Before going on a long trip, many drivers have their vehicles inspected by a professional. Quite often the visit in a garage results in the replacement of excessively worn parts, such as brake pads. With their vehicles equipped with brand new components, drivers are eager to start the journey as soon as possible. This is a serious mistake. Brand new parts, which have just been installed, need up to 300 kilometers of breaking in to achieve full performance. How to properly go through this process and avoid nasty surprises on the road?
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The process of breaking in a brake pad should start before the car even leaves the garage. When the car is still parked, drivers should press the brake pedal a number of times to adjust play between the pad and the disc. Only then can we drive away.
Tomasz Orłowski, director at Lumag’s Research and Development Department, responsible for the development of Breck brake pads, said: “Breaking in of brake pads can be compared to the time we have to wait between having a meal and going swimming. It is best to go through this process by driving in the regular manner in urban conditions. We should avoid “sporty” driving, braking from high speeds, driving with large loads, especially with trailers, or in the mountains. Brake overheating can cause irreparable negative changes in the new brake pads, which have not been broken in yet.”
Brake pads achieve full performance after covering around 300 kilometers. That is why you should make sure to have them replaced at least a few days before going on a long trip. During this period, it is worth using the brakes as often as possible, as every press of the brake pedal increases the contact surface between brake pads and brake discs, thereby increasing braking efficiency.
Tomasz Orłowski sums up: “Breaking in of brake pads is accompanied by a physicochemical process resulting in the generation of a thin layer on the brake pad’s surface. It is called the “Third Body Layer (TBL)” and consists of a mixture of various substances and materials generated during brake pad and brake disc interaction. During braking, the TBL separates the friction material from the brake disc and prevents their metallic components from sticking together. As long as the TBL is in place, the coefficient of friction remains stable, which directly translates into braking efficiency.”
About LUMAG
With a history spanning almost 30 years, LUMAG was founded in Poland in 1988 by CEO Marek Żak, initially focusing on the production of brake linings before later implementing its own brake pad manufacturing technology. Over the years the company has achieved enormous technological progress, through applied engineering solutions as well as the continuous rise of quality and safety standards.
Since September 2013 it has been operating out of a purpose-built new production facility located 60km from Poznań in the town of Budzyń, covering an area of approx. 19,000 square meters, allowing the company to satisfy ever-growing customer needs and to meet strict demands of the OEM market.
The company’s mission is to supply car and commercial vehicle users with high-quality products ensuring safe braking, and in doing so, improving the safety of all road users. LUMAG’s UK operations are based in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.
Further information can be found at www.lumagltd.co.uk.
Source: Lumag
