Pagid Pad Break-in

Hi all,

I spent the day out in the garage installing completely new brakes on my race-car project. This included new flex-lines, new drilled rotors, caliper rebuilding, cool brake kit, and finally, Pagid Orange pads.

During the project, I spoke to one of my Porsche mentors who informed me that Pagid pads have a very specific break-in proceedure. He mentioned something about a series of stops from 100 mph to a specific speed them some from 80 mph. Unfortunately, my pads came with no instructions and he has apparently forgotten to fax his copy to me.

Does anyone out in Pelicanland have a copy of these insructions that they could fax to me or scan and email?

Any information would be greatly appreciated as I am looking forward to trying out my new breaks, but I don't want to screw up expensive pads.

Thanks in advance,

Jess Wurmbrand
303-618-4620
Fax: 303470-1019
Stiqman@aol.com

I have Pagid orange on mine too, but never heard of any particular break in. Raced mine in PIR, Leguna... had no problem. If you have an instruction, please share with me.
Andy
'87 Carrera

jason@*****************.com
This guy is the distributor...he can get you a set of instructions...

Jess,

Those sound a lot like the 'standard' racer's burn-in procedure, as advocated by Carrol Smith of his famous '-to win' series of books from the early seventies.

To paraphrase:

On an unpatroled, open, relatively traffic-free stretch of two-lane road of at least two-four miles in length ... do the following:

Do a series of 8-10 modersate power stops from 60-70 mph in sequence, accelerate, stop, turn around, accelerate ...

Having warmed up the pads fully, do one maximum effort, full-power stop from 100-120 mph, without locking up any of the tires. At some point near the end of the stop, 'green-fade' will be encountered. If it isn't, repeat the high-speed full-power stops until green fade does occur. So, don't be worried when this occurs. An the end of this 'burnishing' procedure, pull over and park the car, emergency brake off, and let the car sit for one hour, minimum, to let the brakes fully cool-down! At 10-minute intervals, roll the car forward or backward a foot or so to move the pads on the rotors.

After the brakes have fully cooled down to ambient temperature, they are fully broken-in and burnished, ready to use!

This same procedure can be used on any new set of pads or shoes, of any brand, to avoid the so-called 'break-in' period of 150-200 miles advocated commonly!


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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

Thanks for the quick replies!

Warren,

your explanation sounds very similar to what was described to me. My only question, and I hope that it doesn't label me as the dolt I may be, is what exactly is "green-fade"? I'm assuming that it is some kind of a gradual fade feeling, but I'd like to be sure.

Thanks again,

Jess

Jess,

Green-fade is just fading of brand-new brake linings, usually attributed to outgassing of the residual aromatic components in the adhesives that bind the linings together. Actually, it can come on fairing rapidly during the high-speed, full-power stop, as you will find out! That is why I recommend a lightly-traveled road for the procedure. It is also why most brake linings contain warnings about 'taking it easy' for the first few hundred miles.

I have to assume that somewhere along the line, either drivers or mechanics figured out that race cars have a tendency to get destroyed when brand-new brakes fail ... and the 'burnishing' or 'bedding-in' procedure was developed that could be done during practice or testing sessions. Carrol Smith, who was an engineer on the GT-40 project in the '60s, said he used to carry spare, bedded-in, race-ready, but unused pads in a locked briefcase!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

Jess -- FYI, "green fade" may also be accompanied by smoke and nasty smells!

Watch your back in addition to any cars in front of you: wouldn't want somebody slamming into you as you suddenly haul ass down from 80-100mph.

Here's what the instructions say:

Recommended Procedure for Bedding in Pagid Brake Pads.

Basic Bedding In: 3-4 stops with light to medium brake pressure from start (90MPH) to finish (60MPH). Distance between each stop should be approximately 1/4 mile. The pads should NOT reach temperatures ABOVE 575 to 750 degrees during bedding-in process.

Bedding in at High Speed: 1 stop with medium to heavy brake pressure (without allowing lockup) from start (110MPH) to finish (60MPH). Perform recovery stops with light brake pressure 2-3 times. Repeat the process 1 to 2 times. Allow a cooling off distance of approximately 3/10 mile between high speed stops.

Mounting New Pads on Used Discs: Edges of the pad surface should be filed at a 45 degree angle to insure that the pad contacts the disc fully and evenly.

Enjoy them, they are great pads!

I'm using Metal Masters, and broke them in a little differently - 3 or 4 stops from 70 - 10mph at moderate pressure, followed by a couple of heavy-pressure stops from 70-10. I got some fade, but not the stuff you guys are talking about.

I'll try the Pagids for my DE course.

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2
1987 Escort 5-speed 1.9
The Porsche Owners Gallery

JT,

Thanks very much for your reply! That's exatctly the information I was looking for.

Now I've got only two problems. First, it's been snowing all afternoon which makes driving interesting on well used Yok A032R's. Secondly, where's a guy to run 110MPH in suburban Denver on a Sauturday afternoon?

I guess I'll just have to keep admiring my new parts out in the garage and wait for a nicer day!

Thanks again to all who replied. The combined knowledge of this board is really something special!

Jess
'77S w/3.0 Euro (Track)
'83 SC Targa

Jess,

Come down to ThunderHill the second weekend in March and break them in with GGR. We have a High Speed Driving School on 3/9 to break them in, then the Time Trial on 10-11 to get them hot.

Good luck finding your nice day.