Owner manual

Page 8
Pad and Rotor Bedding
BEDDING STEPS FOR NEW PADS AND ROTORS – ALL COMPOUNDS
Once the brake system has been tested and determined safe to operate the vehicle, follow these steps for the bedding of all new pad
materials and rotors. These procedures should only be performed on a race track, or other safe location where you can safely and
legally obtains speeds up to 65 MPH, while also being able to rapidly decelerate.
• Begin with a series of light decelerations to gradually build some heat in the brakes. Use an on-and-off the pedal technique by
applying the brakes for 3-5 seconds, and then allow them to fully release for a period roughly twice as long as the deceleration cycle.
If you use a 5 count during the deceleration interval, use a 10 count during the release to allow the heat to sink into the pads and
rotors.
• After several cycles of light stops to begin warming the brakes, proceed with a series of medium to firm deceleration stops to
continue raising the temperature level in the brakes.
• Finish the bedding cycle with a series of 8-10 hard decelerations from 55-65 MPH down to 25 MPH while allowing a proportionate
release and heat-sinking interval between each stop. The pads should now be providing positive and consistent response.
• If any amount of brake fade is observed during the bed-in cycle, immediately begin the cool down cycle.
• Drive at a moderate cruising speed, with the least amount of brake contact possible, until most of the heat has dissipated from the
brakes. Avoid sitting stopped with the brake pedal depressed to hold the car in place during this time. Park the vehicle and allow the
brakes to cool to ambient air temperature.
COMPETITION VEHICLES
• If your race car is equipped with brake cooling ducts, blocking them will allow the pads and rotors to warm up quicker and speed up
the bedding process.
• Temperature indicating paint on the rotor and pad edges can provide valuable data regarding observed temperatures during the
bedding process and subsequent on-track sessions. This information can be highly beneficial when evaluating pad compounds and
cooling efficiencies.
POST-BEDDING INSPECTION – ALL VEHICLES
• After the bedding cycle, the rotors should exhibit a uniformly burnished finish across the entire contact face. Any surface irregularities
that appear as smearing or splotching on the rotor faces can be an indication that the brakes were brought up to temperature too
quickly during the bedding cycle. If the smear doesn’t blend away after the next run-in cycle, or if chatter under braking results,
sanding or resurfacing the rotors will be required to restore a uniform surface for pad contact.
PRE-RACE WARM UP
• Always make every effort to get heat into the brakes prior to each event. Use an on-and-off the pedal practice to warm the brakes
during the trip to the staging zone, during parade laps before the flag drops, and every other opportunity in an effort to build heat in
the pads and rotors. This will help to ensure best consistency, performance, and durability from your brakes.
DYNO BEDDED COMPETITION PADS AND ROTORS
• Getting track time for a proper pad and rotor bedding session can be difficult. Wilwood offers factory dyno-bedded pads and rotors
on many of our popular competition pads and Spec 37 GT series rotors. Dyno-bedded parts are ready to race on their first warm
up cycle. This can save valuable time and effort when on-track time is either too valuable or not available at all, Dyno-bedding
assures that your pads and rotors have been properly run-in and are ready to go. Contact your dealer or the factory for more
information on Wilwood Dyno-Bedding services.
NOTE:
NEVER allow the contact surfaces of the pads or rotors to be contaminated with brake fluid. Always use a catch bottle with a hose to
prevent fluid spill during all brake bleeding procedures.