Is the Powerstop Z26 kit good enough?

[jinx099]

I have a 2019 GT PP1 w/ 6-speed MT, all stock ~32k miles, and I noticed that the brakes are starting to squeak a little sometimes, so I was looking into replacements.

I have seen the Powerstop Z26 kits everywhere, and they look to be very popular, almost defacto standard replacements for this car. I was thinking about pulling the trigger on this set since Amazon has a decent deal on them right now.

BUT, I had some reservations about them, and I'm not sure they are good enough. For every day driving, I'm sure they would be totally fine. However, it seems like there are some reports that these pads tend to fade relatively quickly, and more quickly than the stock pads.

I do not plan on tracking this car, but if I ever do, I'd be looking at track specific pads. I do plan on 95% regular every day driving, but I could possibly do autocross regularly in the future, and Tail of the Dragon runs. I'm sure the pads would be fine for autocross, but seems shaky whether they would be good enough for Tail of the Dragon runs.

Additionally, the rotors in the kit look kind of cheap, and I generally do not trust drilled rotors anyway due to them being more likely to crack.

I was looking at the Raybestos R-300 S-slotted rotors instead, and they look pretty good. Raybestos also has some semi-metallic pads that sound like they'd perform better than the Powerstops too. Those Raybestos parts would be cheaper than the Z26 kits too.

So what are your thoughts on the Z26 kits, or any other parts/kits for non-track spirited driving as compared to stock? Or should I just stick with stock parts?

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[K4fxd]

The Z26 are good at one thing, they do not dust.

They have less initial bite than stock and they fade faster than stock. There is a thread on this board where someone had a PowerStop rotor break on the car.

I ran the Z-26 pads for a little while and now run the Gs-1's.

The raybestos pad will be real close to the stock pad for performance. I've never had any problems with raybestos rotors. I run Steeda 2 piece rotors.

 

[MidwayJ]

I'm currently running those Raybestos slotted rotors with OEM pads. The setup works well in normal and spirited twisty road driving. I did experience some fade in the 3rd session of my first and only track day a few weeks ago. Probably had more to do with the pads than the rotors.

 

[Strokerswild]

I swapped the Z26 kit on several years ago, zero complaints. I bedded them in HARD, without issue. Best part, far less dust than OEM. Plated rotors look better long term too.

No doubt they won't be an option for any real tracking, but for fun on public roads they're fine.

 

[LethalSteveG]

I've been using these pads for years and I love them. Low dust and they last. I do a lot of twisty road style driving so I wanted something that I know would bite and they do. But they really don't fade that fast. IMO I think they will be perfect for what you do driving wise.

For the rotors, I run the SP Performance ones and these combined have been awesome. I have been on this setup for 5 years or os now. The pads again last nicely too. I replaced mine last year after 2 years and they still had life left too.

This is the setup I have. Let me know if I can help with anything else.

Front:
https://www.lethalperformance.com/p...2023-mustang-gt-w-brembo-brakes-z26-1792.html

https://www.lethalperformance.com/s...y-zrc-coating-for-ford-mustang-gt-brembo.html

______


Rear:
https://www.lethalperformance.com/p...ds-w-hardware-2015-2023-mustang-z26-1793.html

https://www.lethalperformance.com/s...ustang-gt-ecoboost-w-performance-package.html

 

[SheepDog]

Ford should never have discontinued the Crimson Red.

 

[LethalSteveG]

Ford should never have discontinued the Crimson Red.

Mine isn't crimson. It's a wrap actually. it has more orange and purple in it.

 

[SheepDog]

Mine isn't crimson. It's a wrap actually. it has more orange and purple in it.

Oh, well it looks sick either way. What is the color of the wrap called?

 

[LethalSteveG]

Oh, well it looks sick either way. What is the color of the wrap called?

Black-Red Iridescent from KPMF

 

[Bluemustang]

I have a 2019 GT PP1 w/ 6-speed MT, all stock ~32k miles, and I noticed that the brakes are starting to squeak a little sometimes, so I was looking into replacements.

I have seen the Powerstop Z26 kits everywhere, and they look to be very popular, almost defacto standard replacements for this car. I was thinking about pulling the trigger on this set since Amazon has a decent deal on them right now.

BUT, I had some reservations about them, and I'm not sure they are good enough. For every day driving, I'm sure they would be totally fine. However, it seems like there are some reports that these pads tend to fade relatively quickly, and more quickly than the stock pads.

I do not plan on tracking this car, but if I ever do, I'd be looking at track specific pads. I do plan on 95% regular every day driving, but I could possibly do autocross regularly in the future, and Tail of the Dragon runs. I'm sure the pads would be fine for autocross, but seems shaky whether they would be good enough for Tail of the Dragon runs.

Additionally, the rotors in the kit look kind of cheap, and I generally do not trust drilled rotors anyway due to them being more likely to crack.

I was looking at the Raybestos R-300 S-slotted rotors instead, and they look pretty good. Raybestos also has some semi-metallic pads that sound like they'd perform better than the Powerstops too. Those Raybestos parts would be cheaper than the Z26 kits too.

So what are your thoughts on the Z26 kits, or any other parts/kits for non-track spirited driving as compared to stock? Or should I just stick with stock parts?

I use those Raybestos rotors and the pads that go with them. They stop and perform well. Noise is fairly low but they do dust quite a bit. Pads have a good bite to them. You could autocross on them. They have a decently high temperature threshold. But, I'm not sure they are enough for consistent lapping. For that you might want a dedicated track pad. For what you describe these would work nicely if you don't mind cleaning your wheels.

 

[Brigadir]

Just for the record, Z26 don’t sustain track use at all. Though no complaints on street

 

[robvas]

Nothing wrong with Powerstops but they are just cheap Chinese brakes. And they don't dust much which is nice (at least the Z26 pads don't)

You want real brakes if you're planning on doing autocross etc

 

[dasrider]

Don't forget to consider the fluid being used. Something with higher wet and dry boiling points if you plan on working the brakes harder.

I'm a Motul RBF600 convert on my trackbikes so that's what I just swapped the Mustang's out for. They do make a higher end RBF660 and Castrol offers several options as well.

 

[barron64]

Been very happy with the Z26 pads on the street. No complaints even with pushing them in the mountain corners. Nice progressive feel, quiet, no dust and very reasonably priced.

 

[Joe Gonsalves]

My 2 cents, I prefer slotted over drilled. Better braking is about surface contact area and diameter. That's why the rotors get larger in diameter in those big brake kits. It's about the leverage and surface area they provide. Also, the number of pistons increases to cover the additional area. You don't want a bunch of holes removing surface area. Yeah, yeah, I know cooling. But the OP wants street pads and rotors not a track setup. Slotted gives you better wet performance since the slots channel water out from under the pad. I've used slotted on the street and I have no complaints. I admit I did it for looks, but Slots and drilled holes are not needed on the street. Now any quality ceramic pad will be low dust. I would go with the Raybestos, or Duralast Gold, and that's what I run and they are good. As for Powerstop, as I mentioned in another thread, I had bad quality issues with them. They are IMHO cheap, overpriced, over hyped, over marketed, Chinese junk.

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