Burnishing new brakes

[polarzak]

I am planning to replace the front and back rotors/ pads, and would like to know if burnishing is really necessary. I searched on this site and read a bit about it, but still am not sure it is really needed.

Over the years I have done several brake jobs, on different personal GM cars, and never burnished the new brakes. I really cannot believe when new rotors and pads are installed at the dealer or the local garage, that the fellow takes the time to take the car out and do 20 stops to burnishing the brakes. I know the local dealer would have to drive 20 miles away, to get on the back roads to even do this safely. For that matter, does GM burnish the brakes on every new car before they ship them off to the dealer? I don't think so.
So, what is the general consensus on brake burnishing?
Thanks.

[maxwedge]

This seating in process is important for pad life and effectiveness, google brake pad break in, lots of detailed info out there.

[polarzak]

I have been all over the net and know why it is supposedly done. I was asking if the people on here do it as in general consensus. As mentioned, I would bet GM doesn't do it to their new vehicles and I am confident most general brake shops don't do it.
Anyway, thanks...I know how to "google" although I do not use it in particular, as it is personal data collector. Probably knows the color of users underwear. (smile)

[inafogg]

i agree with max when we did/do brakes @ pontiac dealer we seated the brakes
now 20 stops......i'm not sure but if you dont seat them it wont stop as good
good luck

[imidazol97]

Originally Posted by polarzak

I have been all over the net and know why it is supposedly done. I was asking if the people on here do it as in general consensus. As mentioned, I would bet GM doesn't do it to their new vehicles and I am confident most general brake shops don't do it.
Anyway, thanks...I know how to "google" although I do not use it in particular, as it is personal data collector. Probably knows the color of users underwear. (smile)

http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_bedintheory.shtml

This is one of the many links you probably found about burnishing in the brake pads and rotors.

I know a local guy does drive the car to do the initial applications and smooth down the pads and rotors with their rough surfaces.

In my own experience, I think what they want to avoid is having a customer do a hard stop with the very rough brake pads and discs which creates a lot of heat. Then the customer sits at the stoplight with the brake pads against the hot rotors causing a deposition of the heated pad material onto the rotor and possibly keeping the rotor hot in the contact area and causing a warp of the rotor.

So the shop drives the car and makes several stops with cooling time in between and not allowing the pads and rotors to be static relative to each other after the hot stops.

[polarzak]

Thanks imidazol97. I had not see this one but it does express the information I have read. However, this article says one has to do 10 braking procedures from 60mph and then do it again, and possible another 10. That is 30 near stops. Other sites say one one needs to to 8 brakings from 30mph. Seems brake burnishing or bedding in procedure is all over the map.
There is no where here I could do 60 except on the Interstate and I am sure the other drivers would not be to pleased following me and braking 30 times for no apparent reason.
I have never done it before, and probably have done 10 or 15 brake jobs on my cars over the years, and never had any problems. Anyway, thanks to all.

[imidazol97]

Originally Posted by polarzak

Thanks imidazol97. I had not see this one but it does express the information I have read. However, this article says one has to do 10 braking procedures from 60mph and then do it again, and possible another 10. That is 30 near stops. Other sites say one one needs to to 8 brakings from 30mph. Seems brake burnishing or bedding in procedure is all over the map.
There is no where here I could do 60 except on the Interstate and I am sure the other drivers would not be to pleased following me and braking 30 times for no apparent reason.
I have never done it before, and probably have done 10 or 15 brake jobs on my cars over the years, and never had any problems. Anyway, thanks to all.

To repeat myself, I think for the normal brakes on the normal car the purpose is to start the brakes spreading the resin onto the rotors and to wear off the highests of the rough peaks. The article I found was overkill; they are talking about performance brakes IIRC.

I had found another article when I put new good rotors on the front of my leSabre. It suggested a few stops at moderate force from a speed without a full stop so that the pads don't sit on hot rotors. I think as long as the user realizes to avoid situations requiring the hard, quick stops for the first many miles the brakes will set in properly for normal drivers.

On the other hand I think the driver should make some hard use of brakes from a moderate high speed to work the brakes and get them hot, but do it where they don't come to a complete stop. That's what I did with mine.

[maxwedge]

Same basic recommendations for new car break in , in the owner's manual.