I'm about to install two front rotors on my car. Is there anything I need to know about seating the existing pads or "breaking in" of the discs?

 

Push the caliper piston(s) in. All the way. Put rotor on... put hold down screw back in, if you want to... doesn't have to be super tight. Grease back of pads and edges where they contact the caliper, put it back together. Do the same on the other side.

Drive the car. Do a few stops from 30-0. Then a few from 50-0. Then a few from 60-0. The brakes may smoke, but I've been bedding in brakes like this for a few years and had no problems.

Also... since they're new rotors you might want to spray some brake cleaner on a rag and wipe them down before you put them on. Both sides.


James

 

That's right, be sure to bed the pads in, it'll make them last longer and stop better.

Also it's a good idea to clean up the hub surface, as little bits of rust flake, sand, dirt or whatever on the mating surface can cause the brakes to be noisy. I've seen it first hand.

 

as spot skater reccomended... brake cleaner on a rag is pretty important. they oil up rotors so they don't rust while shipping.

as for bedding... windows up and vents closed. pad material is good for your lungs! (not really)

once you bed them, limp back home and try to stay off the brake as much as possible. the whole point is to get an even transfer of pad material to the rotor. kind of pointless if you sit on the brake at a red light and the hot pad and rotor stay in prolonged contact in one spot.

 

Oh yea, and when you're done bedding in the brakes and get home, DO NOT PUT ON THE PARKING BRAKE!!!!! You basically want to avoid having the pads touch the rotors at all after. It's good if you can drive around for 5-10 minutes without braking (Highway for instance) after to let the brakes cool without one spot being covered by pads and calipers.

 

hes only doing the fronts, so i don't think thats a big deal here

that is good advice for rear and full brake jobs though

 

How do you push the caliper pistons back in?

 

#1 open the master cylinder

-for the front you use a c-clamp.
-for the rear you need to get a brake socket cube or use needle nose pliers and screw them in clockwise.

be careful not to rip the rubber boot.

 

Like aznpoopy said, use a c-clamp. If you don't have one, a pair of large channel locks will work just fine. Just be careful it doesn't slip off... it could potentially chip the piston.

 

If you have an FD, make sure you put the two bolts that hold the caliper on back in the right holes. If you get them mixed up, the end of one bolt will rub the inside of the rotor.

-Max