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Why is brake bedding important?

Published: 2014-05-21 10:55:31
Last Updated: 2014-05-21 09:52:57

1.)    To transfer a layer of friction material onto the brake disc (rotor) faces to achieve maximum performance.

2.)    To stabilize compressible materials to avoid a spongy pedal.

3.)    To boil off volatile elements in the friction compound in order to have the initial green fading during bedding and not during the race.

4.)    To align the pad surface with the brake disc (rotor) surface to have full contact.

If pads do not get bedded in properly and are used too hard right out of the box, the pads will likely glaze over.  Pad glazing is an issue where the resins in the pad crystallize on both, the pad friction surface and the brake disc (rotor) surface, resulting in poor stopping performance, brake judder and vibrations. Also rapidly escaping volatile elements and moisture from the resin would seek an immediate escape route out of the friction compound, creating small fissures that would lead shortly to cracking and chunking.


Manufacturer recommended vehicle bedding in procedure:

1. Breaking-In (creates a perfect contact-pattern between rotor and brake pad surface):
10 stops with low pressure and low temperature from 150 km/h (90 MPH) to approximately 80 km/h (50 MPH). Distance between each brake stop approximately 600 – 800 meters ( 600 to 800 yards).

2. Heating-Up (warm up in order to initiate some core heat in the whole brake system):
A sequence of 5 stops with medium to high pressure from 180 km/h (112 MPH) to approximately 60 km/h (37 MPH) with maximum acceleration between the stops. After the last stop cool down for 3 minutes with the speed preferably not higher than 100 km/h (62 MPH).

3. Recovery stops:  3 to 5 stops with low pressure from 150 km/h (90 MPH) to approximately 80 km/h (50 MPH). Distance between each brake stop approximately 600 – 800 meters ( 600 to 800 yards).

 PLEASE NOTE - It is imperative that the bedding in procedures are NOT performed on public roads. PAGID racing materials are NOT for street use. Failure to follow bedding in procedure may result in a sub-optimal brake performance.

To discuss alternate methods of bedding-in brake pads, please call our Technical Advice Hotline:  847-304-5515.

Source:  http://www.pagidracing.com/service/technical-info/