Antoine928

I had my brake rotors and pads changed by my mechanic. I asked him how to properly break then in and he said to be easy on the brakes for the next 200 miles.
I am pretty sure there must be a better way to do it. Any suggestions ?

MikeN

You'll find all sorts of answers for this one. Me, I tend to go easy for the first 100 miles with longer
more gradual stops until the new pads are nice and smooth and mated to the rotor surface. Always worked great with no problems or noise.

Some will say take it out and do the 5-10 heavy stops from medium speeds and your done. I don't tend to believe this method is a better alternative due to the fact that new pads and rotors aren't mated to each other yet and severe braking will only cause hot spots on certain parts of the pads and rotors.

Whatever you do, don't heat up the brakes and then sit at a stoplight with your foot mashed on the brake pedal. Its actually the transfer of pad material to the rotor (caused by extreme heat) that will give you "warped rotor" symptoms.

Lagavulin

Don't listen to anyone else and make up your own mind what to do after reading this:

http://www.stoptech.com/technical/

There is a very specific break-in required for new pads, and, new pads and rotors.

Jim bailey - 928 International

Porsche ..workshop manual page 46-4 Bedding in brake pads.."Brand-new brake pads have a once only loss of braking effect(thermal fading), which disappears after a break in time of 200Km (125 mi).During this period full stops from top speeds should be limited to emergency situations. New pads must be bedded in by applying medium forces to brake pedal and at larger and larger intervals. Brake pads will provide maximum braking effect after being bedded in. " Obviously there are so many differences in how 125 mi can be driven the speeds the number of stops that the bedding in can be done more quickly. During a 15-20 minute drive where you bring it up to a good speed then braking moderately down to 20-30 MPH then resume speed to cool the brake rotors a couple minutes repeating the process but try to avoid full stops and as mentioned do not stop and hold the pads to the rotor. The last cycle try to drive a few miles with out stopping so the rotors pads really cool down. I have also been know to drive with the brake pedal lightly pressed and foot on the gas to quickly build heat in the pads to cycle the hot cold quickly ...like if I change front pads at a DE event and want the brakes to work in the first run session a few minutes on the service roads at low speeds seems to help bed in the pads.

Antoine928

Thanks guys.

I have done a few heat/cool cycles last night by pressing the brake pedal while driving. Now the pads seems fully bedded-in and i am very happy with the brake performance.

mark kibort

Its pretty simple stuff.
racing -100mph to 50mph as hard as you can without lock up, 5-10 times and do that twice
street- dont worry about it. just be nice to them for a tank of gas.