fact if you look at any forum Thread statistics, Posts versus Visits, it's usually less than 10% who post than visit. Often because some members will make insulting remarks! Doesn't bother me, I feel like Diogenes!

poughkeepsie

A hero in your own mind. Got it

JerryU

^^
No, I just present facts but understand when numbers are involved some eyes roll!

LuisZ51

Yup, go to your user CP and add them to your ignore list. I know how you feel. He's his own biggest fan.

kennyjames21

Seems to me its more like YOU need to defend your decision to spend FOUR TIMES the amount of money for brake pads, lol.

There is no discernable difference in breaking power between powerstops and carbotechs.

The ridiculous infographic you post over and over again is meaningless in real world use (you even made up one of the stats for powerstops - you 'extrapolated' the number and state that it's 'probably' the number, lol).

And from what Ive read, powerstops dust less than carbotechs.

99% of the people who use powerstops that post here say there is no discoloration to the rotors. I have yet to meet someone in person who has discolored rotors...

And even if you don't want powerstops there are other brands like hawk that are a fraction of the cost of carbotechs.

So yeah, its pretty tough to defend the cost of the carbotech pads so I can understand why you are so frustrated...