How to properly bed in OEM brake pads?

[hifitodd]

Hello,

I'm getting front JHM LW rotors (first car mod) installed today with the OEM Pagid/Textar pads.

I'm finding plenty of info around about how to do the bedding procedure for Hawks and Stop Techs, but I can't find anything on the OEM pads. Anyone know the correct process for these pads?

Thanks

[dparm]

http://zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm

[hifitodd]

Thanks dparm. I seem to find some conflicting reports on the process. The article you posted (who is Dave Zechausen?) is recommending doing 8-10 near stops with hard pressure at 60mph, and other articles I've found are recommending doing it at 40-45mpg with moderate pressure.

Would you say the method you posted should be good for our s4's OEM pads? It seems that each manufacturer has different instructions

[hifitodd]

The Hawk instructions seem quite different than Dave Zechausen's advice:

After installing new pads make 6 to 10 stops from approximately 35 mph with moderate pressure. Make an additional two to three hard stops from approximately 40 to 45 mph. Do not allow the vehicle to come to a complete stop.When completed with this process, park the vehicle and allow the brakes to cool completely before driving on them again. Do not engage the parking brake until after this cooling process is compete.

[mbgt72]

Go by the manufacture of the pads instructions. Different pads will require slightly different break-in procedures.

Edit: sorry I thought you said in a second post that you went with aftermarket pads? And honestly, why didn't ya if you went with the upgraded rotors haha.

[hifitodd]

Hi, yeah pretty much I'm just trying to find the oem pad instructions

[dparm]

Dave's instructions are somewhat universal. But if a pad mfg specifies something different, you should follow it.

I've used Dave's procedure on both StopTech and Ferodo pads, as well as OEM Nissan pads, and it has worked just fine.

[WinterRunner]

Yea Zeckhausenn has good info, I always follow that procedure. 8-10 hard stops from 55-60 mph, without fully stopping, then a 30 min cool down (no parking brake) and another 4-5 hard stops from 40-50 mph..... Good to go!

[B6JoeS4]

All break in procedures are essentially the same. Bring it up to somewhere between 40-70mph and apply firm pressure without stopping. Some just have you repeat it again after the pads cool

OP, why OEM pads? There are many other options out there that have a similar bite to OEM pads with far less dust

[hifitodd]

Thanks for the notes, i think I've got it under control.

Joe - it was between the hawk hps and the stock pads for me. Dust is not my #1 concern, and from scouting the wweb a bit i've seen quite a view reports of the aftermarket pads (including hawk, stoptewch, etc) not biting as hard as the stockers without warming them up first.

I actually like the feel of the stock pads, so for this one I'm taking the "if it's not broke" approach and not rolling the dice with the aftermarkets.

[dparm]

The stock pads do bite very fast, I'll give them that. If you aren't tracking the car, the stock pads are totally fine.

[Sim4]

Can someone (knowledgable) give a run down on StopTech (309.09151 Street Performance) vs OEM brake pads?

[hifitodd]

update: Had audi install the JHM rotors, stock pads, and do a brake fluid service.

Pulling out, I noticed very little stopping power, which I understand should be expected with brand new brakes. I drove around lightly for a few miles, and later on did the Zechausen bed in process, and let the brakes cool overnight with no parking brake.

I'm still noticing that they have very little stopping power, and a bit of a squishy pedal feel. Is it expected to need to drive on them for a couple hundred miles or something before they have any bite?

Also - I'm wondering if I might not have made enough stops with the bed-in as I don't see a blue color on the rotors. Could it damage anything to do the bed in process a second time?

[B6JoeS4]

It's normal. Just give everything a few days to set in all the way. Sometimes when they bleed the brakes, there are still micro bubbles in the fluid that will just work their way out of the lines

[hifitodd]

Thanks. I'm just so mental and paranoid.

Here is a pic of the rotor after bed in:



Does that look like a nicely bed in rotor? Sorry for the newb status...

[dparm]

Can someone (knowledgable) give a run down on StopTech (309.09151 Street Performance) vs OEM brake pads?

I had them for a few months. They're just okay, not really much better than stock unless you track the car. In that case, they are almost fade-proof.

I swapped them for Ferodo DS2500s because I wanted stronger cold bite.

[dparm]

Thanks. I'm just so mental and paranoid.

Here is a pic of the rotor after bed in:



Does that look like a nicely bed in rotor? Sorry for the newb status...

Looks fine.

[Trogdor1464]

I had them for a few months. They're just okay, not really much better than stock unless you track the car. In that case, they are almost fade-proof.

I swapped them for Ferodo DS2500s because I wanted stronger cold bite.

How is the dust and noise with the Ferodo pads? Are you using the same pads for the rear?