PowerStop Brakes Deliver Practical Performance Upgrades for Street, Truck, and Track
27th Aug 2026
Brakes are one of the most important performance components on any vehicle, but upgrading them does not always mean installing an expensive big-brake system.
PowerStop takes a different approach by offering complete brake solutions designed around how a vehicle is actually driven.
From low-dust street brake pads and drilled-and-slotted rotors to heavy-duty truck and tow systems and track-focused brake kits, PowerStop offers application-specific upgrades designed to improve braking performance while maintaining practical everyday drivability.
Its product range covers brake pads, rotors, calipers, complete brake kits, and supporting hardware for cars, trucks, SUVs, and performance vehicles.

Complete Brake Kits Instead of Individual Components
One of PowerStop's biggest advantages is its complete brake kit approach.
Rather than requiring customers to source pads, rotors, hardware, and installation accessories separately, many PowerStop kits package the major components together for a straightforward replacement or upgrade.
Depending on the application, kits can include:
- Carbon-fiber ceramic brake pads
- Drilled and slotted rotors
- Fully coated rotors
- Stainless-steel hardware
- Rubberized shims
- Brake lubricant
- Calipers on selected kits
- Brake pad wear sensors where applicable
The result is a brake system designed to work together instead of a collection of unrelated replacement parts.
Z23 Evolution Sport for Everyday Performance
The Z23 Evolution Sport range is designed for drivers who want more from their daily-driver braking system.
PowerStop uses a carbon-fiber ceramic compound for the Z23 pads, combining improved braking performance with a low-dust formulation intended to keep wheels cleaner.
The Z23 kits also pair the pads with drilled-and-slotted zinc-plated rotors, stainless-steel hardware, and other installation components depending on the application.
For European vehicles, PowerStop also offers Z23 kits with fully coated rotors. These are designed to provide the braking benefits of the Z23 pad compound while maintaining additional protection against corrosion on the rotor surfaces.
This makes Z23 a strong option for drivers looking for a noticeable brake upgrade without moving into a dedicated track setup.
Z26 Street Warrior for High-Performance Vehicles
For vehicles producing substantially more power or driven more aggressively, PowerStop offers its Z26 Street Warrior range.
The Z26 line is positioned toward muscle cars and high-performance vehicles, with carbon-fiber ceramic pads designed to provide increased braking performance.
PowerStop also offers Z26 complete brake kits that combine the pads with drilled-and-slotted rotors and supporting hardware. Powder-coated caliper versions are available for selected applications.
This makes Z26 particularly relevant to enthusiasts who want stronger street braking without necessarily stepping up to a full motorsport braking system.
Z36 Truck & Tow for Heavy-Duty Use
PowerStop also has solutions specifically designed for trucks and SUVs.
The Z36 Truck & Tow brake kit is engineered around the demands of towing, hauling, mountain driving, larger tires, and off-road use.
Its carbon-fiber ceramic pads are designed to handle heavier loads, while the drilled-and-slotted rotors are intended to improve cooling and heat dissipation. The kits also include stainless-steel hardware and other installation components.
For truck owners, this distinction is important.
A brake setup designed for a lightweight daily driver does not necessarily provide the same thermal capacity or load management required when a vehicle is towing a trailer or carrying additional weight.
The Z36 range is built around those conditions.
Carbon-Fiber Ceramic Brake Pad Technology
PowerStop's carbon-fiber ceramic formulations are a major part of its product lineup.
The objective is to combine improved braking performance with the low-dust characteristics expected from a ceramic-based street brake pad.
The Z23 compound, for example, is designed to increase braking performance while maintaining everyday drivability, while the Z36 compound is reinforced for the additional demands associated with trucks, towing, and heavy-duty use.
This gives drivers the ability to choose a pad compound based on the actual demands placed on their vehicle.
Drilled and Slotted Rotors
PowerStop pairs many of its performance-oriented pad compounds with drilled and slotted rotors.
The rotor designs are intended to help manage heat while providing a more aggressive appearance behind the wheels.
PowerStop's Z23 kits, for example, use drilled and slotted zinc-plated rotors designed to support cooling and provide protection against rust and corrosion.
For truck and tow applications, PowerStop similarly uses drilled and slotted rotors in the Z36 kits to help manage the additional thermal demands associated with heavy loads and mountain driving.
Fully Coated Rotors for European Vehicles
Not every brake upgrade needs a drilled or slotted rotor.
PowerStop also offers fully coated rotor kits for European applications, giving owners a more OEM-style solution with additional corrosion protection.
The Z23 Evolution Sport Fully Coated Rotor Brake Kit combines the Z23 carbon-fiber ceramic pads with fully coated Evolution rotors, stainless-steel hardware, and high-temperature brake lubricant.
This type of setup can be particularly attractive for European daily drivers where maintaining a clean appearance behind the wheels is just as important as improving braking performance.
Powder-Coated Caliper Options
PowerStop's range also extends beyond pads and rotors.
Selected complete kits are available with powder-coated calipers, providing a more comprehensive brake upgrade while adding a visual improvement behind open wheels.
The calipers are assembled and tested at PowerStop's facility before being supplied as part of the complete kit.
For enthusiasts building performance-oriented street cars, this provides an opportunity to upgrade braking hardware while also giving the vehicle a more finished appearance.
Track-Day Brake Solutions
PowerStop also offers dedicated track-day products for drivers who use their vehicles in HPDE and other performance-driving environments.
Its current lineup includes track-oriented brake kits designed as an entry point for drivers beginning to explore circuit driving.
Track use places substantially different demands on a brake system than normal street driving.
Repeated high-speed braking generates significantly more heat, making pad compound, rotor design, and thermal management increasingly important.
PowerStop's track-oriented products provide an option for enthusiasts who need to move beyond a conventional street brake setup.
Brake Solutions for Different Driving Conditions
One of the strongest aspects of the PowerStop lineup is the variety of applications it covers.
The range is not built around one universal brake compound or one type of rotor.
Instead, PowerStop offers different solutions for different driving requirements:
Daily Driving
Z17 and Z23 products provide options for stock replacement and upgraded street braking, with an emphasis on quiet operation, low dust, and everyday drivability.
Performance Street Driving
Z23 and Z26 systems provide increased braking performance for enthusiasts who want more capable brakes without moving directly to a dedicated competition setup.
Trucks and SUVs
Z36 systems are designed around towing, hauling, off-road use, larger tires, and other conditions that increase brake-system demands.
Track and HPDE
PowerStop's track-day range provides solutions specifically intended for performance driving and circuit use.
A More Complete Approach to Brake Upgrades
PowerStop's philosophy is straightforward: make brake upgrades easier to select and easier to install.
Instead of forcing enthusiasts to piece together a braking system from multiple manufacturers, its complete kits combine components engineered for the same application.
That approach is particularly useful for street-driven vehicles where owners want a meaningful upgrade without unnecessary complexity.
Whether the priority is cleaner wheels, stronger street braking, improved heat management, towing capability, or track performance, PowerStop has a product category designed around the vehicle's intended use.
Explore PowerStop at XPH
At XPH, we offer PowerStop brake products for enthusiasts looking to improve braking performance across a wide range of vehicles and driving conditions.
From Z23 Evolution Sport systems for daily drivers and European vehicles to Z26 Street Warrior upgrades, Z36 Truck & Tow systems, track-day products, brake pads, rotors, and caliper-equipped kits, PowerStop provides practical solutions for drivers who want more from their braking system.
Explore PowerStop at XPH: https://x-ph.com/powerstop/