If you want to get the most performance out of your new braking system, you need to bed it. The term may sound strange, but brake pad bedding ensures your braking system performs well, doesn’t squeal, and wears down evenly (pretty important factors for braking performance).
In this guide, we’ll go over brake pad bedding, including what it is and how it works. We’ll even highlight some of our favorite high-performance brake pad brands to choose from. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Brake Pad Bedding?
Brake pad bedding (also known as the bedding-in process) is a controlled procedure that transfers an even layer of brake pad material onto the disc friction surfaces of your new brake rotors. It ensures optimal friction, smooth engagement, and consistent braking power across the pads and rotors. Thinking of brake pad bedding like “breaking in” your new stoppers (no pun intended).
Without brake bedding, you risk:
- Uneven pad wear
- Vibration
- Thermal shock
- Reduced braking performance
- Little or no braking during critical moments
Why It’s Critical for New Pads and Rotors
When you install new brake pads and new rotors, you’d expect them to work perfectly right away. But, both surfaces are raw and unfinished. The goal of brake pad bedding is to create a uniform layer of pad transfer material on the rotors. This layer promotes consistent brake feel, minimizes vibration, and helps maximize your performance and safety.
Without bedding, pads and rotors may develop hot spots, glazing, or fade — all of which can undermine the effectiveness of your brake system.
How to Bed in Brake Pads: Step-by-Step
Before starting, ensure:
- You’re in a remote area or empty parking lot, as you’ll need to gain some speed and perform some relatively hard braking.
- The rotors and pads are free of other contaminants (brake cleaner can help).
- The system is properly torqued and functional. This includes your rotors, caliper bolts, and lugs.
The bedding process involves repetitive braking at moderate speeds. Always do it safely, away from traffic and pedestrians.
Step 1: Initial Heat Build-Up
This step warms the pads and rotors and begins the pad material transfer. Don’t skip it.
- Accelerate to 30–35 mph, then brake to a walking pace using moderate brake application
- Repeat this 4–6 times without coming to a complete stop
Step 2: Increase Intensity
This step raises the disc brakes’ components’ temperatures even higher and increases friction, helping bond the material.
- Next, safely accelerate to 45–55 mph
- Apply firm brake application (about 80% pressure), slowing to 10 mph (don’t lock up the brakes or brake hard enough to activate ABS)
- Do this 4–5 times, again without coming to a full stop
Step 3: High-Heat Bedding Passes
- Now increase to 60–65 mph
- Apply hard braking to 10 mph 4–6 times, with minimal cooling between passes
You may smell resin or feel slight vibration in the wheel while braking. This is normal during the bedding-in process, so don’t panic.
Step 4: Cooldown
Drive at varying starting speeds for several miles without using the brakes aggressively. This short drive will allow the new brake components to adequately cool.
If you must come to a complete stop, don’t do so with the hot pads pressed against hot rotors, as this can cause uneven material transfer and can create permanent spots. Rather than holding the brake, put the car in park or slip it into neutral while hovering over the brake pedal in case you roll.
Bedding in New Disc Brake Pads vs New Rotors
The process of bedding in new disc brake pads only (without replacing the rotors) is a bit less involved, as the existing rotors already have brake pad material bonded to their surface. However, when replacing both, it’s critical to perform the full cycle to avoid thermal shock and premature wear.
Common Bedding Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping the process entirely
- Letting the car come to a complete stop during hot phases
- Doing the procedure in traffic
- Not allowing new pads to adequately cool
- Expecting full braking power right away
Best High-Performance Brake Pads for Bedding Success
Choosing the right brake pads and rotors helps ensure the bedding process goes smoothly and delivers long-term benefits. Here are some top-performing brands known for their braking performance, clean transfer, and consistent results:
EBC Brakes
EBC offers a wide range of performance brake pads and slotted brake rotors engineered for strong initial bite, low dust, and clean rotor surface transfer. Their Yellowstuff and Redstuff pads pair well with EBC’s drilled and slotted rotors, making them a popular combo for street and track users alike. During bedding, EBC pads lay down a consistent friction layer that helps minimize brake fade and maximize braking performance.
Pagid Brake Pads
Pagid pads are well-known in the motorsport world for their reliability, especially under high temperatures and heavy braking. They offer excellent pad life and maintain consistent performance even during repeated high-speed stops. When paired with slotted rotors or drilled and slotted rotors, Pagid pads deliver smooth bedding and long-term stopping power.
DBA (Disc Brakes Australia)
DBA is a standout choice for both rotors and brake pads, particularly in high performance applications. Their T3 slotted rotors and 4000/5000 series drilled and slotted rotors are designed to handle extreme conditions with optimized heat dissipation and reduced stress risers. When used with their performance pads, the system beds quickly and evenly, making it ideal for heavy duty vehicles, race cars, and tuned sports cars.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does brake pad bedding take?
From start to finish, bedding brake pads usually takes 20–30 minutes, including cooldown. Bed the pads properly and allow at least 30 minutes before aggressive driving.
Can I drive normally if I haven’t bedded the pads yet?
It’s not ideal. You may experience vibration, reduced stopping ability, excessive noise, or even little or no braking in an emergency. Perform the bedding in process ASAP in a safe environment.
Do all brake pads require bedding?
Yes, but it’s especially important for performance pads. Some budget pads come “pre-scorched” or pre-bedded, but even they benefit from a few moderate speed stops.
What if I feel vibration during bedding?
Slight to mild vibration is normal during the bed-in process, especially during repeated hard stops. If it persists after bedding, inspect for uneven pad wear or warped rotors.
Final Thoughts
Skipping brake pad bedding is one of the most common mistakes DIY mechanics make, and it can cost you in both performance and safety. Taking the time to bed in your pads and rotors creates a solid friction bond, smooth operation, and long-lasting performance from your entire brake system.
