When it comes to brake kits, rotors and pads, there are two big names in the industry, Brembo and Zimmerman.
Both brands are known for their high quality and performance, but which one is better?
This blog post will compare Brembo vs Zimmerman to determine which one is better than the other.
We will look at quality, performance, and price to see who comes out on top.
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Brembo vs Zimmerman Brakes
Zimmerman is a brake kit manufacturer that specializes in high-performance brake kits.
Zimmerman’s kits are known for their quality and performance, and they are a favorite among car enthusiasts.
Brembo is also an Italian brake kit manufacturer who is seen by many as the global leader in brake manufacturing with a respected reputation in quality and subline performance.
Both brands offer high-quality products, but Brembo has the edge for quality.
Brembo’s products are made with better materials and have stricter quality control standards.
This results in a higher quality product that will last longer and perform better than Zimmerman’s products.
We discuss this in more detail below.
Quality
Both Brembo and Zimmerman rotors are made from high-quality materials.
Brembo rotors are made from cast iron, while Zimmerman rotors are made from a proprietary alloy that they don’t disclose.
Both materials are known for their durability and resistance to wear.
However, because Brembo uses a more common material, their rotors tend to be less expensive than Zimmerman’s.
Zimmerman’s proprietary alloy is known for its high strength and resistance to wear.
However, it is not as common as cast iron, so their rotors tend to be more expensive than Brembo’s.
Zimmerman also has strict quality control standards, ensuring that their products meet the highest quality standards.
Zimmerman is the OEM for several high-end car brands, including Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche.
Brembo is no stranger to the OEM market, with clients with almost every brand you can think of for Asian, European, and American vehicles. Don’t believe me? Check out their list here.
At times it’s hard to keep up with major brands and how they work with these brands as OEM.
The OEM replacement rotors you are looking to replace on your BMW could easily be a Brembo or Zimmerman part with the BMW badge on it.
Performance
Both Brembo and Zimmerman rotors are known for their high performance.
Brembo’s rotors are drilled and slotted, which helps to improve braking performance and cooling.
Zimmerman’s rotors are not drilled or slotted, but they have a unique vented design that helps to improve cooling.
Brembo’s rotors are also coated with a proprietary friction material that helps to improve braking performance.
Zimmerman does not cover their rotors with a friction material, but they do have a unique coating that helps to protect the rotor from rust and corrosion.
However, you don’t need to all-in on one or the other for the entire brake kit.
Many drivers across various forums and FB groups have used Brembo rotors and EBC, Akebono, Hawk, or even Stoptech pads.
For example, maybe consider using Brembo rotors and EBC brake pads.
We mentioned EBC because their color chart makes it easier to find the best pad to sync up with your performance needs, i.e., daily driving, street performance, or track.
We have seen popular success using Brembo rotors with EBC yellow and EBC reds.
If you are looking for a performance upgrade, all Zimmermann brake discs, Grooved, and drilled brake discs are designed for sporty motoring.
Zimmerman’s sports line brakes include three main models, Sport, Sport Z, and Black Z.
Zimmerman’s drilled and slotted brake rotors are designed to dissipate heat quickly and improve braking performance, while their grooved brake discs help to keep your pads in place.
Whether the brake disc is cross-drilled or grooved is a question of appearance.
With cross-drilled brake discs Sport Z and grooved brake discs, Black Z Zimmermann offers a solution for everyone.
However, are you looking for a complete brake kit upgrade? Then maybe we would look at Brembo instead of Zimmerman.
Brembo’s performance upgrades are widely popular, and with options to improve performance on just about any vehicle (96% of cars covered), you can see why they have such a loyal fanbase.
Brembo has options for their upgrade program.
The first is the Brembo Gran Turismo (GT) kit designed for high-performance driving.
The GT kit includes Brembo’s six-piston calipers, Type III slotted and drilled rotors and high-performance brake pads.
The second option from Brembo is the Brembo Max kit.
The Brembo Max kit is designed for track days and includes their eight-piston calipers, Type III slotted and drilled rotors and high-performance brake pads.
The third option from Brembo is the Brembo Racing kit.
The Brembo Racing kit is designed for serious track use. It includes its four-piston calipers, Type III slotted rotors, and high-performance brake pads.
Price
The next thing you might want to consider when choosing between Brembo and Zimmerman is the price.
Brembo’s brake kits are more expensive than Zimmermann’s, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth the money.
Both of these brands are towards the higher end of the market, to be honest, and might be out of many people’s budget.
If you own a german car, you will likely know by now that the quality is in most cases excellent, but when you need to get some replacement or upgrade parts, they can set you back quite a bit.
However, Zimmermann may be the better option if you are looking for a complete brake kit upgrade because their prices start at a lower point than Brembo’s.
At the end of the day, it comes down to what you are looking for in a brake kit.
If you are looking for a performance upgrade, Brembo is an excellent option.
However, Zimmermann may be the better choice if you are looking for a complete brake kit OEM replacement.
It all comes down to your budget and what you are looking to get out of your brake kit.
When it comes to rotors, Brembo can typically cost you anywhere from $300-350.
On the other hand, Zimmermann rotors cost around $200-250.
Brembo or Zimmerman, Which One Is Better?
If you’ve read a few of our recent posts, you might have noticed we have compared Brembo against some of the most popular brands like EBC, Stoptech, Akebono, and Wilwood; and Brembo vs Zimmerman is one of the most difficult to distinguish.
At the end of the day, it comes down to what you are looking for in a brake kit.
If you are looking for a performance upgrade, Brembo is an excellent option for a complete kit or rotors a third-party pad.
However, if you are looking for an OEM replacement, Zimmermann may be the better choice, especially if you own a German car like BMW, Mercedes, or Audi.
It all comes down to your budget and what you are looking to get out of your brake kit.
So, if you are looking to save some money, then Zimmerman rotors may be the way to go.
However, if you are looking for the best performance possible, Brembo is the way to go.
No matter which route you choose to go, you really can’t go wrong with either Brembo or Zimmerman rotors.
Both of these brands offer high-quality products that will give you the performance you want.
So, which one is better? That depends on what you are looking for and your budget.
If you are looking for the best possible performance upgrade, Brembo is the way to go.
We hope this has helped you decide which brake kit is suitable for you.
As always, feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. We would be more than happy to help!
Disclaimer
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