How To Break-In Brake Pads & Brake Rotors?

Brake bed-in is a process of burnishing or conditioning of the brakes by depositing an even layer of brake pad material on the brake disc or brake rotor surface. This is done by heating the brake pad and rotor by carrying out a series of braking maneuvers. It is recommended to break in your brakes after completion of a brake job. This includes a brake rotor replacement, brake rotor resurfacing, or brake pad replacement. This seems simple, but carrying out a proper break-in requires correct methods because the effects of an incomplete or wrong break-in are annoying and lead to various problems. When done correctly, the pad and rotor surfaces are mated to each other perfectly and the roughness and unevenness between the two mating surfaces are smoothened out. Brakes are bedded-in so the brakes can last longer and ensure that the rotor surface has no deposits as it can cause an uneven application of the brakes.

Carrying out the bed-in procedure or not really comes down to how you drive. It's no surprise that an average driver might haven't heard of bedding in the brakes and the mechanics and auto workshops do not bother informing the customer either. Breaking in your brakes is very important and one simple reason to do so is to ensure that your brakes perform effectively. If you do not bed-in or brake-in your new brake rotors and pads, it can result in uncomfortable and poor braking performance and can also cause premature brake components to wear. Daily driving conditions do not heat up the brake pads and rotors too much to cause an issue, but problems can come up during sudden braking and demanding conditions. This is really important in high-performance driving and applications where brakes are worked hard, like racing, towing or heavy vehicles. Bedding in your brakes properly helps you not only to achieve a quiet braking action but also prevents the following problems from arising.

1. Brake Judder

If the brakes are not bedded-in properly, you can end up with uneven brake pad deposits on the rotor surface. This can lead to improper pad grip on the rotor surface, causing it to slip and grip intermittently. This can also cause a judder on the brake pedal as you apply the brake. If this is not corrected, the brake rotor can get warped over time due to uneven wear, leaving you with no option but to replace it with a new brake rotor. Uneven pad deposits on the rotor surface are often responsible for brake vibrations and judders. It only takes a small amount of thickness variation of the rotor to initiate vibrations and the high spots created due to improper brake pad material transfer can actually become hot spots over time, which are almost impossible to remove.

2. Squeaking and Squealing Brakes

Brake pads manufacturers often use protectants to keep the pads from degrading quickly. After purchasing and installing new brake pads on your vehicle, this protective coating can create squeaking and squealing noises. Properly bedding your brake can solve this issue. However, there are other factors like dirt, rust, and play in the brake pads that can lead to such a problem.

The bed-in procedure listed below entails the steps required to bed-in the brake systems effectively. We strongly recommend conducting this procedure in dry conditions and in an empty track or space for proper safety. The bed-in procedure differs based on applications, types of pads, and vehicles. The adherent temperature range required to bed-in the pad material depends on whether you have a streetcar or a race car.

1. Bed-In Procedure For Street Pads

• Accelerate your vehicle at 60-70kph (40-45mph) and gently brake the vehicle to gradually decrease the speed to 20kph (10mph).

• Accelerate the vehicle again to the same speed, followed by applying the brakes again. Repeat the step 3 to 4 times. This will bring the brake rotors to an optimum temperature.

• Now speed up the vehicle to 90-100kmph (60-65mph) and apply the brake comparatively harder to bring the vehicle down to 20kph (10mph). Repeated this step 6-8 times.

• After carrying out the above steps, drive your vehicle around for 10 minutes and allow the brakes to cool.

• Repeat the process again and apply brakes 3 times (from 70kph to 20kph) in succession, followed by back-to-back 6 to 8 heavy braking (from 90kph to 10kph).

• Drive for another 10 minutes on an empty stretch without applying the brake. This will bring down the temperature of your brakes.

• Avoid applying the brakes of your vehicle to a complete stop while carrying out the break-in procedure because the brake pads and rotors are hot. Stopping to a complete halt might allow the hot brake pads to leave an imprint on the rotor surface, creating an uneven surface.

2. Bed-In Procedure For Race Pads

• Accelerate your vehicle to 90kph and apply brakes to reduce the speed approximately to 10kph.

• Follow up by speeding the car to a higher speed of 120kph (80mph) and then braking it again to 10kph. Repeat this step 4 to 5 times without wasting time in between and in quick succession. The goal is to not allow the brakes to cool.

• Perform a set of 11 stops from 120 to 60kph (80 to 40mph) or a set of 6-7 stops from 160 to 80kph (100mph to 50mph).

• Now allow the brakes to cool down for 10 minutes while you drive without applying the brakes.

• Repeat the above steps again for a second time and allow the brakes to cool.

• If the brake pedal becomes soft or you notice brake fade while performing the above steps, do not drive the car for approximately 20 minutes.

Important Reminders While Bedding-in Brake Pads And Rotors

• Do not use worn or damaged brake rotors with new brake pads.

• Do not drag the brakes while carrying out the bed-in procedure and avoid braking as much as possible while allowing the brakes to cool.

• Do not engage the brake pedal while the car is stopped in between the procedures.

• After completing the brake bed-in process, allow the brakes to cool completely before racing.

• It's perfectly normal if you can smell your brake pads because they heat up as you go through this process.

  
  

While bedding your brakes seems like a sensitive procedure, gently braking your vehicle to a stop won't ruin your efforts. However, it is recommended to avoid pressing down on the pedal and carry out this procedure in a wide-open space to keep emergency stops to a minimum. Now, when you are done with the procedure, a good foundation has been put down.

Bedding in your brakes isn't as complicated as it looks and can be carried out easily by simply following the steps mentioned in this guide. This allows your brakes to last longer and also keeps you aware of the problems and the finer details of the working of your braking system. It is also helpful while carrying out routine maintenance, servicing your brakes, and allows to spot signs of potential failures. Make sure you bed-in your brakes next time you purchase new brake pads or rotors for your vehicle. 

The content in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. We highly recommend consulting a certified mechanic or technician if you have any questions or concerns related to topics covered herein. Under no circumstances will PartsAvatar Canada be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on any content.