dhc905

So I just got my CTT back from having the front pads, rotors, and sensors done. The braking sensation seems significantly worse than before, like the stopping power is worse (though I don't actually think it is). I made sure the front and rear brakes are actually working (both rotors were hot), and I've heard anecdotes about having to use the brakes for some time before the pads/rotors go back to normal. Is that actually true?

As as an FYI, I paid $550 with parts and taxes for everything, which seems somewhat reasonable.

nodoors

what pads did you get? You probably just need to burnish/bed them.

dhc905

I believe pagid 4668's or something equivalent. Rotors are off-brand high carbon 350mm guys (this is just for the front).

deilenberger

They need bedding in. The way I usually do it is to find a deserted highway (not so easy actually) - take the truck up to around 70MPH, then apply brakes bringing it down to about 30MPH. Then go back up to speed - drive for a bit - and repeat as necessary. You should feel the brakes becoming more powerful within 4-6 cycles. They will continue to feel better with miles - usually 100 miles of regular driving is enough to break them in.

And as nodoors asked - what pads? Different pads have different coefficients of friction.

deilenberger

Are those the right rotors for a CTT? Even with a 955 I would expect them to be larger.. what year is your CTT?

Petza914

I think 350mm is correct for the older models, except for the Turbo S that uses 380mm in the front and 350mm in the rear. The PCCB option is 410mm up front.

PartsGuyGT

Agreed. They need to be bedded in. I normally do 6-7 "slow downs" as described above and then park the car making sure you don't sit at a standstill with the brakes engaged. Throw it in park and let the brakes cool down. Then you're all set.

If that doesn't work then you might have an issue with pad compound. But definitely try re-bedding first.

Best

Julian

dhc905

Awesome, thanks guys. Will do.

Re: the rotors, I have the red calipers on a 2006, which I believe makes them the 350mm (I.e. Correct size) rotors. I made sure the guy doing the work measured to confirm though - there was a brake thread on here about a guy in a Turbo S who somehow had the smaller rotors (350's) than he should have.

dhc905

Bedded today and works like a charm. Did several de-sprints from 45-0 to warm up the pads, then hopped on a Main Street to do 60-15mph several times. Brake feel is back to original and so is stopping distance/power.

Out of curiosity, would you expect a shop to "pre-bed" before delivering back to you?

deilenberger

They usually don't. Some shops had a tag they'd put on the steering wheel warning the owner not to expect maximum braking power for 100 miles, and warning against sitting with hot brakes on.. but I've never known one to bed them in.

I wonder if your shop cleaned the rotors before installing them. Most rotors come with a thin film of a light oil on them to prevent rust so they look pretty when you get them. A shop should clean them carefully with brake-cleaner before assembly, but bet some don't bother. If that's the case, part of the bedding in was also burning off that oil and burning it out of the pads.

hahnmgh63

Always a good idea to drive it easily for 50 miles or so before the bed-in to burn off any oil film on the rotors and to get a slight settling of the pads. When you do a bed-in don't come to a stop as deilenberger said earlier 70-30, 60-20 are all good, firm but don't stand on them. Then try to drive it a little to cool the rotors for a couple of minutes before coming to a stop. Yes, Turbo had 350mm front and 330mm rear, Turbo S had 380mm front and 356mm rear.