Bedding in the brakes way faster

[MrAtom]

I replaced my brake pads, and they felt horrible before the bed in procedure. So, what I did was drag the brake a little while riding through a parking lot. Now the brakes feel awesome. Was this a bad idea or a good idea or a "hmm.. be careful doing that" idea?

[nickjpass]

Follow manufacturer instructions.

Example : http://ebcbrakes.com/articles/beddin...ds-and-rotors/

I know the instructions for mine were to perform a bunch of emergency stops from above 30 or something like that. I don'tremember the numbers.

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by nickjpass

Follow manufacturer instructions.

Example : http://ebcbrakes.com/articles/beddin...ds-and-rotors/

I know the instructions for mine were to perform a bunch of emergency stops from above 30 or something like that. I don'tremember the numbers.

On my EBC brakes, they said to ride 250 miles in the city with lots of stops. I think I'm probably fine as long as I don't warp the crap out of my rotor from heating it up a lot, but I wanted to hear what other people had to say. When that time comes to change pads again, I'll probably try to follow the manufacturer's instructions, but 250 miles in the city. Booooring!

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by MrAtom

I replaced my brake pads, and they felt horrible before the bed in procedure. So, what I did was drag the brake a little while riding through a parking lot. Now the brakes feel awesome. Was this a bad idea or a good idea or a "hmm.. be careful doing that" idea?

sounds like a good way to overheat your rotors

[Somchai]

Originally Posted by alex.s

sounds like a good way to overheat your rotors

Besides this good information the also good one from @Motofool could be from interest for you, which you find here: https://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=208520
But also it can be you didn't do it for to long time so it must not have any negative effect.
Good luck

[choneofakind]

Okay, so here's the thing:

those recommendations from the manufacturer are totally conservative. All break in procedures are. You don't LITERALLY have to only ride city roads for 250 miles before having fun.

Brakes pads need to be used progressively more and more to bed themselves into (take the shape of) the existing (and cleaned so the old pad material is gone!!!) brake rotor. The worst case scenario for this bedding in to take place is brakes that get barely used at low speeds and then held at a stop light. aka, city traffic. So the recommendation for the worst case scenario is intentionally excessive so the manufacturer can feel comfortable in covering its butt.

To bed in pads, do some stops but DO NOT keep the pads clamped to a stationary rotor. Aka, do your brake in down to a minimum of 5 mph and keep rolling. If you're riding in traffic normally, use your feet to stop that last 1 mph and don't hold the brakes while stopped if safe.

Start with a few gradual 30-5 stops. Then do some moderate ones. Then do some 60-5 firm stops. Again, let them cool before holding the pads to a stationary rotor or you'll burn hot spots in the rotor and leave little pad shaped marks on it. Don't go nuts and do a panic braking 100-0 right away because 1) you won't have power and 2) you'll glaze the pads. Bed them in with firm braking but don't overheat them immediately. Remember that before the pads have made little grooves that mate up to the grooves of the rotor, there is less material touching the rotor, which has to dissipate all the power you request it to, and it will glaze easier. This is why we start out with gradual braking and move on to firmer/faster braking.

By this point, you should be fine. If you really want to, you can hold the brakes while you ride, starting light and progressively applying more brake force, but I wouldn't recommend it when it's so much easier to go to an empty parking lot and do some controlled braking exercises.

[dcj13]

I've had pretty good luck over the years breaking in new pads by doing a few light-touch stops around the neighborhood (to make sure everything is put back correctly and functional) followed by a half dozen or so fairly quick stops from 35 or 40 mph (spread out over that first post-brake-job ride).

They're typically 95+% bedded in after that. Works well for both cars and bikes.

[nickjpass]

How do you know when they're bedded in?

I've only changed pads once, and the new ones had a speedwobble affect. Went away away fifty or so miles.

[MrAtom]

Thanks for all the good info. When the time comes, I'll probably take your advice, @choneofakind

@nickjpass I've only changed my brakes once, too, and I was pretty sure they were bedded in when I could feel the pads bite into the rotor and want to stop.

[nickjpass]

Mine always wanted to stop? Maybe I'll see what you mean next pad change

[choneofakind]

Nick, know that feeling right away with new pads when it feels like "mehhhhhhhh... maaybe I'll stop but you'll need to work for it"? But with good pads you've had for a while you get the perfect bite right away?

You know you're bedded in when the brake has the bite it had before you changed pads.

[dcj13]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Nick, know that feeling right away with new pads when it feels like "mehhhhhhhh... maaybe I'll stop but you'll need to work for it"? But with good pads you've had for a while you get the perfect bite right away?

You know you're bedded in when the brake has the bite it had before you changed pads.

Well put!

[nickjpass]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Nick, know that feeling right away with new pads when it feels like "mehhhhhhhh... maaybe I'll stop but you'll need to work for it"? But with good pads you've had for a while you get the perfect bite right away?

You know you're bedded in when the brake has the bite it had before you changed pads.

Okay. Makes sense now. I've never been particular about the bite of my brakes. But, I don't like a spongy feeling.

[sharky nrk]

I have always just done the brake cleaner and sandpaper on the rotor bit and then done the 60 to 5 run about 10 times progressively harder and harder and harder until the last one is pretty close to on the limit around a big parking lot. Same with the cars. Never had much of an issue but never really liked the ninjette brakes either so ......