CarCareTruth Score
Decent.
Opens Amazon in a new tab. No account needed to look.
Saved to your guest loadout. Sign up to also save to your Cabinet (consumables) or Kit (tools you own).
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
Prices may varyThis product ranks #18 of 26 in Brake Pads.Three above it ↓
Last reviewed August 3, 2026
TL;DR Carbon-fiber ceramic front pads for the 2011-2014 base Subaru WRX (non-STI), hardware included. Aftermarket compound, no published edge code; does not fit the Brembo STI.
The Z23-1539 is Power Stop's carbon-fiber ceramic front pad, shared across the 2011-2014 base WRX (single-piston caliper), the Subaru BRZ, and the Scion FR-S / Toyota 86. Power Stop is an aftermarket brand, not an OE supplier, and no SAE J866 edge code is published. Installation hardware and rubberized shims ship in the box, with chamfered, slotted construction. Owners of other Z23 applications describe confident daily cold bite and cleaner wheels than a worn semi-metallic pad, though WRX-specific data is limited.
Right pick for a base 2011-2014 WRX owner wanting a value ceramic pad with hardware included. Skip it for the STI (its Brembo 4-piston caliper needs a different pad, not claimed here), or if you want an OE pedigree or published edge code.
The pad is inert ceramic friction material on a steel backing plate, with no chemical exposure as a sold product. A brake job stirs up brake dust, so wear a dust mask and never blow it out with compressed air; that caution belongs to the service procedure, not the pad. The steel plate recycles as ferrous scrap, the friction compound goes to landfill. The Prop 65 warning reflects trace constituents common to nearly all brake friction material.
No. The STI uses a Brembo 4-piston front caliper, physically different from the base WRX's single-piston sliding caliper, and needs a different pad shape entirely. Nothing on this page claims STI fitment.
Power Stop's own published fitment data lists the 2011, 2013, and 2014 model years for this part, and Subaru's own OEM parts catalog independently confirms the base WRX front brake package is unchanged across the full 2010-2014 span, covering the 2012 model year as well. Always confirm against your own single-piston front caliper before ordering: this part does not fit the STI's Brembo caliper.
No. Power Stop is an aftermarket performance brake brand, not an original-equipment supplier to Subaru. No SAE J866 friction edge code is published for this part number.
The set ships with the front brake pads and installation hardware, including rubberized shims, plus the chamfered and slotted pad design Power Stop uses across its Z23 line.
It is a carbon-fiber ceramic compound, which Power Stop markets as a low-dust formula. Owners of other Power Stop Z23 applications generally report cleaner wheels than a worn semi-metallic OE pad, though this reflects the Z23 line broadly rather than WRX-specific testing.
The Amazon listing for Power Stop Z23 Evolution Sport Z23-1539 Front Brake Pads (WRX) carries a California Prop 65 warning. California requires this warning on a very wide range of manufactured goods — including rubber, vinyl, plastic, and metal automotive parts — whenever trace exposure to any of roughly 900 listed substances (commonly phthalates or heavy metals) is possible, regardless of whether the specific product poses a meaningful health risk. As a passive accessory, Power Stop Z23 Evolution Sport Z23-1539 Front Brake Pads (WRX) has no Safety Data Sheet, so there's no chemistry breakdown to translate beyond that.
Marketing copy from Power Stop, via Amazon. Not editorial.
Per manufacturer cross-reference, not a physical test fit. A single generation often forks by engine, trim, and market.
Check this against your owner's manual before you buy
Weekly pick
One product, one safety verdict, every week. No spam.
ACDelco
Gold 17D785CH Ceramic Disc Brake Pad Set
Akebono
ACT1222A Ultra-Premium Ceramic Front Brake Pads
Akebono
ACT1879 Ultra-Premium Ceramic Rear Brake Pads
Akebono
ProACT ACT914A Ceramic Front Brake Pads
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
Community
0 postsShare how you use this product
Drop a quick comment or post a full review with photos and a star rating.
Sign in to postNew here? Create a free account.