Brake Pad "scrubbing" question?

[Marcellus]

I've seen it mentioned in passing on several topics over the past couple of weeks about putting brake pads through a few heat cycles before using them in anger.

As I understand it you need to;
> fit new pads
> do several stops starting braking gently and getting harder and harder.

1stly am I right?

I've just bought 5 pairs of pads (Discoman special) so was thinking of "scrubbing" all 5 pairs in whilst I've got time now and then storing them back in their bags elastic banded together.....

2ndly is this a good or bad idea?

[theboymoon]

Pads do need a bit of scrubbing in. A few heat cycles and a bit of gritty water sprayed in betwen stops does the trick.

You *could* do a job lot of them at once i suppose but unless its superdry and dusty (and lets face it you're lovely corner of the Alps at this time of the year does get a bit rain from time to time) i wouldn't bother because after 10 minutes or so a new set of pads should be working fine.

[Henry Hawthorne]

Personally I do the following:

1. Ride to the top of big hill
2. Ride down big hill whilst feathering brakes
3. At bottom of big hill spray discs with water from water bottle
4. Repeat steps 1-3 twice more.

[Master Mischief]

Marcellus said:

I've just bought 5 pairs of pads (Discoman special) so was thinking of "scrubbing" all 5 pairs in whilst I've got time now and then storing them back in their bags elastic banded together.....

It does not take long to run in new pads and if you keep an eye on your existing ones you should be able to plan when to change them rather than hearing metal on metal and having to do a panic change.

The running in process basically involves putting them through a few heat cycles like cars tyres or brakes. This effectively finishes off the manufacturing process and gets them ready to use.

There is no benefit to batch running in as your preferred method may change with experience and 5 sets is a long time to wait.

Henry Hawthorne said:

Personally I do the following:

1. Ride to the top of big hill
2. Ride down big hill whilst feathering brakes
3. At bottom of big hill spray discs with water from water bottle
4. Repeat steps 1-3 twice more.

I really would not spray hot discs with cold water!!!

There is no benefit in terms on running in pads to doing this and it will cause your discs to harden and become slightly more brittle and can even warp them. Neither is a good thing!

The rest works though. The pads will cool down on the way back up ready for the next go.

Jon

[Henry Hawthorne]

Master Mischief said:

Marcellus said:

I've just bought 5 pairs of pads (Discoman special) so was thinking of "scrubbing" all 5 pairs in whilst I've got time now and then storing them back in their bags elastic banded together.....

It does not take long to run in new pads and if you keep an eye on your existing ones you should be able to plan when to change them rather than hearing metal on metal and having to do a panic change.

The running in process basically involves putting them through a few heat cycles like cars tyres or brakes. This effectively finishes off the manufacturing process and gets them ready to use.

There is no benefit to batch running in as your preferred method may change with experience and 5 sets is a long time to wait.

Henry Hawthorne said:

Personally I do the following:

1. Ride to the top of big hill
2. Ride down big hill whilst feathering brakes
3. At bottom of big hill spray discs with water from water bottle
4. Repeat steps 1-3 twice more.

I really would not spray hot discs with cold water!!!

There is no benefit in terms on running in pads to doing this and it will cause your discs to harden and become slightly more brittle and can even warp them. Neither is a good thing!

The rest works though. The pads will cool down on the way back up ready for the next go.

Jon

Dunno, just the way I was told to do it.

And my brakes are the best brakes I've ever used on any bike, ever.

[fergus]

How much energy do you think the pads are absorbing compared to a 'stock' (i.e. non sintered) pad on a 200kg motorbike, which can theoretically leave the dealer and cope with a >100mph - 0 stop OK from new?

Race pads benefit from bedding in to ensure that the resins in the pads from the pad face to the backing plate have gone through a heat cycle, but this is mainly for organic pads. I really don't think you have much to worry about!