4.2 brakes

Bedding In New Pads

This transfers a thin, even layer of pad material onto the rotor — essential for full braking power.

Difficulty ★☆☆ easy
Time ~10 min during a short ride
Applies to All bikes with disc brakes (mechanical or hydraulic)

This transfers a thin, even layer of pad material onto the rotor — essential for full braking power.

Tools

  • Standard workshop tools

Procedure

  1. Find a flat, traffic-free area

    (empty parking lot, quiet road).

  2. Accelerate to about 20 km/h

  3. Apply the brake firmly

    (not panic-stop hard) and slow to walking pace — but do not come to a full stop.

  4. Repeat 10–15 times

  5. Then perform 3–5 harder stops

    from 25–30 km/h, again slowing to walking pace without fully stopping.

  6. Avoid coming to a complete stop

    during bedding — heat absorbed by a stationary pad transfers unevenly and can imprint on the rotor (creating "pulse" you feel through the lever).

  7. Let the brakes cool completely

    before riding hard or parking the bike.

Sintered pads need more aggressive bedding than resin/organic pads.