Powerstop pads not impressed yet - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Silveradoss573 · 04-08-2019, 01:11 PM

Installed the powerstop z26 pads over the winter. I removed, scrubbed and cleaned everything to give these the best chance possible. Took the car out yesterday for the first time this year and to bed in the pads. I followed powerstops directions word for word for the bedding in process. It took me two times to get a good layer transfer. I did let the brakes cool down to ambient temperature...about 5 hrs between the sessions.

I mean the car stops no problem but is seriously missing that intial bit that the OEM pads had. It also seems like slowing the car up from higher speeds...70-80 takes more brake pressure than before. I was leery on getting these because I've seen others say the same thing basically but others who said they couldn't tell any difference from the OEM other than next to no brake dust with the z26 pads.

Black_SS10 · 04-08-2019, 06:48 PM

I wasn't impressed by them either. I did a friends SRT8 with the same kit, pads/rotors. I personally felt like it was a downgrade from the factory brakes. When I finally throw the 6pot ZL1 calipers on my camaro, I will be using the factory pads.

Silveradoss573 · 04-08-2019, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black_SS10

I wasn't impressed by them either. I did a friends SRT8 with the same kit, pads/rotors. I personally felt like it was a downgrade from the factory brakes. When I finally throw the 6pot ZL1 calipers on my camaro, I will be using the factory pads.

Downgraded is about what it feels like is right. Thanks for your opinion as well.

zwc0442 · 04-09-2019, 11:12 PM

I went with one of their kits with rotors and pads. Did the break in and they were decent enough but after about 2 weeks started squealing horrendous. Tried several things with no help so called em up and I was 1 day past their warranty period so they wouldn't do anything about it. Ordered a set of yellow hawk performance ceramic all around and used with the power stop rotors. Far better feel and stopping with the hawks. The hawk pads did develop a very minor squeak when stopping the last couple mph under light braking after about a month but is barely heard. The power stop sounded like metal on metal upon every stop.

John_C · 04-09-2019, 11:54 PM

I did Hawk HPS pads with Baer drilled and slotted rotors and it felt like a downgrade from the stock Brembo's so avoid that setup as well.

THE_1LE · 05-28-2019, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John_C

I did Hawk HPS pads with Baer drilled and slotted rotors and it felt like a downgrade from the stock Brembo's so avoid that setup as well.

Did you go back to the stock setup from the dealer? I was looking to do the Hawk Ceramics and order the DBA 4000 series rotors until they came back as unavailable. Now Im back to the drawing board as to go completely stock hearing they are actually pretty good or stick with the Hawk performance and maybe stock rotors or some other rotor once I find the right fit.

Zombie killer · 05-29-2019, 12:56 AM

I am running OEM rotors and will stick with them as they seem to be a good rotor. But I have run hawks HP, HP+, as well as the street /track pads, and even the 5.0 street pads. I enjoyed the 5.0 pads but wanted more for autocross. So I went with HP+. They work well cold but screech like a school bus if you lightly drag the brakes. I like the HP+ for autocross and even used them on the track, but the seemed to not handle the heat and sometimes cracked the pad on me even when almost brand new. I went with the hawk track / street pads for road course but I hated them as they deposited uneven material on the rotors and shook the crap out of front rotors under extreme braking at high speeds. I asked hawk about that and they never responded so I sidelined those pads as backups only. Not sure what I will go back with for track use at the moment. I would not use the track / street pads for autocross as I did that for Camaro Fest last year after running the track event the day before. I found myself dragging my brake pedal trying to keep heat in the rotors. They just didn’t have enough grab for autocross driving for me. I am used to activating the ABS and chirping the tires instead.

Joecruiser · 05-30-2019, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John_C

I did Hawk HPS pads with Baer drilled and slotted rotors and it felt like a downgrade from the stock Brembo's so avoid that setup as well.

I almost went with this setup. I need brakes...running factory pads/rotors with 34K miles.
I may very well go OEM pads / rotors.

