Powerstop z36 wear issues and no pad warning

alvocado · October 10, 2023

I’ve been running Powerstop z36 rotors and pads and am getting very short lifespan with the front pads. The first set went 39k miles and the second set (no rotor change) lasted 30k. Are others seeing similar pad life? Also, I did not expect a wear issue so soon until hearing a very faint squeak today only to discover both rotors severely scored. There was no noise this weekend and after a short drive today, the rotors were toast. I would have expected at least some noise from a wear tab but no warning until a faint noise developed. I’ll inspect them this week when new parts arrive but curious if others have experienced similar performance and lack of low pad thickness warning.

Grumpy Bear · October 10, 2023

More Information for GM GENUINE 1771163 (rockauto.com)

They started using these in 2014 at build but will fit yours. Mine have 175K miles on them and look new.

newdude · October 10, 2023

Those slots and drilled holes are plugged right up. Wouldn't be surprised if those have just been eating into the pads, and it appears so based on the circumferential marks/groves that line up with the holes.

I'd be getting some nice coated rotors that aren't drilled or slotted, and a nice quality set of pads.

dna9656 · October 10, 2023

I have 2 vehicles with power stop rotors, pads and calipers, I don't have your mileage though. I did like the Bosch coated rotors i had on a Chrysler product I no longer own.

Grumpy Bear · October 10, 2023

The rotors I linked are treated to Ferritic Nitro-Carburizing. It isn't a coating that's gone on the first brake apply like a coating. It's a heat treatment. Not just corrosion protection but it hardens them to slow wear and improved friction. Effectively doubles rotor life. These are Direct Fit GM and I've found nothing better this boy can afford.

Coating a rotor makes it look pretty in a package. (The manufactures response to rusting while being transported from China via ocean travel). They didn't do it for rotor life.

GM Plans Roll-Out of Rust-Resistant Brake Rotors On Selected Models (motortrend.com)

This article says 'coating' 10 microns thick. It's actually a heat treatment 10 microns DEEP with a diffusion zone that can be 0.5 mm deep each side thus the 1 mm throw away thickness.

What Is Nitrocarburizing? How It Compares to Nitriding (and the Benefits) (miheuprecision.com)

I know my case is extreme. I drive like I haven't any brakes and most of my miles are highway. But if Z36 is giving you roughly 40K then these should last you near 80K making their cost a bargain. Use any pad you would use on a cast iron rotor. I like the OEM direct fit as they are the engineering match to the rotor.

FYI, if you cut these you kill the heat treat. Takes a carbide tool anyway.

This is what they looked like with 48K miles on them!

Still look like this at 175K.

swathdiver · October 11, 2023

As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. There's a reason GM pads are $100 or more per axle. The current GM OE rotors are made by Akebono and are of good quality too, very corrosion resistant.

Rear pads on my 2013 Sierra went 88,136 miles and the fronts should be due soon.

KARNUT · October 11, 2023

12 minutes ago, swathdiver said:

As the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. There's a reason GM pads are $100 or more per axle. The current GM OE rotors are made by Akebono and are of good quality too, very corrosion resistant.

Rear pads on my 2013 Sierra went 88,136 miles and the fronts should be due soon.

My wife’s Genesis has only had front brakes done with 130K miles. The odyssey brakes were done at 130K for the first time. My last 3 GM trucks went over 100K miles on front brakes, longer on back. I only use OEM when replacing wear parts. Especially if you’re going for the second 100K miles.

alvocado · October 11, 2023

I appreciate the passion for the GM OE brake parts. I run a mix of OE and non-OE on other cars depending on the intended performance. I get 30-50k miles on German pads in a sedan but the compound is much softer and has incredible bite. I switched to drilled and slotted rotors because I warped two sets of front rotors on mountain drives after they overheated. The heat dissipation on traditional discs was not adequate.

I have no doubt that everyone is getting 100k+ miles on OE pads and I'm sure they are great for daily driving. That doesn't necessarily mean they are great for towing or HD use. There are always trade offs. I've had meaningfully improved braking performance with the z36 setup and in my opinion, it has been worth the change with the sacrifice of pad life. I just didn't expect pad life equivalent to German non-ceramic pads.

I was looking for input from others who are running the z36 pads to compare longevity and confirm if there's an issue with the wear tabs which should have given me a heads up on the pad thickness. Debating brake part choices is like debating oil brands and what type of woman you prefer - everyone is right.

swathdiver · October 11, 2023

4 hours ago, alvocado said:

I appreciate the passion for the GM OE brake parts. I run a mix of OE and non-OE on other cars depending on the intended performance. I get 30-50k miles on German pads in a sedan but the compound is much softer and has incredible bite. I switched to drilled and slotted rotors because I warped two sets of front rotors on mountain drives after they overheated. The heat dissipation on traditional discs was not adequate.

I have no doubt that everyone is getting 100k+ miles on OE pads and I'm sure they are great for daily driving. That doesn't necessarily mean they are great for towing or HD use. There are always trade offs. I've had meaningfully improved braking performance with the z36 setup and in my opinion, it has been worth the change with the sacrifice of pad life. I just didn't expect pad life equivalent to German non-ceramic pads.

I was looking for input from others who are running the z36 pads to compare longevity and confirm if there's an issue with the wear tabs which should have given me a heads up on the pad thickness. Debating brake part choices is like debating oil brands and what type of woman you prefer - everyone is right.

I was talking to a mechanic tonight about your situation and he said there is literature that comes with the Powerstop brakes that the pads only last 30K miles on average. I don't recall that when I put their pads on a Kia.

As for OE pads, my daughter smoked her brakes on 191 south of Jackson, Wyoming. Truck still stops fine without warped rotors 60K+ miles later. This is a 2012 Sierra on 35s with a 6.5 inch lift.

Our OE rotors and pads have held up to stopping fourteen thousand pound loads (when trailer brakes failed) without issue but we were not in the mountains.

We use a performance meter, a VC2000 to measure acceleration and deceleration. 2 trucks will be coming in for new pads soon and we'll run the VC2000 to verify that they still stop from 60mph to factory specs.

I'd be curious to see if your Yukon will stop from 60 mph in less than 130 feet with the new pads and rotors. Let us know if you decide to run the test with an app on your phone.