Bedding In New Brakes

venomx

Is it a myth or is it best to bed in new brakes ( discs and pads )  by going a certain speed, then braking and repeating this a few times ?
I hear it's only necessary on high end brakes

Is 50mph to 20mph a few times good enough, whilst leaving 30 seconds between each brake ?

Flight3287462

You want to make sure they are working correctly and all the bits and bobs are where they should be, no squeaks or rattles and all surfaces meeting.  Makes sense to do a couple of test heavy braking but no need to go daft you will know if they feel right.

sheslookinhot

Heavy braking should be avoided until the brakes are bedded-in.

The OP should Google the question and get a much better response.

Here are recommendations from Ferodo

Who remembers those “Running in. Please pass” rear windscreen stickers? Nowadays new cars hardly need special treatment, but new brake pads do – for as much as 200 miles.

Breaking-in new brake pads helps to improve braking performance. You can help while the vehicle is still in the workshop. But your customer will still need to take some responsibility for ensuring their brakes perform as they should. 

1. Bedding-in. Please stop. A perfect mating area between the pad and the disc surface doesn’t just happen when you fit new pads. It takes time and some specific actions. You can get the bedding-in process (otherwise known as “burnishing”) underway, before the customer collects their car. All you have to do is make about 20 complete stops in the car – from 30-0mph – or about the same number of slow-downs from 50-20mph. This will start the bedding-in, for your customer to continue when you hand back the keys.  This practice is particularly recommended when you have new coated brake discs.

2. Play it cool. If brake pads overheat when new, it can permanently change the underlying structure of the materials they’re made from – and not for the better. Until the brakes are fully bedded, drivers should avoid the heavy braking that leads to overheating: whether it’s because they’re braking from high speed, towing heavy loads, or driving on steep terrain.

3. Brake, brake, brake. Though gentle braking is better than heavy braking, more braking is better than less. For up to the first 200 miles, every time the brake pads make contact with the discs, it increases the contact surface area between the two, which leads to better braking in the long-term. So you should remind your customers to brake lightly, but brake often, for the first 200 miles after new pads have been fitted.

caprikid1

sheslookinhot said:

Heavy braking should be avoided until the brakes are bedded-in.

The OP should Google the question and get a much better response.

Here are recommendations from Ferodo

Who remembers those “Running in. Please pass” rear windscreen stickers? Nowadays new cars hardly need special treatment, but new brake pads do – for as much as 200 miles.

Breaking-in new brake pads helps to improve braking performance. You can help while the vehicle is still in the workshop. But your customer will still need to take some responsibility for ensuring their brakes perform as they should. 

1. Bedding-in. Please stop. A perfect mating area between the pad and the disc surface doesn’t just happen when you fit new pads. It takes time and some specific actions. You can get the bedding-in process (otherwise known as “burnishing”) underway, before the customer collects their car. All you have to do is make about 20 complete stops in the car – from 30-0mph – or about the same number of slow-downs from 50-20mph. This will start the bedding-in, for your customer to continue when you hand back the keys.  This practice is particularly recommended when you have new coated brake discs.

2. Play it cool. If brake pads overheat when new, it can permanently change the underlying structure of the materials they’re made from – and not for the better. Until the brakes are fully bedded, drivers should avoid the heavy braking that leads to overheating: whether it’s because they’re braking from high speed, towing heavy loads, or driving on steep terrain.

3. Brake, brake, brake. Though gentle braking is better than heavy braking, more braking is better than less. For up to the first 200 miles, every time the brake pads make contact with the discs, it increases the contact surface area between the two, which leads to better braking in the long-term. So you should remind your customers to brake lightly, but brake often, for the first 200 miles after new pads have been fitted.

That's really useful , If I have new pads in or have had the pads out I often losely apply the brakes for a short distance out of the drive to start them bedding in or clean them off then do a moderate stop. There are two important issues really, the first is to start the bedding in process and clear any contaminates, the second is to understand is how good your brakes currently are. That is probably far more important than any bedding in process.

Jenni_D

What's not recommended to do is to have the pads lightly touching the discs for a prolonged period ... that can markedly reduce braking performance by "glazing" the pads.

oldagetraveller1

venomx said:

Is it a myth or is it best to bed in new brakes ( discs and pads )  by going a certain speed, then braking and repeating this a few times ?
I hear it's only necessary on high end brakes

Is 50mph to 20mph a few times good enough, whilst leaving 30 seconds between each brake ?

Enjoy your 2008 Toyota Yaris!

Username03725

I don't recall ever seeing specific advice about bedding in brakes over a set distance. Whenever I change pads and / or pads & discs the sanity check of a firm pedal, expected movement etc is always the first thing, and then over first couple of miles give them either gentle use a few times or a gentle press for a short distance a couple of times with the left foot whilst maintaining speed, again just to make sure everything feels right.

Not bedding them in over a longer distance or time has never revealed any negative effects as far as I can tell though.

Car_54

I have had 16 brand new cars over the years, and many pad and some disc replacements, but have never once been advised to bed the brakes in. 

Ectophile

All I have ever been warned is that the brakes may not work as well as normal for the first few miles, as the new pads and discs need to bed in.  Other than that, I drive as normal and use the brakes as usual.

Ganga

I think in the days of drum brakes with brake shoes it was maybe an idea to bed them in but with most cars having discs all round do not think this still applies. 

EssexExile

Jenni_D said:

What's not recommended to do is to have the pads lightly touching the discs for a prolonged period ... that can markedly reduce braking performance by "glazing" the pads.

How does one stop the pads touching the discs?