Open wheelers- how are you bedding in your brake pads?

Open wheelers- how are you bedding in your brake pads?

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Discussion

HustleRussell

Original Poster:

24,724 posts

161 months

Tuesday 5th April 2022
quotequote all
Brake pads have a really specific break-in procedure involving a certain number of stops from a certain speed and then being allowed to fully cool.

In a world where a test day is 300 quid or more for 4x 30 minute sessions- how is everybody bedding in their brakes? Are we really losing a whole session to it? Or is everybody just not really following the procedure and completing a session while being a bit gentle on the brakes?

HustleRussell

Original Poster:

24,724 posts

161 months

Tuesday 5th April 2022
quotequote all
It wasn't so bad with closed wheel because I could book a relatively inexpensive trackday, often open pitlane.

Testing for open wheel is expensive and the timetables are restrictive. 6x 20 minute sessions used to be commonplace but they all seem to be 4x 30 minute now. Circulating for 30 minutes generally a waste of time considering the races are 20 minutes- but 30 minutes is not really long enough for a one man team to leave the circuit, get back to the paddock, make any adjustments and go out again.

It'd be helpful to be in a garage in the pitlane but its often 70 quid to rent a garage for a day rolleyes

HustleRussell

Original Poster:

24,724 posts

161 months

Wednesday 6th April 2022
quotequote all
I'm using Mintex 1144. That's what's in there at the moment and although its a very mild friction material I have no concerns with stopping power or overheating (Formula Ford on ACB9s).

I did wonder if it was as you are saying Canoesniffer & Oneball, and I am worrying too much about the 'fully cool' bit. However I think I did once attempt to use a set of 1144s in a Caterham without any bedding in procedure or cooling and ruined a set of pads. The discs turned blue.

HustleRussell

Original Poster:

24,724 posts

161 months

Wednesday 6th April 2022
quotequote all
indigorallye said:
Buy your pads from Questmead.
Ask them to pre-bed them for you on their dyno.
Superb service from them everytime.
(If you make an enquiry, please tell them Mike from Kinetic Racing recommended them to you)
I had no idea that was possible. I won't do it this time around as I already have my pads and I suspect it'd at least double my cost- but interesting to know.

HustleRussell

Original Poster:

24,724 posts

161 months

Wednesday 6th April 2022
quotequote all
any idea of cost?

HustleRussell

Original Poster:

24,724 posts

161 months

Wednesday 6th April 2022
quotequote all
Trev450 said:
OP, if you are within reasonable travelling distance to Llandow you can hire the circuit for testing at a price that won't empty your wallet.
Yep I'm considering it. Bertbert of this parish let me have a go in his FF2000 there a couple of years ago. I'm making some changes to the pedal box too so a nice relaxed Llandow test might be good whilst I spend ages faffing about with adjustments.