You probably heard about the term “Bedding-in” your brakes, and you ask yourself, what does that mean? And why should you do that?
Why should you Bed-in your brake Pads?
Bedding-in, also known as “Breaking-in” helps to improve maximum braking performance. This process is extremely important for brake pads and rotors/discs to be bedded in.
Bedding in brake pads or new discs is a complicated process that must be performed correctly to ensure that your new braking products perform to their fullest potential.
The main purpose of the bedding in process is to raise the temperature of the brake pad and disc to allow an even transfer layer of the new brake pad material to transfer onto the brake disc surface. This will allow better performance and minimizing squeal and vibration, increasing the lifespan of both brake pads and discs.
Bedding-in process:
- Ensure this process is done in a safe environment, where you will not be obstructing other road users or breaking any traffic laws.
- Reach 80km/h and feather your brakes a few times to raise their temperature.
- From 80km/h down to 10km/h make 8-10 hard near-stops in a row. Take note that you never fully stop. You are just firmly and quickly reducing your speed without excessively coming to a dead stop. At the end of each braking cycle, get your speed back up to 80km/h and then repeat this step until this process is completed.
- Once completing the last near-stop, get back up to speed and drive for 10 minutes, using the brakes as little as possible to let them cool down.
- For a further 200km, try not to brake too excessively as this will help the brake pad and disc mate correctly.