Silveradoss573 · 06-27-2019, 01:41 AM

Quick update....

After having a little more time with these pads, nothing much has changed since my first post. These Powerstop Z26 pads just do not bite as good as the stock pads. Yes they work perfectly fine and no brake noise so far. But definitely not a equal let alone a upgrade from oem in terms of braking performance.

With regards to brake dust, well it is much less than the oem pads but still quite noticeable. I will say though that the couple of times this year I've washed the car at the local car wash, the Powerstop brake dust comes off the wheels with very little effort where as the oem pad dust really stuck to the wheels. Last year I was having to remove and wipe down the wheels where since installing the Powerstop pads, so far I haven't needed to do this.

I'm still on the fence whether or not I'll remove these and put the stockers back on later this year or not. The lack of excessive brake dust all over the place is nice no question but I'm missing that feeling from the oem pads.

Silveradoss573 · 12-29-2019, 01:51 PM

Figured I'd update this....

I've decided to go back to the Brembo/OEM pads for next year. I've put around 700 miles on the power stop's and still far from impressed with them. Like I mentioned earlier, there's still brake dust no question and the "bite" just isn't there whatsoever. So being I only drive the car every so often anyways, I think I can deal with the Brembo's brake dusting in order to get the braking performance back in my car. In the coming weeks, I may have a complete set of lightly used, low mileage Powerstop Z26 pads up for grabs???

04-08-2019, 01:11 PM	#1
Silveradoss573 Drives: Camaro 1LE Join Date: May 2018 Location: USA Posts: 1,348	Powerstop pads not impressed yet Installed the powerstop z26 pads over the winter. I removed, scrubbed and cleaned everything to give these the best chance possible. Took the car out yesterday for the first time this year and to bed in the pads. I followed powerstops directions word for word for the bedding in process. It took me two times to get a good layer transfer. I did let the brakes cool down to ambient temperature...about 5 hrs between the sessions. I mean the car stops no problem but is seriously missing that intial bit that the OEM pads had. It also seems like slowing the car up from higher speeds...70-80 takes more brake pressure than before. I was leery on getting these because I've seen others say the same thing basically but others who said they couldn't tell any difference from the OEM other than next to no brake dust with the z26 pads. Last edited by Silveradoss573; 04-08-2019 at 08:48 PM.

04-08-2019, 06:48 PM	#2
Black_SS10 SomeguyK Drives: 2010 Black 2SS/RS Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: FL Posts: 1,947	I wasn't impressed by them either. I did a friends SRT8 with the same kit, pads/rotors. I personally felt like it was a downgrade from the factory brakes. When I finally throw the 6pot ZL1 calipers on my camaro, I will be using the factory pads. __________________ TMS 427, Dart iron Block, Forged assembly, Frankenstien heads, AGP TT 62/62 BB turbo's, AGP/Fore triple fuel system, Tilton clutch, Holley 1 7/8 shorties, Technostalgia tail lights,Oracle, Aeroforce, MGW shifter,Flowmaster, Pegasus subframe bushings,BMR trailing & toe arms,Z28 UCA bushings,Zl1 rear sway bar,Prothane,BMR,Goodridge brake lines,Ridetech HQ coilovers,3.91,Trutrac,billet caps,DSS axles,HE offest,built TR6060,1LE diffuser,Havoc spoiler,SSclones,20in MRR 017, Pirelli P Zero, Nitto NT555RII More to come.

