Any investment made into your vehicle is going to be a pricey one, so why not do everything possible to protect and prolong that investment for as long as possible? In a world where car modifications are taking a back seat to $25 kids' haircuts and $10 boxes of fruit snacks, every dollar counts, and your brakes are no different. Whether you’re running 6-piston conversion kits from 515i.com, or standard brakes at your local auto parts store, properly bedding brakes is essential and here’s why.
So, what is brake bedding?
Brake bedding is the critical procedure of transferring a thin layer of brake pad material evenly onto the rotors through a series of heat-up and cool-down cycles. Think of it as the primer before you paint.
Why is this so important?
Your brakes are, without question, one of the most important systems on your vehicle. By properly bedding in your brakes, you can avoid problems such as premature wear, brake fade, brake noise, pulsations, and chattering while achieving optimal performance and longevity from your brakes. The most important step of this process is, and I cannot emphasize this enough, CONTROLLED heat cycles.
We have all seen those vehicles at a red light with smoke coming off the wheels because the owner thought the best way to “break in” new pads was to come to a screeching halt for the first 50 stops after a fresh brake job. Too much heat too soon can cause rotor warpage, heat cracks in the pad, and small heat cracks in the rotors that increase over time, which severely reduces how long that particular brake job will last. Properly wearing in your brake pads to the rotors through brake bedding is the only way to ensure maximum performance.
How to Bed Your Brakes
Due to all the different brake compositions and applications available, it’s always a good idea to check the manufacturer and see if they have a specific bedding procedure for the product line you are using. If no data is available, here’s a general guide to help you optimize your brakes through brake bedding.
There are two types of brake bedding: high-performance or “track” bedding, and street car/everyday driving bedding.
In order to properly bed in brakes, a flat, empty road that is as straight as possible is necessary. An industrial complex or somewhere without traffic can be used as well.
Street Car Bedding
- Perform 5 stops with moderate braking from 40 mph to 10 mph to bring the braking system up to operating temperature. It’s important here not to come to a complete stop. Coming to a complete stop during the bedding process can cause excessive pad material to be transferred unevenly, creating a possible pulsation or noise concern.
- Perform 5-6 medium to hard stops from 60 mph to 20 mph. Please allow roughly 30 seconds in between these stops to enable proper cooling. Not allowing a cooling period will overheat the braking system, which could cause rotor warping and uneven pad material transfer. Avoid coming to a complete stop during this procedure as well.
- Drive for 5-10 minutes at highway speeds. Try to use the brakes as little as possible during this step. The pad material has been transferred, and now the process of cool down begins. It’s important not to let the brakes cool down too fast; a nice gradual cooling is what is needed.
- Let the vehicle sit for at least 1 hour. After gradual cooling from step 3, the braking system needs to return to ambient temperature to complete the bedding process.
High-Performance/Track Bedding
Due to the different compositions and materials, if bedding high-performance or racing brakes, the process is a little different.
- Perform 4-6 stops with light pressure from 50 mph to 30 mph. This long, constant application will bring the braking system up to operating temperature.
- Perform 6-10 hard stops from 60 mph to 10 mph. Do not lock the brakes up, or put the vehicle into an ABS event (if equipped), or come to a complete stop. These events will cause the pads to imprint onto the rotor, which is counterproductive to the brake bedding process.
- Drive the vehicle at 50-60 mph for at least 10 minutes with minimal braking. This starts the cool down process; please avoid heat soaking the brake system during this step. A nice constant flow of air, while driving with minimal braking, is critical in this step.
- Park the vehicle for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. DO NOT apply the hand brake (if equipped) to avoid, again, imprinting the pads onto the rotors. Brakes need to be COLD before driving the vehicle again.
- The next time the vehicle is driven should be a moderate drive. Avoid pushing the vehicle too hard in the next driving cycle. A heat-up and cool down of the braking system is all that is needed here.
Friendly Tips and Reminders
Now that the brake bedding process has been explained, here are a few things to keep in mind before you start.
· Some brake rotors have a protective coating on them from the manufacturer. This coating has revolutionized how long a rotor lasts these days. Having this coating on all non-braking surfaces avoids rust and prolongs the life of the rotor. However, this coating must be removed through slow-speed parking lot braking before the bedding process can begin. Long, slow-speed stops (under 10 mph) will do the trick; it won’t take long, but this step is imperative to perform before you get started.
· One of the most important steps starts before a wheel is even taken off. Choosing the correct brakes for your application is among the most important decisions you can make for your vehicle. Brake pad/rotor compositions are different for a reason. Race brakes won’t perform well on the street, and street brakes will get eaten alive at the track. Once the bedding process is performed, 300-500 miles of driving are usually needed to fully “break in” your braking system.
· As a final note, please always remember to check your manufacturer for a brake bedding procedure, especially if your braking system is considered extremely high-performance. Carbon fiber brakes, or some of the 6-piston systems that are available today, will differ in the process. Keep in mind that the steps listed above are a general guideline, and manufacturer bedding procedures should be used whenever they’re available.
Hopefully, this article has brought some attention to a process that is normally skipped or disregarded. If your braking system is next on your list for repairs or upgrades, please head on over to 515i.com for a full selection of high-performance braking options.
We hope you enjoyed this read!
