Any luck with Powerstop Z26 to avoid the maddening squeaking??

[Glicious]

Folks,

Previously some kind folks recommended the Power Stop Z36 pads when I had my brakes done. Shop went with Akebonos and I"m still getting the@%!##!%$ squeaking but they are up for replacing them. challenge is Power Stop only has Z26 pads in stock.

Has anyone had issues with the Z26s?

I have a 2018 S7.

[ZaubA6]

I've got the Z26 on my 2017 A7. Fairly low dust and silent.

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Audizine Forum mobile app

[sittinlow]

I have them on a 16 S6, no squeaking and low dust.

[f4m0u5]

z36 are for truck and towing. z26 are the ones you want. z23 are same as z26 except the z26 have metal backs to the pads were the z23 have rubber.

i use the z23s 0 issues and dead silent

[esemes]

I have them on a 16 S6, no squeaking and low dust.

same here

[gweaver001]

Z26 is a popular choice. I went with EBC Redstuff and they are a great choice as well.

[Patrick73RS]

Z26 is a popular choice. I went with EBC Redstuff and they are a great choice as well.

I did the same. Perfectly silent and low levels of dust compared to stock

[bpd]

19K miles on my z26 and they are quiet on my '18 S6. Just had my 4yr service and they are 10mm front and back.

[gk1]

They are incredibly noisy when very cold outside for like the first two stops but ok after.
Never an issue in warmer weather though.

[Audisthesia]

2018 Z26. life changing.

[Mikes281]

2018 Z26. life changing.

This x1000

[snohman]

I may be one of the very few that didn’t have luck with my Z26 pads - the first six months was great with just slightly less braking power but then the squealing got very bad if not worse than my OE pads.

I recently got the girodisc pads which unfortunately dust up but are not squealing…yet

[Burkeomatic]

Another vote for the Z26. I got those and the cross drilled rotors from rock auto of all places. They aren't as grabby, but still stop a street car fine, they are quiet, and very little dust. They can still grab hard enough to engage the ABS system with pirreli p zeros and you still stop faster than 99% of the stuff on the road.

I haven't used them in a high fade situation like the track or trying to rocket full blast down a mountain for 10 miles but overall I like them.

[Garyn06]

I have a 2018 S7 myself and went with the Z26 all the way around and like everyone above, love how low dust they are. They are slightly less brake grippy up front, but still very good brakes. My only knock is that I get brake knock from my front brakes because the holes where the guide pins go through are a little larger than the OEM ones, so when you change directions in the car and start to apply the brake, you'll hear a little knock the first time you brake. I've looked into ways to fix this, but nothing I've found has eliminated it. The brake pads themselves are night and day difference when it comes to the brake dust for sure.

[gk1]

I have a 2018 S7 myself and went with the Z26 all the way around and like everyone above, love how low dust they are. They are slightly less brake grippy up front, but still very good brakes. My only knock is that I get brake knock from my front brakes because the holes where the guide pins go through are a little larger than the OEM ones, so when you change directions in the car and start to apply the brake, you'll hear a little knock the first time you brake. I've looked into ways to fix this, but nothing I've found has eliminated it. The brake pads themselves are night and day difference when it comes to the brake dust for sure.

Did you remove the adhesive shim pucks? That's the only way I could see the pad moving around, otherwise they are pretty well stuck to the pistons regardless of the pins.

[Mikes281]

I may be one of the very few that didn’t have luck with my Z26 pads - the first six months was great with just slightly less braking power but then the squealing got very bad if not worse than my OE pads.

I recently got the girodisc pads which unfortunately dust up but are not squealing…yet

I have Girodisc rotors and started with EBC Redstuff with them. After 1k miles, pulled them cause they dusted like crazy and squealed. Then tried Girodisc Magic Pads and same issues…lots of squealing. Finally tried Z26 and have zero point zero issues…no dust, no squeal, and good stopping power AND the cheapest option.

[Garyn06]

Did you remove the adhesive shim pucks? That's the only way I could see the pad moving around, otherwise they are pretty well stuck to the pistons regardless of the pins.

I didn't have any of the adhesive shim pucks in my calipers when I removed the calipers from the rotor and then removed the OEM brake pads from the caliper. So when I put the Z26 brakes in, I didn't use any since it didn't seem necessary from the OEM application. I have seen other posts from individuals stating the same with their brake replacement and various ways to try and solve it. some options have temporarily worked for me, but I have not had any long term solution.

[Mikes281]

I didn't have any of the adhesive shim pucks in my calipers when I removed the calipers from the rotor and then removed the OEM brake pads from the caliper. So when I put the Z26 brakes in, I didn't use any since it didn't seem necessary from the OEM application. I have seen other posts from individuals stating the same with their brake replacement and various ways to try and solve it. some options have temporarily worked for me, but I have not had any long term solution.

The shims are needed and worth the cost.

[gk1]

The shims are needed and worth the cost.

...

[cuerna]

I am installing new rear rotors (rockauto R1 concept drilled _slotted) and Z26 rear pads next week. I will report after bedding and testing...

[TheBlackMarvel]

...

Before you have a heart attack look at the Audi shims…buy thesehttps://www.ecstuning.com/b-uro-part...635208600~uro/


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

[baldy]

Have the Z26's with cross-drilled Zimmerman's. Like everyone else, no squeaks, almost no dust, and have a click every so often when changing directions on the A6. They're more than adequate for street use. Spirited mountain driving, or braking when towing (roughly 1800 pounds) down long steep mountainous roads and they do start to glaze a bit. That being said, I'll be using them again when I upgrade the calipers to larger ones. Cleaning the brake dust from the stock pads every 2-3 days sucked.

Put the Z23's on my father's GLK and they have way less stopping power for some reason, especially when compared to the Textar pads I took off. That being said, they didn't click when switching directions.

[gk1]

Before you have a heart attack look at the Audi shims…buy thesehttps://www.ecstuning.com/b-uro-part...635208600~uro/


Sent from my iPhone using Audizine

Yes I know.
Bought them once at FCP when they were cheaper....will never have to buy them again.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/Parts/?keywords=4H0%20698%20231