After installing new brake pads and rotors, it’s easy to overlook the proper conditioning protocols when verifying correct fitment and operation. Brake burnishing describes the process of “breaking in” these brake system components to ensure optimal performance and safeguard longevity. Burnished brakes are essential to a vehicle’s safety and functionality, regardless of the particular make, model, or model year.
The brake burnishing guide below delves into the methodology of this critical step to clarify its value to automotive technicians and their customers. Although burnishing the brakes can extend the vehicle’s time in the shop, the safety and operational benefits far outweigh any inconvenience. Leverage Identifix’s extensive repair database as a valuable resource for not only brake burnishing assistance but also broad-spectrum, targeted vehicle maintenance and repair.
Automotive braking systems rely on the friction coefficient between the brake pads and rotors to perform safely and reliably. You experience the result of this friction when you step on the brake pedal and feel the initial grab of the brake pads as they contact the rotor’s surface. Although the amount of friction varies based on the brake pad material, the underlying interaction between these components provides the key.
Brake burnishing mates the brake pads and rotors to ensure they perform consistently and continually until they require replacement due to natural wear and tear. In essence, you’re creating a one-to-one fitment. Through the process of brake burnishing, you accomplish the following goals that contribute to this performance and longevity:
The brake burnishing process is relatively straightforward and doesn’t require a significant amount of time or technical knowledge. However, you shouldn’t overlook the value of burnishing brakes, especially as it pertains to your customers. Offering brake burnishing services can set you apart from the competition and cement your reputation as an authority in the automotive maintenance and repair industry.
Failure to burnish your brakes can lead to reduced brake performance, premature component wear, and costly repairs. If a situation demands hard braking to avoid a collision, brakes that haven’t been burnished can glaze in response to intense frictional conditions that exceed the components’ limits. Glazing and the corresponding lack of brake performance due to friction loss can even cause an accident that could potentially become fatal.
Essentially, a car’s brakes rely on and succumb to abrasive and adherent friction for optimal performance. Abrasive friction wears down brake components—primarily the brake pads—through the friction generated by contact between uneven surfaces (the brake pad and rotor). Brake burnishing ensures adherent friction, wherein abrasive brake pad material is effectively transferred to the rotor’s surface to preserve it, promoting the brake pad to abrade itself to stop the vehicle.
Burnishing your brakes is a key component of responsible vehicle maintenance. Brake burnishing properly conditions your brake pads and rotors to maximize daily performance and promote longevity. Routine procedures can also prevent brake components from rusting and ward off degradation that can lead to unsafe driving conditions.
When performed correctly, brake burnishing reduces the chances of brake squeals and vibrations during use, which often stem from improper braking surface mating. Burnished brakes maintain a firm, even grip that results in smooth stopping power. Brand-new brakes that perform as expected result in a better user experience that inspires confidence.
Although electric vehicles (EVs) rely on regenerative braking systems to harness kinetic energy for stopping power, they still require a traditional braking system—broken in with the corresponding burnishing procedures—to stop. By nature, an EV’s electric motor provides regenerative braking power, but these cars still carry hub-mounted brakes you’d find on any gas-powered vehicle. Even though these traditional brakes are typically a secondary source of stopping power during normal vehicle operation, they must perform as designed when it counts.
Most brake manufacturing companies include instructions on how to burnish brand-new brake replacement components after installation. The required protocol can vary based on the individual brake pad and rotor designs, materials, and driving conditions. Here are the basic steps involved in a brake burnishing routine:
Although the number of repetitions and speeds may vary between brake burnishing techniques, the procedure’s core purpose remains the same. However, it’s vital to the longevity of the brake pads and rotors to perform the required brake burnishing steps as specified by the brake manufacturer. When this information isn’t available, rely on Identifix Direct-Hit® Professional to guide you through the process, gain confidence in your results, and ensure customer satisfaction.
Proper brake burnishing techniques contribute to the vehicle’s functionality and safety, in turn ensuring customers can rely on their newly installed brakes for full stopping power. With the Identifix Direct-Hit® Professional comprehensive repair database available for reference, you can implement the correct burnishing methods based on a wealth of make- and model-specific technical specifications. Contact us to learn more about Identifix Direct-Hit® and our full suite of diagnostics and repair solutions.
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