04-09-2019, 11:54 PM	#5
John_C LSx FTW!!! Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS RS Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: TN Posts: 767	I did Hawk HPS pads with Baer drilled and slotted rotors and it felt like a downgrade from the stock Brembo's so avoid that setup as well. __________________ 2010 2SS RS A6 781rwhp on E85 Stage 2 ProCharger D1X Circle D 3400 Triple Disc Kooks Jet Hot Headers Kooks Full 3in exhaust Trick Flow GenX 255's Polished PAC .660's & Ti-retainers TSP VVT 3.2 cam kit w/DoD Delete Smith Bro's Trunnion kit AEM X-Series OBDII Widebands FIC ID1300x Injectors GM ZL1 High Output Fuel Pump DSX Tuning Flex Sensor DSX Auxiliary Fuel System Tim King Stage 4 Max Effort CTSV 6L90 DSS 1 piece aluminum driveshaft JRE 6L80E / 6L90E Dipstick NGK Iridium IX spark plugs #7 heat range Mighty Mouse Camaro 5 Wild w/-12an and Billet Black HP Tuners VCM Suite

05-29-2019, 12:56 AM	#7
Zombie killer Emerald Coast Camaros Drives: 2013 2SS/RS L99 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Pensacola Fla. ~Mike & Kym~ Posts: 656 View My Garage	I am running OEM rotors and will stick with them as they seem to be a good rotor. But I have run hawks HP, HP+, as well as the street /track pads, and even the 5.0 street pads. I enjoyed the 5.0 pads but wanted more for autocross. So I went with HP+. They work well cold but screech like a school bus if you lightly drag the brakes. I like the HP+ for autocross and even used them on the track, but the seemed to not handle the heat and sometimes cracked the pad on me even when almost brand new. I went with the hawk track / street pads for road course but I hated them as they deposited uneven material on the rotors and shook the crap out of front rotors under extreme braking at high speeds. I asked hawk about that and they never responded so I sidelined those pads as backups only. Not sure what I will go back with for track use at the moment. I would not use the track / street pads for autocross as I did that for Camaro Fest last year after running the track event the day before. I found myself dragging my brake pedal trying to keep heat in the rotors. They just didn’t have enough grab for autocross driving for me. I am used to activating the ABS and chirping the tires instead. __________________

04-09-2019, 11:12 PM	#4
zwc0442 Drives: 2010 2 SS Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: SD Posts: 21	I went with one of their kits with rotors and pads. Did the break in and they were decent enough but after about 2 weeks started squealing horrendous. Tried several things with no help so called em up and I was 1 day past their warranty period so they wouldn't do anything about it. Ordered a set of yellow hawk performance ceramic all around and used with the power stop rotors. Far better feel and stopping with the hawks. The hawk pads did develop a very minor squeak when stopping the last couple mph under light braking after about a month but is barely heard. The power stop sounded like metal on metal upon every stop.

06-27-2019, 01:41 AM	#9
Silveradoss573 Drives: Camaro 1LE Join Date: May 2018 Location: USA Posts: 1,348	Quick update.... After having a little more time with these pads, nothing much has changed since my first post. These Powerstop Z26 pads just do not bite as good as the stock pads. Yes they work perfectly fine and no brake noise so far. But definitely not a equal let alone a upgrade from oem in terms of braking performance. With regards to brake dust, well it is much less than the oem pads but still quite noticeable. I will say though that the couple of times this year I've washed the car at the local car wash, the Powerstop brake dust comes off the wheels with very little effort where as the oem pad dust really stuck to the wheels. Last year I was having to remove and wipe down the wheels where since installing the Powerstop pads, so far I haven't needed to do this. I'm still on the fence whether or not I'll remove these and put the stockers back on later this year or not. The lack of excessive brake dust all over the place is nice no question but I'm missing that feeling from the oem pads.

12-29-2019, 01:51 PM	#10
Silveradoss573 Drives: Camaro 1LE Join Date: May 2018 Location: USA Posts: 1,348	Figured I'd update this.... I've decided to go back to the Brembo/OEM pads for next year. I've put around 700 miles on the power stop's and still far from impressed with them. Like I mentioned earlier, there's still brake dust no question and the "bite" just isn't there whatsoever. So being I only drive the car every so often anyways, I think I can deal with the Brembo's brake dusting in order to get the braking performance back in my car. In the coming weeks, I may have a complete set of lightly used, low mileage Powerstop Z26 pads up for grabs???