3.3TT Anyone using PowerStop Z23 brake pads?

[drobbins256]

2018 GT2 AWD with the Brembo brakes. I need to replace my brake pads all around, and the only ones I can find in stock and available around me at a reasonable price are PowerStop Z23 pads, specifically looking at Part # Z23-6012 for the fronts and Part # Z23-2144 for the rears. However, annoyingly, I can't seem to find hardly anyone talking about them on the Stinger. I can find plenty of info on people using the Z26 set, but almost nothing on the Z23 for this car specifically. Can anyone provide some insight on how these compare to the OEM pads, specifically in terms of noise, dust, and stopping power? I'm not looking for race brakes and would like to avoid metallic pads, just looking for something that can match or slightly exceed stock performance for daily driving and some occasional spirited back road trips. Any help is appreciated, thank you!

 

[Snowwhite]

it's the same compound as the Z26, just with different non-metal backing plates. Translation, less heat gets transferred out of them, meaning not so good for track. The Z23 backing is more for street use and designed to reduce the possibility of noises. The pad compound itself is the same.

I have the Z26s and love them. better stopping power than stock, no noise, and dust is minimal.

Did you check Rock Auto? that's where I got mine. But either way the Z23s will do the job nicely, I' m sure.

 

[drobbins256]

it's the same compound as the Z26, just with different non-metal backing plates. Translation, less heat gets transferred out of them, meaning not so good for track. The Z23 backing is more for street use and designed to reduce the possibility of noises. The pad compound itself is the same.

I have the Z26s and love them. better stopping power than stock, no noise, and dust is minimal.

Did you check Rock Auto? that's where I got mine. But either way the Z23s will do the job nicely, I' m sure.

Thanks for the info! I wasn't aware that they were the same pads just with different backing. I might just go for whichever one I can get more easily then. Did you experience any of the "clunking" with the Z26 pads that I've heard about in other posts on here? That's my only other concern with them.

 

[Snowwhite]

it didn't clunk at first, then after a month I heard a faint clunk sometimes when I was leaving my garage in the mornings, now it's gone. I have about 4k miles and about 4 months on the pads. Even when there was a clunk, it was faint, I had to turn off the radio and listen for it. Totally worth it if I'm getting better stopping power and not leaving deposits on my rotors like the stock US pads.

I was going to buy the Euro factory pads until I saw kia's price and decided to give these a whirl. I'm quite glad I did.

 

[drobbins256]

it didn't clunk at first, then after a month I heard a faint clunk sometimes when I was leaving my garage in the mornings, now it's gone. I have about 4k miles and about 4 months on the pads. Even when there was a clunk, it was faint, I had to turn off the radio and listen for it. Totally worth it if I'm getting better stopping power and not leaving deposits on my rotors like the stock US pads.

I was going to buy the Euro factory pads until I saw kia's price and decided to give these a whirl. I'm quite glad I did.

Thanks for sharing. I picked up a set of the Z26 pads since my local store had some in stock and they're going on the car tomorrow!

 

[WayCoolJr]

Thanks for sharing. I picked up a set of the Z26 pads since my local store had some in stock and they're going on the car tomorrow!

Sorry to dig up this post, but was thinking about these for my 2019. Do you like them? Do you get the "clunking"? Also, where did you find them?

 

[K8 Stinger Store]

Sorry to dig up this post, but was thinking about these for my 2019. Do you like them? Do you get the "clunking"? Also, where did you find them?

We do have these as well as the Z26 in stock if you’re interested in ordering them for front or rear.

 

[AusStinger]

I have the Z26 pads and they do have a tiny clunk when applying brakes after a direction change but its so minor. IMO, the Z26's with the DBA T3's is perfect. My Stinger stops SO well !

 

[byebyeSTI]

i have a set for sale if you need them pm me , the z26 front pads

 

[mull0263]

I put the Z23's on my car a couple of months ago and have been pretty happy with performance - good stopping power and no dust. Getting a bit of a clunking noise when pulling out of the garage in the morning that goes away quickly. I'll have to recheck that the caliper bolts are secure. First time changing pads and rotors myself, so operator error is certainly a possibility.

 

[byebyeSTI]

No it’s the pads for sure they really don’t fit well , I swapped to the hawk hps and no noise at all

 

[mull0263]

No it’s the pads for sure they really don’t fit well , I swapped to the hawk hps and no noise at all

Nuts. Saves me some time troubleshooting I guess. Will wait til the weather gets better to try something new.

 

[K8 Stinger Store]

No it’s the pads for sure they really don’t fit well , I swapped to the hawk hps and no noise at all

We've probably sold around 80 sets of these pads, and have never received that type of feedback before.

On the contrary, the majority of our customers reach out after installing, letting us know they worked great!

 

[byebyeSTI]

Both my sets front and rear made noise every day they stop fine there just not sized correctly

 

[K8 Stinger Store]

Both my sets front and rear made noise every day they stop fine there just not sized correctly

I saw your post above, which is why I wanted to comment here.

As I mentioned, we have not had any other customers have an issue with them fitting properly.

 

[byebyeSTI]

I saw your post above, which is why I wanted to comment here.

As I mentioned, we have not had any other customers have an issue with them fitting properly.

That’s strange considering there is 2 people right here

 

[AusStinger]

My Z26 pads clunk a very small amount but I had DBA pads in before these and they clunked a even more than the Z26's ( and a whole lot more dust ).
Hmmm, tiny clunk vs awesome stopping......... Clunk away

 

[K8 Stinger Store]

That’s strange considering there is 2 people right here

Considering the member specifically stated:

"I'll have to recheck that the caliper bolts are secure. First time changing pads and rotors myself, so operator error is certainly a possibility"

He also had installed the Z23 pads, where you mentioned you installed the Z26 pads, which are completely different pads.

I'm not here to debate this with you, I'm simply explaining that not everyone, or in our case, anyone has had issues, and we've sold over 75 sets of these.

Even if there are 2 or 3 people here having some noise, this is not undeniable proof that the product just doesn't fit correctly across the board for all Stingers out there.

Everyone will have a different level of experience when it comes to working on cars, therefore there can many variables.

Thank you for sharing the feedback that you experienced with these brake pads.

 

[Rejay14]

Mine clunk as well, they have since I put them on. Amazing stopping power and barely any dust at all.

 

[oddball]

There are variances on sizes. My previous pads (already forgot what they were) didn't make any clunking noise at all, but removing them after 25k miles was incredibly difficult - hammer, punches, screwdrivers.... Had to pry them out of the caliper because they were so close to the leading and following edge of the caliper.
My current pads (also forgot what they are) DO make clunks when changing directions, but they have a little bit more room. It'll be easier to remove them so I'm happy to have mild clunks.

Floating caliper systems don't have these noises because they have noise shims on the abutment bracket. I was day dreaming about making some brass shims for the brembo caliper, but it's probably not worth the effort.