Bedding in is not instant
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Contrary to the claims being made by some brake manufacturers, the bedding in of new linings is most definitely not an instant process and should never be regarded as such, says Mintex Don research & development manager Rod McLellan.
"Anyone who claims to have invented a friction material for trucks that offers this has misunderstood the fundamental concepts," he says.
Two elements are crucial for stable brake performance: bedding in (full and correctly aligned contact between friction material and disc or drum) and burnishing (the conditioning of their surfaces through use).
Bedding in times will vary from brake to brake and certain slps can be taken to reduce this. The lined brake shoes can be ground to match the particular drum and brake on the vehicle, or a friction material can be chosen for its rapid wean Many consider the first to be the most sensible route.
Mintex Don advises that a bedding in period of 2,000km, during which heavy braking is avoided, should be allowed when new linings have been fitted.
The company adds that to assume that the conditioning and bedding in process is instant is dangerous: brake linings will continue to bed themselves in regardless of the chums of some manufacturers.