How to Bed Brakes

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A question we often get from technicians is "Do I need to bed or break in brake pads?" In this video, we discuss what brake pad burnishing is and why it is an important step to a quality brake job.
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The process of breaking in brake pads goes by several names in the industry. Some call it brake burnishing. We don't love to use that word since the definition of burnish actually means "polish". We aren't polishing the brake pads. Instead, we prefer to use the terms break-in or bedding when talking about this process. That is a more accurate representation of what we are doing to the brake pads.
Do you need to break in the brake pads? The short answer is yes. The best way to explain why this process is important is to talk about what the process accomplishes.
Ceramic Brake Pads
Ceramic is the most common material in the marketplace today and has been around for a number of years now. Ceramic brake pads are best for everyday drivers who don't require severe usage, but want a quiet brake pad with low dust.
Ceramic brake pads stop the vehicle by using adherent friction. Think adhesive or sticky when you hear adherent friction. Ceramic brake pads actually leave a thin layer of friction material on the rotor. This is called material transfer. When you apply ceramic brake pads, the brake pad sticks to the friction layer on the rotor to help stop the vehicle.
By completing the proper break-in procedure, you jumpstart the process of bedding the friction material onto the rotor.
Semi-Metallic Brake Pads
Semi-Metallic is the longest-tenured material in the marketplace. It's recommended to drivers looking for a strong pedal feel and great stopping power.
Semi-metallic brake pads stop the vehicle by using abrasive stopping. When you apply a semi-metallic brake pad, the metallic content in the brake pads grips onto the rotor to stop the vehicle.
As you can imagine, semi-metallic brake pads are rough to the feel out of the box. By breaking in semi-met pads, you will smooth out this roughness. You will also begin the process of mating the brake pads to the rotor. This will give you full contact between the pads and the rotor.
Releasing Gasses:
Whether you use a ceramic or semi-metallic pad, bedding the brakes will heat cycle the pad. This will release any gasses built up in the pad during the manufacturing process.
Most of Raybestos' brake pads are post-cured after they are made. This release most of the gasses in the pads, but not all of them. Don't think that you can skip the bedding process if your pad is post cured. You still need to heat cycle the pad so that the pad can release any gasses left in the friction material.
Bedding Process:
1.) Apply the brakes five to ten times decelerating from 40-10 mph. Don't slam on the brake pedal. Do normal stops.
2.) Allow for a 1/4 to 1/2 mile cool down between brake applications.
3.) Allow the brakes to cool for at least 15 minutes. Either park the vehicle or continue to drive with minimal brake applications.
By completing this process, your brake pads will be functioning properly and ready for everyday use.