08-03-2021, 05:50 PM | #1 |
Drives: Hyper Blue Metallic 2017 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 16
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What are the Best Brake Pads?
I have been looking around for some time now, and it seems like people who (like me) are fed up with the stock brake dust have tried out the PowerStop Z26 brake pads. However, I have heard that they have decreased performance and a tendency to squeak (especially in cold weather). I have also heard a few good things about Akebono pads, but surprisingly there's not a lot of conversation on the Camaro6 forums about them. I have only used OEM pads on my car, so I'm unsure what the aftermarket pads feel/perform like. Since I need new brakes ASAP, I would like to know what pads people recommend and which to stay away from. Thanks
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2017 Camaro 2SS Hyper Blue Metallic
8-Speed Auto, Magnetic Ride Control, Borla S-Type Exhaust (NPP), HRE FF10s (Tarmac), Michelin PS4S Tires, Rotofab CAI, SEMA Grille, Mishimoto Oil Catch Can, StopTech Slotted Rotors, PowerStop Z26 Pads Also Own: - 2004 Lexus RX330 |
08-03-2021, 05:58 PM | #2 |
Drives: 2016 1ss camaro Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: 909
Posts: 9,919
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oem or z26 pads if what most people go with or you can try to see if you can get those new special cali only pads lol
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08-03-2021, 06:14 PM | #3 |
Drives: 19 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS 1LE Shock Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 1,947
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Less dust will equate to less performance. Clean wheel or stopping distance, take your pick.
I would think anything that can do at least as well as OEM won't be significantly better in the dust generation criteria. Just the nature of semi-metallic pads. As for brake noise, it's a sports/pony car, deal with it. Buddy's CAN$150k Audi RS7 makes some brake noise when it's rainy out.
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Current:
2019 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS 1LE M6 Shock GM Performance Intake and that's it, because driver mods before car mods Past: 2009 Mazda RX-8 GT M6 Velocity Red Mica (Sold) 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 2LT M7 Velocity Yellow Tintcoat (Flood totaled) |
08-11-2021, 12:45 PM | #4 | |
Drives: 2017 Camaro 2.0T RS Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 95
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Quote:
Another company to look into is DFC, or Dynamic Friction. I've got a set of their Track Pads on my Cobalt SS and they're similar performance to the Ferodo pads, but significantly less dust. I've also ran a set of their Euro 5000 ceramic pads on the wife's HHR SS, those are great for the price point!
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08-13-2021, 01:56 AM | #5 |
Drives: Hyper Blue Metallic 2017 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 16
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Thanks for the input. I ended up purchasing the Z26s with StopTech slotted rotors. I haven't installed them yet, so I don't know quite how they're going to feel. Do you think that stainless brake lines would help restore some of the initial bite in pads? I've heard conflicting things from various sources about them. Some people seem to think it's the best $200 they've spent, and others (such as Mark from savagegeese) think they aren't designed for street driving and can cause more headaches than they're worth.
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2017 Camaro 2SS Hyper Blue Metallic
8-Speed Auto, Magnetic Ride Control, Borla S-Type Exhaust (NPP), HRE FF10s (Tarmac), Michelin PS4S Tires, Rotofab CAI, SEMA Grille, Mishimoto Oil Catch Can, StopTech Slotted Rotors, PowerStop Z26 Pads Also Own: - 2004 Lexus RX330 |
08-13-2021, 08:21 AM | #6 |
corner barstool sitter
Drives: 08 Mustang GT, 19 WRX Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Eastern Time Zone
Posts: 6,990
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"Bite" is all about pad "mu" (coefficient of friction), which can and does vary with temperature. Higher values of mu = stronger bite.
Brake pedal "feel" isn't the same thing. Norm
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'08 GT coupe 5M (the occasional track toy)
'19 WRX 6M (the family sedan . . . seriously) |
02-27-2023, 06:38 AM | #7 |
Drives: 23 ZL1 A10 Rapid Blue Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: MO
Posts: 2,086
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The Z26 is an absolute diffenrece it's a +/- less dust, less braking power. First time you stand on the Z26 you'll know right away. They're great on the street there's no issues there, I'm on my 2d set of them from having a set on my (former) 1LE, now my ZL1.
I chose less dust and traded some braking power. |
02-27-2023, 10:44 AM | #8 |
Somewhere in the Kalahari
Drives: 2021/18 (de-fresh) 3LT RS Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: California
Posts: 713
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For my V6 RS with the front Brembo option, the PowerStop Z26 pads were also a good swap.
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03-21-2023, 09:45 AM | #9 |
Drives: 23 2SS Coupe Join Date: Feb 2023
Location: GA
Posts: 15
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I'll happily replace these OEM 2SS factory front pads with the cheapest thing Amazon sells just to eliminate the SQUEAL while inching along in bumper to bumper traffic. Less than 500 miles on this ride and its fuggin MINDNUMBING!!!
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03-21-2023, 10:18 AM | #10 | |
Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 12,025
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Quote:
Another thing you can do is Powerstop Z26 pads, several forum members use those to nearly eliminate brake dust at the cost of slightly less braking power (which is okay for the street), I believe those are quieter, too.
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2018 Camaro 2SS — G7E MX0 NPP F55 IO6
735 rwhp | 665 rwtq Magnuson TVS 2300 80mm pulley | Kooks 1 7/8" LT headers | JRE smooth idle terminator cam | LT4 FS & injectors | TSP forged pistons & rods JMS PowerMAX | DSX flex fuel kit | Roto-Fab CAI | Soler 95mm LT5 TB | 1LE wheels | 1LE brakes | BMR rear cradle lockout | JRE custom tune 1100 - 1/30/18 | 2000 - 1/31/18 3000 - 2/06/18 TPW 2/26/18 3400 - 2/19/18 | 3800 - 2/26/18 4300 - 2/27/18 | 4B00 - 3/01/18 4200 - 3/05/18 | 4800 - 3/14/18 5000 - 3/16/18 | 6000 - 3/19/18 |
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03-21-2023, 10:47 AM | #11 |
Drives: 2018 Camaro 1SS 1LE Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Front Range, CO
Posts: 1,977
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Agreed on burnishing.
Z26 are a very large decrease in braking performance vs OEM. I tried them and they actually wear out due to heat cycling, mine were ruined after 10% of the pad was used. I live in CO so we have mtns and I autox, they can't even take that type of use.
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03-21-2023, 11:03 AM | #12 |
Drives: 2017 2SS, 50th pkg, M6, MRC, NPP Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Ocean City, NJ
Posts: 3,298
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I like the z26 pads. Best price I found was on amazon. I installed them myself.
No squeal. definitely less dust. Slight difference in stopping power for street use. I do not track the car, but I don't doubt the z26 would underperform there. The stock semi-metallics were killing my rotors, and I do not miss them. I only did fronts, BTW. |
04-05-2023, 06:24 PM | #13 |
Drives: 2023 Camaro LT1 Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: Michigan
Posts: 26
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Not crazy about the brake feel on my new LT1, the only thing I was disappointed with. Plan to take it in to the service dpt, if they can't so something considering Hawk pads have used in the past, want more immediate clamping power with less effort. I just did the brakes on the Ford 500 6 months ago and feel much stronger than the camaro.
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04-21-2023, 09:40 AM | #14 | |
Makis
Drives: 2020 Red Hot ZL1 A10 Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: London - UK
Posts: 806
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Quote:
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Red Hot 2020 Camaro ZL1 A10 <-- Enjoying the hell out of it
Mosaic black 2018 Camaro 2SS A8 (sold) |
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Tags |
akebono, brake dust, brake pads, brembo brakes, powerstop |
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