Corvette Central Tech Explains Brake Bedding

Brakes are an important topic – screw something up while working on the engine, and the car won’t start, but screw up the brakes, and it won’t stop… While routine brake maintenance is a great DIY project (and a good way to stay in touch with the general health of your suspension, too), some things most of us do routinely can compromise both brake “feel” and performance.

CC Tech, Corvette Central’s how-to library, recently added an excellent piece on brake bedding that’s a must-read for anyone who does their own pad changes. Even if your a “do it for me” kind of owner, it’s still worth reading and absorbing, because you will most likely be the person doing the break-in on your new pads. Advice varies between pad manufacturers; generally speaking, they recommend a series of slow-downs from increasing speeds, followed by a cool-down period, in order to establish a “transfer layer” on the rotors themselves.

Speaking of the rotors, that’s one area where most garage mechanics don’t follow the manufacturer’s recommendations – pad swaps should always be accompanied by either new rotors, or a resurfacing of the old ones aggressive enough to remove the previous compound’s transfer layer. Failure to do this can lead to poor brake grip, an uneven transfer layer that causes brake shudder, or spots on the disc that are work-hardened from excessive heat that can be impossible to machine away.

So, if you’ve ever done your own brakes and then said, “Darn it, they STILL have a vibration…” this article is written just for you.

About the author

Paul Huizenga

After some close calls on the street in his late teens and early twenties, Paul Huizenga discovered organized drag racing and never looked back, becoming a SFI-Certified tech inspector and avid bracket racer. Formerly the editor of OverRev and Race Pages magazines, Huizenga set out on his own in 2009 to become a freelance writer and editor.
Read My Articles

Late Model LS Power in your inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from LSX Magazine, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
LSX Magazine NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

LSX Magazine - The Late Model GM Magazine for Camaro

lsxmag

We'll send you the most interesting LSX Magazine articles, news, car features, and videos every week.

LSX Magazine - The Late Model GM Magazine for Camaro

LSX Magazine NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

LSX Magazine - The Late Model GM Magazine for Camaro

lsxmag

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


chevyhardcore
Classic Chevy Magazine
dragzine
Drag Racing
enginelabs
Engine Tech

LSX Magazine - The Late Model GM Magazine for Camaro

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • chevyhardcore Classic Chevy Magazine
  • dragzine Drag Racing
  • enginelabs Engine Tech

LSX Magazine - The Late Model GM Magazine for Camaro

lsxmag

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

LSX Magazine - The Late Model GM Magazine for Camaro

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading