best way to break in new brakes

[wilkcamaro98]

Ok I got my rotor cut and new pads on the front. What do you guys think is the best way to break in new brakes. I know not to go slamming on them. However, should I try to bed them or just take it easy for a while?

[hockeyman]

After I installed any pads on any of my cars, I just lightly hit the brake pedal with the car idling until the calipers adjusted, then drove normally after that. I never had any issues with a breakin period.

[whiteshark]

The manufacturer usually "suggests" methods for breaking them in. I'd look into that.

[wantmorepower]

As white shark posted, the suggested manufacturer procedure should be followed.


Here is a generic way to "break in" or "bed" your rotors and pads:

Before driving off while car is in park pump you brakes to make sure you have pedal.

Slowly accelerate to around 30 mph and then apply the brakes and decelerate to about 5 mph.

Slowly accelerate to around 40 mph and then apply the brakes and decelerate again to about 5 mph.

Again slowly accelerate to about 50 and brake to about 5 mph.

Finally do this once more to about 60 and again brake to about 5 mph.


This should get them properly heat cycled to give you long life.

If at all you can help it,do not come to a complete stop and then keep the brakes depressed while bedding.
Also the accelerating slowly back up to speed between stops is important so that the brakes can cool down a bit between braking.

[Silver 99 Camaro]

According to the F-body GM service manual, you do 20 stops from 30 MPH to 0 using moderate to heavy brake pressure driving at least half a mile in between stops so they you don't overheat the brakes.

[wilkcamaro98]

cool thanks guys.

[CamaroKRAZED]

I have heard of a very similar method to the one Silver 99 Camaro talks about, only the one i learned about was 30 stops from 30 MPH.

[camaroman1181]

yeah, the SAE recommended procedure is 30 moderate stops from 30 mph to 0 with approx 30 seconds in between to cool.

[CamaroKRAZED]

Originally posted by camaroman1181:
yeah, the SAE recommended procedure is 30 moderate stops from 30 mph to 0 with approx 30 seconds in between to cool.

Yeah, that is it. That is the one i read about in one of my automotive magazines a while back. I believe they referred to it as the 30/30/30 method or something like that.

[camaroman1181]

yup.. its referred to as the 30/30/30 method.. if i can find teh link i'll post it...

['94firebirdv6]

i overheated mine lol
i used the Baer brreak in method and my nrakes were smokin when i was finished

[firebirdrumble00]

Re: best way to break in new brakes

sorry to bring this from the dead, but I just did my breaks and rotors and wanted to see what you guys thought compared to my results.

The purspose of this excercise is to get the rotors up to their heat cycle to maximise life and to do this the rotors must undergo a pad material to rotor transfer. The rotors smoking or smelling is completely normal and from what i've found going 60-10 and back up to 60 five to six times is good enough for our cars; unless, you have high performance rotors and pads you should wait until the brakes are completely cooled and then perform this for a second cycle.

Be careful the first time you go out with your new equiptment because they might not function properly until after a couple pushes of the pedal.