Breaking in Brakes?

RedMF40 · Apr 7, 2020

I just put new pads, calipers and rotors on rear of my '99 F250 pickup. Reason for the brake job was they were hanging up one one side, caliper was sticking. I've heard people say in the past to brake hard a few times to seat the brake parts. I am just driving normally, everything feels good, no strange noises. Is that sound advice or is it more for drum brakes? Thanks for any advice.

Gerrit in Maryland

Moonlite37 · Apr 7, 2020

Drum brake drums would wear and after several pairs of linings were replaced the center of the shoe would be the only part touching the drum and had to wear to fit.Also sometimes the drums has grooves worn and the linings has to wear to fit the grooves

Janicholson · Apr 7, 2020

All is well. I think there is no good reason for hard first breaking. To me, and from my instructors in mechanics school,
letting them wear gently into contact prevents overheating the high spots, and punishing them has no value. Jim,

Bob Harvey · Apr 7, 2020

Isn't that why the drums should be turned and the shoes arced to the drums ?

rustred · Apr 7, 2020

i was taught the same. I always watch people riding the brakes going down hills and stuff just from their brake lights. I either have my foot on or off the pedal. don't take long to heat the rotor and warp it.

Hobo,NC · Apr 7, 2020

The process is called bedding in the pads/rotors

7 to 10 normal stops from 35mph never come to a complete stop then drive for a few miles park it and let them cool. Some bedding recommendations are to harsh to my liking this is what I do...

At about 5 stops you will feel the brakes coming to ya wooing it down real good a few more it feels great I see no reason to take it to the limit the pads are bedded down life is good...

RedMF40 · Apr 7, 2020

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I'll drive it, let the brakes gradually wear in. Funny thing is they looked almost new on one side, totally trashed on the other. I've had the truck about four years, first brakes I've done on it. Anyway, I like doing them in pairs. Local NAPA had good prices on all the parts, sold me a $2.99 bucket so I could get another 20% off.

37 chief · Apr 7, 2020

I see the same thing with people going down a long hill riding the brakes. Not many people have any idea what goes on under the hood, or behind the car wheels. Stan

thehickdaddy · Apr 7, 2020

Shoe arcing is supposedly illegal now due to dust inhaled by operator, or at least that was what we were told when the arcer was removed from the shop I worked at. To dangerous said the osha people.

When I worked at GM dealership, every mechanic test drove the car to break in the new brakes so customer would not complain of soft pedal or of smoking wheels. I guess you could call it preventative customer satisfaction?

At independent shops I worked at, customers were asked if they wanted brakes burned in for them. Most say yes but some say no. And a few of the latter drive back in with panicked faces talking of strange smells. Or a unsafe pedal. Then we would drive the car anyway and explain how it was normal. And a few miles later, pedal firmed up, smell went away, and smile returns to customer face.

MarkB_MI · Apr 8, 2020

> Funny thing is they looked almost new on one side, totally trashed on the other.

That generally means a sticking caliper. If you didn't replace the calipers, did you make sure they were sliding easily on their pins? Otherwise you'll be replacing pads again soon.

It's been my experience that disc brakes break in just fine with new or resurfaced rotors, but seldom work right if the rotors are reused without turning. Here in Michigan, reusing rotors is seldom an option so I install new rotors on every brake job.

Louis A · Apr 8, 2020

That generally means a sticking caliper. If you didn't replace the calipers, did you make sure they were sliding easily on their pins? Otherwise you'll be replacing pads again soon.

Quoted from his original post:

I just put new pads, calipers and rotors on rear of my '99 F250 pickup.

Hobo,NC · Apr 8, 2020

A post with links in it modify a trailer jack life will be good... I have use one in the link on every make and model I have split its a ongoing modification : )...

https://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/viewtopic.php?t=1401792&highlight=trailer

Hobo,NC · Apr 8, 2020

How did dat happen, the net on the east coast is slow and doing strange thangs...

moresmoke · Apr 8, 2020

I just did the same on my F350. Both
calipers were seized. One stuck closed,
and the other open. Stops much better now.

BarnyardEngineering · Apr 8, 2020

If your brakes can't hold up to a few hard stops, you've got other problems. They're designed to work under normal and emergency situations. You're not going to warp or damage anything from following any standard "bedding in" process. If you do, you did something wrong.

4wdtom · Apr 8, 2020

I have always heard you need to take it easy until they wear in to match the contour of the drum/disc. If you have a new/new combination this won't take too long, if you
are using a new/used combination it takes a little longer. Until you get full contact the high spots can heat while doing all the work.

dr sportster · Apr 8, 2020

Should be written in the instructions how to break in.

Breaking in Brakes?

RedMF40

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Moonlite37

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Janicholson

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Bob Harvey

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rustred

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Hobo,NC

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RedMF40

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37 chief

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thehickdaddy

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MarkB_MI

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Louis A

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Hobo,NC

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Hobo,NC

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moresmoke

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BarnyardEngineering

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4wdtom

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dr sportster

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