Brake-in for Brake pads...Really ?

O

Old-Duckman

Active member
 SW Pennsylvania USA
Just arrived by FedEx today, new rear disks and pads.

The pads say to follow this procedure to brake in the pads:
30 decelerations from 30 MPH to 5 MPH with at least 30 seconds in between.

OK, sounds great...where on earth could one do this other than a track ? You're either going to get the person behind you really angry or get stopped for drunk driving.

Is this just a way for the manufacturer to absolve themselves of any warranty responsibilities or ?

Does anybody really do this ??

I honestly don't see me being able to do this anywhere around where I live. Also I have never seen this warning/procedure come with any other brake pads I have purchased and installed.
 
I’ve seen this before, have you not got any quieter roads you could drive to & carry out the process? :?
Rob
 
That sounds a bit excessive and like you say, unrealistic surely?! I've only ever been told to take it easy on the brakes for the first 200 miles of use. Sounds like the company are trying to cover their own ass!
 
The last pads I installed on the z4 recommend heavy braking from 60mph to 10mph 5+ times every so often to keep them working at their best. They are, however, a 'fast road/track day' sort of compound that works much better warm. Anyway, I do as the instructions say whenever I find myself on a quiet country road with no other cars/cargo/passengers - strangely my my other half didn't enjoy when I did it the first time without saying anything other than "hang on" :rofl:
 
Smartbear said:
I’ve seen this before, have you not got any quieter roads you could drive to & carry out the process? :?
Rob
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None that I can think of where I have a long enough stretch without expecting at least some traffic. Consider the 30 seconds between "decelerations". 30 times coasting for 30 seconds @25 MPH would be 15 minutes total of coasting @ 25 MPH that equals 6.25 miles covered. Of course that does not count the miles you cover when you are running up to 30 MPH then braking to 5 MPH. I don't see how that could be practical for nearly anyone except for on a track or a dyno.

On a freeway, sure...but you are bound to get pulled over doing something stupid like that and I think the police would be skeptical of my excuse.

These are not any kind of special or expensive pads either. The brand is "Powerstop", "Euor-Stop", "ECE-R90 certified". I got rear disks (same brand) pads and wear sensor for $123 US, shipped. RocAuto classifies them as "daily driver, stock replacement". Nothing special to be sure.

I'm going to do some Net searches and see if there is some more practical, accepted method.
 
So when I had my brakes done, they were a bit poo. The shop advised that I could just drive normally - albeit a bit more carefully - over the next few hundred KMs and they'll naturally bed in and get to their maximum force.

Bedding in procedures as you described just help accelerate this process but if you don't have a chance to go for a run to bed-in, I wouldn't fret about it.

My rotors are from DBA so I followed their procedure - https://www.dbabrakes.eu/basic-initial-brake-bed-in

Brakes went from weak to good after this. They were smoking up when I parked up so I knew the job was a good'un :thumbsup:
 
Really, read and apply the instructions and do as suggested, bed them in. Otherwise you risk squealing brakes, uneven and accelerated wear to either or both the pad and the disc, and consequently a shorter life.
Supermarket car park out of hours perhaps if you are urban, quiet country road early Sunday morning if you are rural.
 
If you don’t, you risk glazing them and they will be under performing until you have de-glazed them which could be a long time. Remember rtfm is always the best advice. In the 911 car manual it tells you to bed new brakes in but 70 to 50 etc
 
What pads did you buy? The need for aggressive bedding in varies according to the formulation of the pad (and the maker) but is often a thing on track/race pads. It's not just a method of speeding up the bedding-in process but necessary with some formulations to get sufficient temperature in the pad and disc (rotor) to transfer pad deposits on to the surface, which improves friction and allows smooth running.

A lot of people gently easing pads that require this process are setting themselves up for poor initial bite, squealing and general lack of stopping power, so go with the instructions, or find a pad that doesn't need it e.g. Textar epads which I have and actually require 200 miles of gentle use to bed in, so there are alternatives.
 
Silverstar said:
Go out at 3am when no one is around and do it then.
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That'll give the cops something to focus on. :D

I would suggest that if you do go out to do it, whatever the time, make sure you haven't had a drink for at least 12 hours, and take the bedding in instructions with you as proof.
You just know you'll get pulled, and no doubt once they have you, the car will get a good check over for the slightest thing wrong as well.
 
Sounds very strange to me. My usual bed in is 10 stops from 60 to 20, at moderate brake force,then a 10 minute cool down, then 10 stops 80 to 30 at hard force, then 10 minute cool down. As said, im trying to get the discs and pads hot so as to transfer some pad material to the discs.

30 stops from 30 to 5 with 30 seconds in between doesnt sound like it would build any heat at all! That just sounds like driving round a housing estate. :?
 
Ive always done similar, find a country road, empty dual cariage was etc then do some thing some thing along the lines to. Just make sure no ones behind you.

70-10,60-10,50-10,40-10,30-10 then in reverse, basically not allowing the car to a complete stop.
 
You could do that during most town drives. Get up to normal speed, then brake for lights or a corner, repeat until you've done enough cycles.

Mine are normally increasing speeds & braking length...all the way up to abut 100mph and down to 30mph.
 
There must be 1000s of brake pads fitted to cars daily across the country. While I've no figures to back this up I'm quite sure 99% of motorist will perform this sort of bedding in.
The garages usually say take it easy for 100miles and avoid sharp braking.
 
As it’s the rear, I really wouldn’t bother! You’ll end up doing more bedding in than 30mph-5mph would do just with your normal driving.

The fronts would be a different matter, I would definitely bed those in, but lots of people don’t (especially when a garage has done them).
 
biojo said:
Ive always done similar, find a country road, empty dual cariage was etc then do some thing some thing along the lines to. Just make sure no ones behind you.

70-10,60-10,50-10,40-10,30-10 then in reverse, basically not allowing the car to a complete stop.
Click to expand...

Yep, find a quiet country lane & accelerate up to 130mph or so before standing on the anchors. After a few runs you’ll be ready for some replacement pads as yours will be on fire :rofl:
Rob
 
130 lol, I think i only mentioned the speed limits

the main thing is to get heat into them but not to come to a complete stop so the hot pads are in one place

I often notice with my ferodos ds2500 that in winter there fine, then first hot day in summer they squel badly, give it a few hard brakes but not coming to a stop and there fine.

But when these pads and discs where new it took them a good 3-4 months before they was bedded in and didnt squeel at all on steady stops, only do 15mile a day.
 
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