BEDDING-IN YOUR BRAKES THE RIGHT WAY

Like many precisely engineered components, new brake pads must be properly and gradually conditioned for their work so they can provide outstanding performance and reliability. Learn how this "bedding-in" process works.

You understand how important a proper bedding-in process is in ensuring exceptional brake pad performance and reliability. Bedding-in begins with the vehicle still at your workshop, but make sure customers accept their responsibility in this conditioning process as well. 

1. BURNISCHING OR BEDDING-IN

No matter what you call it, make sure it's done properly. New brake pads must be mated to their corresponding disc surfaces. This process requires a bit of time and clearly defined actions that should take place both while the vehicle is at your workshop and after the customer heads back out on the road. Before returning the car to its owner, be sure to make 20 complete stops from 50 km/h or 20 partial stops (from 80 to 30 km/h). This will initiate the bedding-in process and set the stage for the customer's own contributions to conditioning the pads. Bedding-in is recommended for all new pads but is particularly important when you have also installed new coated brake discs.

2. NEW BRAKE PADS ARE HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO OVERHEATING

New brake pads are highly susceptible to overheating, which can permanently alter the friction material's structural characteristics. Be sure you, your technicians and your customers avoid heavy braking until bedding-in is completed. This caution will help prevent overheating and its long-term consequences.

3. MORE BRAKING, PLEASE

During the brake pads' first 300 km of service, each application of the brakes increases the contact area between the pads and discs, and this means better overall performance for the customer. Encourage the vehicle owner to brake often, but not heavily, during this bedding-in period.  Remind them that heavy braking can cause unwanted overheating during the first 300 km. 

WHY DO BRAKE PADS REQUIRE BEDDING-IN?

For more info on brake disc failures, please check the brake disc trouble tracer: 

Brake Disc Trouble Tracer

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