Break In Your Brakes When You Replace Them

You've just got new brakes put on your car – you're good to go, right? Actually, new brakes aren't ready to go from the moment they are put on. If you don't take the time to break the brakes in properly, you could find yourself with squealing brakes, warped rotors and need to replace them much sooner than you should. Here, you will learn a few steps to take to break in your brakes and protect the investment.

Pump the Pedal

When you get in your car after the brakes are done, take a few seconds to pump the brake pedal a few times. You want to get the brake fluid flowing through the lines and push out any air that may remain. This will also help the pads position themselves properly and prevent uneven wear and warping.

Warm the Brakes Slowly

New brakes need to be warmed up slowly. Get out on an open stretch of road and increase your speed to about 50 or 55 miles per hour. Then, press the brake pedal gently and slowly decrease your speed to 30 miles per hour. Repeat the process 3 or 4 times, and you'll prevent crystallization and glazing of the brake pads.

Turn Up the Heat

After you've warmed up the brake pads slightly, it's time to turn up the heat a bit. Getting the brakes warmed up will help to remove the coating that the manufacturer puts on them.

Head out to an open stretch of road with very little traffic. Increase your speed to 50 or 55 miles per hour and check your rearview mirror. When you don't have any cars behind you, press firmly on your brake pedal and slow down to about 30 miles per hour. Do this 2 or 3 times, and you should be good to go. But, don't go park your car straight away. Drive it for another 15 minutes or so to cool the brakes down.

Test the Brakes

Now that you've pumped the air out of the lines, warmed and then heated the brake pads, you're ready to give the brakes a good test. Casually drive and pay close attention to how the brakes feel. Do you feel any shimmying in the front end of the car? Do you hear any squeaks or squeals? Are you slowing down as quickly as you should?

If things don't feel right, you must return to the shop and have the brakes inspected. Failure to do so could result in your brakes not working when you need them, or expedited wear and premature replacement. For more information on BMW brakes another other BMW repair services, contact a local repair shop.

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