Welcome to the ultimate brake battle: ACDelco vs PowerStop! I’ll be your guide as we journey into the nitty-gritty of these two titans’ performance, quality, and pricing.
We’ll deliberate the pros and cons and put pedal to the metal to determine which brand truly stops the competition in its tracks.
Buckle up, it’s going to be an exhilarating ride!
ACDelco vs PowerStop – Brand Comparison Table
| ACDelco | PowerStop | |
| Country of Origin | United States | United States |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1995 |
| Made In | mostly in China | mostly in United States, Canada, China |
| Founder | William C. Durant | Arvin Scott |
| Parent | General Motors | TSG Consumer Partners |
| Overall Quality | great quality when it comes to brake pads & shoes products | good brand for any brake part but there are different levels of quality |
ACDelco Gold vs PowerStop Evolution Performance Drilled, Slotted & Plated Brake Rotors Comparison
In this section, I’m going to compare the most popular Series – Gold and Evolution Performance Drilled, Slotted & Plated from both brands by various product specs & features, prices, warranty, durability, performance, stopping power and noise levels.
Here is a detailed comparison table showcasing what each brand has to offer:
| ACDelco | PowerStop | |
| Series | Gold | Evolution Performance Drilled, Slotted & Plated |
| Material | Cast Iron | Cast Iron |
| Coating | Black E-Coat | Zinc coated |
| Type | Vented | Vented |
| Durability | Durable and has high-quality manufacturing that ensures smooth operation | OEM vane configuration and weight |
| Performance | Provides reliable and consistent performance | Solid stopping power, drilled for better cooling and performance, 100% Mill balanced |
| Price | $19.45 – $343.00 | $60.00 – $1124.00 |
| Warranty | covers defects in material and workmanship for 24 Months/24,000 Miles | cover defects in material and poor workmanship for 3 years or 36,000 miles of use |
| Stopping Power Rating (More Stars = More Stopping Power) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Noise Levels Rating (Fewer Stars = Less Noise) | ⭐ | ⭐ |
| Performance Over Stock Rating (More Stars = More Performance) | ⭐⭐ | ⭐ |
ACDelco Gold Ceramic vs PowerStop Z16 Clean Ride Ceramic Brake Pads Comparison
In the following section, I’m going to compare the most renowned Brake Pads series from both brands by various product specs & features, prices, warranty, performance, stopping power, brake dust accumulation and noise levels.
Here is a detailed comparison table showcasing what each brand has to offer:
| ACDelco | PowerStop | |
| Series | Gold Ceramic | Z16 Clean Ride Ceramic |
| Material | Ceramic | Ceramic |
| Performance | ACDelco Gold Ceramic Brake Pads excel in performance, delivering superior quietness and durability when compared to semi-metallic alternatives in the market. | Power Stop Z16 Clean Ride Ceramic Brake pads feature Evolution ceramic with a low dust formula, delivering superior braking power while keeping your wheels cleaner. The pad surfaces are thermal scorched for a quick break-in process. |
| Price | $17.60 – $155.85 | $17.34 – $77.96 |
| Warranty | covers defects in material and workmanship for 24-Month/Unlimited Mile Warranty | covers defects in materials or workmanship for 90 days from the purchase date or 3,000 miles of use |
| Dust Levels Rating (Fewer Stars = Less Dust) | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Stopping Power Rating (More Stars = More Stopping Power) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Noise Levels Rating (Fewer Stars = Less Noise) | ⭐ | ⭐ |
| Performance Over Stock Rating (More Stars = More Performance) | ⭐ | ⭐ |
Differences
1. Overall Performance and Quality
Comparing ACDelco and PowerStop brake parts, here’s what users say:
ACDelco
- Users generally have positive experiences with ACDelco brake parts.
- Many technicians have installed hundreds of sets of ACDelco brake pads without problems.
- ACDelco Gold rotors are favored for their quietness, smoothness, and excellent stopping power.
- One user recommends ACDelco Gold disc brakes for their smooth stopping, even after 5k miles.
PowerStop
- Reviews for PowerStop brake parts are mixed.
- Some users appreciate PowerStop’s braking performance and no-dust feature.
- However, a few users have reported a strange clicking noise that worsens during braking.
- One user suggested using OEM brake parts instead of PowerStop for longer-lasting performance.
In conclusion, ACDelco appears to have a higher user satisfaction rate compared to PowerStop, based on these reviews. ACDelco products, such as their brake pads and Gold rotors, are praised for their durability, quietness, and smooth braking.
On the other hand, PowerStop has received mixed reviews, with some users reporting issues such as unusual noises during braking.
2. Rotors and Brake Pads Prices
I’ve gathered some interesting information regarding the brake rotor prices for both brands. You can take a look at them in the table below:
| ACDelco Rotors Prices⁽¹⁾ | PowerStop Rotors Prices⁽²⁾ | |
| Lowest Priced Rotors | ACDelco Silver Solid Rear Brake Rotor goes from $6.25 | Power Stop Autospecialty OE Vented Front Brake Rotor goes from $16.18 |
| Most Expensive Rotors | ACDelco Genuine GM Parts Front Driver Side Brake Rotor goes for $4,082.84 | Power Stop Evolution Performance Drilled and Slotted 1-Piece Front Brake Rotors go for $1,240.35 |
Alternatively, you can see the brake pads prices for ACDelco and PowerStop below:
| ACDelco Brake Pads Prices⁽¹⁾ | PowerStop Brake Pads Prices⁽²⁾ | |
| Lowest Priced Pads | ACDelco Silver Semi-Metallic Rear Disc Brake Pads go from $14.11 | Power Stop Euro-Stop Semi-Metallic Rear Disc Brake Pads go from $17.58 |
| Most Expensive Pads | ACDelco 171-1254 – Genuine GM Parts Organic Front Disc Brake Pads go for $758.27 | Power Stop Track Day Spec Advanced Front Brake Pads go for $209.14 |
3. Pros and Cons
In this section, I’ve tried to showcase the most noticeable advantages and disadvantages for these two experts in brakes.
ACDelco
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔ Good all-around performance | ❌ Users report that ACDelco brake pads may produce high amounts of dust |
| ✔ ACDelco offers a range of brake products in three tiers: Advantage, Professional, and GM Original Equipment | |
| ✔ Most of their lineup is relatively affordable |
PowerStop
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔ Good value for the price | ❌ Users are reporting annoying squeaking or grinding noises that can come from some of their brake pads |
| ✔ Availability | |
| ✔ Easy installation |
Which Is the Better Brand Overall?
Given the customer feedback and pros and cons of both brands, I’d lean towards ACDelco as the better pick overall.
This is due to their consistently good performance, affordability, and the variety of their product lineup.
Although PowerStop offers value and availability, reports of noise issues and mixed reviews make ACDelco the safer choice.