Brake pad break in period?

[Promagnaman]

I just put new rear brake pads in my 2000 Interstate. Is there a break in period for the pads? Thanks...

[PhredValk]

I haven't had the pleasure on the Valk yet, but I changed the rears on my GL1100 a few years back, and they worked fine from day one.
Fred.

[bogator]

Never heard of --breakin period for pads----

[Bone]

There could be a very brief break-in time. IF the rotor had a scored surface when the new flat surface of the pads make contact only the highest areas of the rotor actually make contact not the entire surface. Once the high areas wear in the complete pad begins to work. This could effect braking.

[hubcapsc]

New brakes usually stink for just a short time... if they don't get good pretty quick, there
may be more  you should have done...

Once I took the caliper off, cleaned it up all shiny, and rebuilt it, but the brakes were kind
of sticky when I put it back together... I forgot to clean up the pin that the pads slide on...
The brakes worked great after I cleaned the pin...



The first time I changed pads, I just jambed new ones in, it was hard to get the
pistons back far enough to install the new pads... I should have at least cleaned the pistons
if nothing else... I mashed all kinds of contamination back in there... here's a picture
of pistons cleaned as well as could be, and then pushed out some... still more to clean...



-Mike

[doubletee]

Is it wise to coat the pin on which the brake pad slides with any sort of lubricant before reassembly?

[hubcapsc]

Is it wise to coat the pin on which the brake pad slides with any sort of lubricant before reassembly?

I would only clean it.... the pins that the caliper slides on have lube, but it is "protected"
behind the little rubber booties... lube on the pad-pins is pretty close to lube on the
brake pads...

-Mike

[Promagnaman]

Thanks for the replies guys. I cleaned the caliper,  pins, pistons, etc. and put it all back together with new pads and it seemed to drag a little bit. Rode for awhile and the brakes made some squeaking noises. I took it apart again and looked at the pads. The pads looked like they were wearing in equally in the middle but not on the edges. I will ride some more and think they will continue to wear in just fine...

[Promagnaman]

Well, I put a few more miles on the bike and the new rear brake pads are squeaking. Any ideas why? What should I do?

[hubcapsc]

Well, I put a few more miles on the bike and the new rear brake pads are squeaking. Any ideas why? What should I do?

Do they feel OK? OEM pads on OEM rotors?

-Mike

[Promagnaman]

I have OEM rotors and pads. It doesn't stop quite as good as it used to but the foot pedal feels fine and if I apply max braking, the back wheel will lock up. When I took the pads out to check everything again, the pads looked like they were wearing evenly in the middle. So I imagine when the pads wear in a little more and get full contact with the rotor they should work even better. I am just wondering why they are squeaking intermittantly when the brakes are not being applied...

[Tundra]

Did you clean and lube the pin?
Did you clean the rust and brake dust and road crud off the pistons?
Did you bleed the system and fill with fresh fluid?
Is the break clip installed correctly?

Could be some crud in there and one piston is hanging up? This would cause the pads to make contact  and may cause your squeaking?
 Go for a ride and come back and feel your rotor and caliper, normal riding they should not be too hot to touch.

I have never been one of those lucky guys that slap the new pads in and ride on. If I don't go through everything the first time, I will wind up doing it a second time, whether I like it or not.

[Promagnaman]

I cleaned everything up very well and lubed the pins and bled the system with new fluid. After a ride, the rotor is hot to the touch. This is the first time I have put in new pads. I think the clip is in correctly. 

[hubcapsc]

I cleaned everything up very well and lubed the pins and bled the system with new fluid. After a ride, the rotor is hot to the touch. This is the first time I have put in new pads. I think the clip is in correctly. 

If it sizzles spit, there's something you gotta fix... I've touched mine after a ride home
from work, and they're not too hot to touch. I guess I don't know how hot they normally
get after a workout in the twisties, I've never thought about it to check...

-Mike