Welcome to this high-octane showdown between two titans of the automotive brake industry: Raybestos and Zimmermann.
Prepare for an exciting journey as we pit their performance, quality, prices against each other, and weigh their pros and cons.
Buckle up, as we determine which brand speeds ahead in this brake system battle!
Raybestos vs Zimmermann – Brand Comparison Table
| Raybestos | Zimmermann | |
| Country of Origin | United States | Germany |
| Year Founded | 1902 | 1947 |
| Made In | mostly in China | Germany |
| Founder | Arthur H. Raymond and Arthur F. Law | Otto Zimmermann |
| Parent | Brake Parts Inc | Stand-alone |
| Overall Quality | high-quality with good friction rating | just as good as OEM brake discs with their Coat-Z series |
Raybestos Element3 Premium Coated vs Zimmermann Coat-Z Brake Rotors Comparison
In this section, I’m going to compare the most popular Series – Element3 Premium Coated and Coat-Z 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:
| Raybestos | Zimmermann | |
| Series | Element3 Premium Coated | Coat-Z |
| Material | High Carbon | Cast Iron |
| Coating | Grey fusion 4.0 zinc coating | Coat Z – anti corrosion coating |
| Type | Vented | Vented |
| Durability | Original equipment design, vane configuration, and weight | The grey cast iron is further treated with additional ingredients to stabilize its properties, ensuring maximum durability |
| Performance | Unmatched stopping power, corrosion and rust-resistant finish, reduced brake fade for high performance | German production quality with Coat-Z coating that not only enhances longevity but also improves the overall performance |
| Price | $19.00 – $307.00 | $28.25 – $445.32 |
| Warranty | Raybestos Brake Products will be free from non-conformities in materials and workmanship | covers defects in material and workmanship for 24 Months |
| Stopping Power Rating (More Stars = More Stopping Power) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Noise Levels Rating (Fewer Stars = Less Noise) | ⭐ | ⭐ |
| Performance Over Stock Rating (More Stars = More Performance) | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Raybestos E3 Performance vs Zimmermann Premium 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:
| Raybestos | Zimmermann | |
| Series | E3 Performance | Premium Ceramic |
| Material | Ceramic, Organic | Ceramic |
| Performance | Engineered for smooth and quiet operation, these brake pads are designed to outperform stock options. They incorporate EHT Enhanced Hybrid Technology and professional-grade formulations, ensuring optimum performance and reliability for an enhanced braking experience. | Zimmermann Premium Ceramic brake pads are engineered to provide a quieter and consistently pleasant braking experience, minimizing noise and enhancing overall performance. |
| Price | $14.00 – $53.00 | $24.29 – $308.69 |
| Warranty | Raybestos Brake Products will be free from non-conformities in materials and workmanship | covers defects in material and workmanship for 24 months |
| 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
Raybestos Brake Parts:
- Recommended by several users for their coated rotors and Centric Posi Quiet ceramic pads.
- Considered reliable and reasonably priced, according to discussions on Reddit.
- Users are interested in quality control, especially since production moved overseas.
- Raybestos Element3/EHT brake pads are praised for their good bite and even performance as they heat up.
- These brake pads have proven effective on a variety of vehicles, from trucks to small cars.
Zimmermann Brake Parts:
- Users give positive reviews of Zimmermann brake parts for street and daily use.
- Zimmermann Z coated rotors are recommended by users for their quality.
- Users appreciate the low brake dust and harder bite of Zimmerman drilled rotors.
- Zimmermann parts are seen as equivalent to OEM without the BMW stamp, and have been used without issues for nearly 2 years by some.
- The zinc coating on Zimmermann rotors prevents rust, and front rotor vents are a popular feature.
- Some users prefer Zimmermann, using their parts on all of their cars.
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:
| Raybestos Rotors Prices⁽¹⁾ | Zimmermann Rotors Prices⁽²⁾ | |
| Lowest Priced Rotors | Raybestos R-Line™ Brake Rotor goes from $14.74 | Zimmermann Coat-Z Brake Rotor goes from $19.97 |
| Most Expensive Rotors | Raybestos Specialty Street Performance Slotted 1-Piece Rear Brake Rotor goes for $236.02 | Zimmermann Formula-Z Front Passenger Side Brake Rotor goes for $1,072.23 |
Alternatively, you can see the brake pads prices for Raybestos and Zimmermann below:
| Raybestos Brake Pads Prices⁽¹⁾ | Zimmermann Brake Pads Prices⁽²⁾ | |
| Lowest Priced Pads | Raybestos R-Line Semi-Metallic Rear Disc Brake Pads go from $14.49 | Zimmermann Front Disc Brake Pad Set go from $19.68 |
| Most Expensive Pads | Raybestos Street Performance Specialty Metallic Rear Brake Pads go for $146.86 | Zimmermann Rear Disc Brake Pad Set go for $269.93 |
3. Pros and Cons
In this section, I’ve tried to showcase the most noticeable advantages and disadvantages for these two experts in brakes.
Raybestos
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔ High-quality brake rotors | ❌ Some customers are experiencing noise issues with their pads |
| ✔ Reputable brand in the brake system market | |
| ✔ Durability |
Zimmermann
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔ German production quality | ❌ Rare durability issues |
| ✔ Coat Z Coated Brake Discs | |
| ✔ Positive customer reviews |
Which Is the Better Brand Overall?
Given the customer feedback and pros and cons, it’s a close call.
However, I’ll lean slightly towards Zimmermann due to their consistent high-quality German production, the positive customer reviews, and the special features like Coat Z coated brake discs.
Although Raybestos also has good reviews, some concerns about noise issues give Zimmermann a slight edge.