What Is Brake Pad Bedding-In

For optimal performance of any brake system, brake pads and brake disc rotors have to be compatible with one another. Brake pad bedding-in facilitates the fitment of contact surfaces between the brake pads and the disc rotors. During the bedding in process, a layer of the friction material on the brake pad is evenly deposited on the contact surface of the disc rotor. Under normal operating temperature, the heat generated in the brake system allows for the formation of a transfer layer. After continuous usage over a period of time, the entire face of the disc rotor is evenly covered with the friction material of the brake pad.

The key to braking without excessive noise is the transfer layer on the disc rotor has to be evenly distributed. Uneven deposits on the disc rotors cause brakes to vibrate excessively. But before the layer can be evenly distributed, there is an inherent period of time initially where the deposits are still sparsely and uneven distributed. This is the reason why mechanics advise drivers to be gentler on the brakes before brakes pad are bed-in. It is also why drivers should not be too keen to draw into conclusions that the performance of the brake pads is questionable during the initial bedding-in period.