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Are the Carbotech 1521 brake pads really worth the additional cost over other low dust brands (such as Raybestos) performance pads? I understand you get what you pay for . . . but I'd like to understand what that is in the Carbotech's.
I’ve not seen any data that shows how any of the dust friendly pads compare to the Brembo nasties in stopping power, fade and rotor friendliness. Lots of claims; no data on the C7.
Therefore, go Z26 and put the extra $300 into the gas tank.
Lots of positive feedback on PowerStop Z26’s @ $130-140 all four wheels! 1/3 the price.
That's what I'm running now. No complaints! It'd be a COLD day in hell before I pay $400+ for brake pads. Hell, the rotors are $68 a piece (oem Z06).
Why would anyone possibly pay double the cost of the rotors for the pads, are they magic?! The CorvetteTax at its finest.
Lots of positive feedback on PowerStop Z26’s @ $130-140 all four wheels! 1/3 the price.
These are the ones I just purchased from a member on here for $100 shipped. I will be installing them this weekend hopefully. No way I would pay Carbotech's insane prices.
I run the PowerStops on the wife's car (Infiniti Q60) and they are squeak and dust free.
I am downright amazed how little they dust
For the C7 on track I run Raybestos ST-43 ($550 for a complete set) but Carbotechs are very popular pads for track use on a variety of cars. Paying $400 for non-track pads seems excessive given all the significantly lower cost options out there.
That's what I'm running now. No complaints! It'd be a COLD day in hell before I pay $400+ for brake pads. Hell, the rotors are $68 a piece (oem Z06).
Why would anyone possibly pay double the cost of the rotors for the pads, are they magic?! The CorvetteTax at its finest.
Please post a link where you're finding C7 Z06/GS 2-piece OEM rotors for $68 each.
DBA replacement rings are nearly $375 each. Rockauto and a whole other host of discounters sell the OEM rotors (which are only available fully assembled with the hat) for $400 each. MSRP is in the $500 range. $68? sure
OP....PowerStop work fine for daily driving. I'm assuming you're not planning on doing ***** out runs in the Rocky Mountains or similar. I use them on mine.
- The Carbotechs will offer a very slight but perceptible change in initial bite
- On the street you're not going to notice any difference in fade resistance since you'll never be at the limit of either pad
- Dusting (or lack thereof vs OEM) is the same
- Carbotechs won't bronze the rotors which some report with the PowerStops (mine have not bronzed after 2000 miles)
- Both easily engage ABS during a panic stop
For track duty I swap rotors and use dedicated track pads from Carbotech (XP12 / XP10)
I only use 1521s because swapping back and forth with xp12/xp10 is seamless and doesn't require several miles of driving or bedding to making the track pads grip.
Look in the for sale section. Often there are pads for sale for cheap.
Love my Powerstop Z26 pads! Pay 3x as much for a similar product if it makes you feel good, but Carbotech pads have been over-priced for nearly 2 decades dating back to my Honda S2000 days. Plenty of better choices at a more reasonable price.
Power Stop Pads will turn your rotors Brown. And i am not the only one that had the problem just Google it Their tech support was hard to talk to and when i did they said it was Rust. I have Carbotech now. They do cost more and are made in the USA not China.
Carbotech vs lesser expensive choices?
