New brakes. Best way to break them in....

[robdog]

Just got some slottedcross drilled rotors, front and rear, want to know suggestions for the best way to break them in. On the box it says to take it easy on them for the first 300 miles. Other things I have read in the past is to do 40-50 mph and jam them on and just before you stop let off, do this 3 or 4 times. Any opinions on either of these methods please chime in. Thanks

[ColonelPanic]

I'd say a great big "oooh nooo! on the latter.. I really don't think you want to be to hard on the brakes right after they are installed... Things haven't had an opportunity to settle into place yet and if you're too rough on 'em, I'd suspect it would be possible to do some damage to pads/rotors/maybe even calipers. Sounds like you just spent an shload of cash to get the fancy schmancy brake parts and such, I'd say your're better off in the long run taking it easy for a bit.Every car owner's manual I've read has mentioned avoiding hard stops for the first 500 miles or so. I'd say that would apply to subsequent brake replacements too. You can't always avoid hard braking, but if you can, do it. JMHO.

[Altus]

Well - the standard "bedding in" method for brakes is kinda like that, but not quite so extreme.Get on some long roadway. Get up to about 20 mph, and then come to a reasonably quick stop -- not locking them up, not jamming them on, just a good reasonably quick stop. Do this 3 or 4 times. Then get up to about 40 mph and do the same thing 3 or 4 times.That should be good enough to bed in any brakes/rotors combination for long trouble-free use.

[robdog]

I think I am going to take the easy does it method. That sounds right. Perhaps I will give a bit harder stop a couple times just to seat everything but nothing extreme unless some emergency stop pops up but I am excited to get these on tomorrow.

[85C4fanatic]

You didnt say whether you were planning on putting on new pads at the same time. Depending on if you ge tnew pads. Some of the better pads have friction agent that is transfered to the rotor during break in. Most of these types of pads of pads require you to get up to about 35-40 mph and evenly depress the brake pads until you almost come to a stop and repeat 3 to 4 times. Rotors just make sure that during brake in the you dont run them through any water puddles or they could warp.