Brake Burnishing

angryBits · 11-03-2018, 05:31 AM

Did you guys do it?

It's hard finding an appropriate/secluded road.

I've got about 200 miles on my car and I haven't done it yet and I can already feel they need it.

JeromeS13 · 11-03-2018, 07:01 AM

I did, when switching pads from PowerStop Z26 to OEM pads (the day before a track event).

Pollock · 11-03-2018, 07:12 AM

I have never did it to the extent of the manual procedure. But I do hit the interstate and hit the brakes hard from 70 to 20mph a few times if traffic is light.

Amiaji · 11-03-2018, 07:37 AM

The manual says not to do it before the break in period is over which is 1500 miles. I just now got past the break in period so if a warm enough day comes along I might give it a go.

hawk02 · 11-03-2018, 07:50 AM

No burnishing done here. I just avoided abrupt stops best I could for the first 1500 miles.

Inspector 17 · 11-03-2018, 06:09 PM

I was planning on taking my car to the track so I did it pretty much per the instructions exactly. Brakes have been amazing through all my track events so far. Still on the original set and just starting to get to where I need to think about replacing them next year.

RSFR · 11-03-2018, 06:32 PM

I burned the stockers in at the track at ~300 miles. Same for Carbotech pads I replaced the stock pads with. Works like a charm.

angryBits · 11-07-2018, 08:57 AM

Burned mine in this morning. I'm at 300 miles. I had to drop my wife off at the airport at 4am this morning, there was no one on the road so it seemed like a good time for some questionably legal shenanigans.

I didn't follow the exact procedure because I didn't have the manual on hand, but I did about a dozen 35-0 and then a dozen 60-0.

Prior to this the brakes didn't grab and there was a slight squeal when coming to a stop as well as some very slight friction/vibration feel. Now they bite hard and break-action is smooth as silk (aside from ABS modulation).

Snakebt6 · 11-07-2018, 09:26 AM

I did mine per the manual/performance supplement and it made a difference in the brake performance.

I did it at about 1500miles.

2004YZFR1 · 04-23-2020, 12:20 AM

I did the full brake burnishing procedure today. I never really smelled the pads or saw any smoke and I didn’t really feel like I had any brake fade or extra travel on the pedal. The brakes work really well. The manual says the pads should look white after the burnishing.

Now I’m wondering if I was hard enough on the brakes? But I was definitely aggressive with braking.

Stephen12ZL1 · 04-23-2020, 12:34 PM

The edge of the pad will appear slightly white. If you do it on track it happens almost automatically. just be careful because the stopping distances will be longer until the following session. Burnishing the brakes is much more important with carbon-ceramic rotors like the Z/28. Either way, it's a useful procedure and will help braking when the time comes to take the car on track

11-03-2018, 05:31 AM	#1
angryBits Drives: ZL1 1LE A10 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: CA Posts: 1,093	Brake Burnishing Did you guys do it? It's hard finding an appropriate/secluded road. I've got about 200 miles on my car and I haven't done it yet and I can already feel they need it. __________________ Current: 2019 ZL1 1LE A10 Mods: MPS4s Tires \| Borla Atak \| CF Steering Wheel Previous: 2018 ZL1 1LE M6 \| 2017 Z06 Z07 M7 \| 2017 GS A8 \| 2015 ZL1 M6 \| 2013 GT500

11-03-2018, 07:50 AM	#5
hawk02 Coupe Newbie Drives: 2017 ZL1, 2021 Corvette Convertible Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 3,279 View My Garage	No burnishing done here. I just avoided abrupt stops best I could for the first 1500 miles. __________________

11-07-2018, 08:57 AM	#8
angryBits Drives: ZL1 1LE A10 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: CA Posts: 1,093	Burned mine in this morning. I'm at 300 miles. I had to drop my wife off at the airport at 4am this morning, there was no one on the road so it seemed like a good time for some questionably legal shenanigans. I didn't follow the exact procedure because I didn't have the manual on hand, but I did about a dozen 35-0 and then a dozen 60-0. Prior to this the brakes didn't grab and there was a slight squeal when coming to a stop as well as some very slight friction/vibration feel. Now they bite hard and break-action is smooth as silk (aside from ABS modulation). __________________ Current: 2019 ZL1 1LE A10 Mods: MPS4s Tires \| Borla Atak \| CF Steering Wheel Previous: 2018 ZL1 1LE M6 \| 2017 Z06 Z07 M7 \| 2017 GS A8 \| 2015 ZL1 M6 \| 2013 GT500

04-23-2020, 12:20 AM	#10
2004YZFR1 Drives: 2020 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe 2SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Nevada Posts: 296 View My Garage	I did the full brake burnishing procedure today. I never really smelled the pads or saw any smoke and I didn’t really feel like I had any brake fade or extra travel on the pedal. The brakes work really well. The manual says the pads should look white after the burnishing. Now I’m wondering if I was hard enough on the brakes? But I was definitely aggressive with braking. Last edited by 2004YZFR1; 04-23-2020 at 07:42 PM. Reason: spelling check.

04-23-2020, 12:34 PM	#11
Stephen12ZL1 Drives: '21 ZLE A10 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mechanicsville, VA Posts: 6,808	The edge of the pad will appear slightly white. If you do it on track it happens almost automatically. just be careful because the stopping distances will be longer until the following session. Burnishing the brakes is much more important with carbon-ceramic rotors like the Z/28. Either way, it's a useful procedure and will help braking when the time comes to take the car on track __________________ '21 ZLE A10 Wild Cherry PDR 2:00.78 VIR Full 10.68@131.69 1.68 60' '17 ZL1 A10 Mosaic Black PDR/Nav 2:03.08 VIR Full 11.003@129.2 1.75 (sold) '15 Z/28 #325 Black a/c & stereo. 2:10.1 VIR Full (sold) '12 ZL1 A6 Black 10.52@131 1.55 60' 2:13 VIR Full (sold)

11-03-2018, 07:01 AM	#2
JeromeS13 Drives: 2017 1SS/1LE Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: FL Panhandle Posts: 1,559	I did, when switching pads from PowerStop Z26 to OEM pads (the day before a track event).

11-03-2018, 07:12 AM	#3
Pollock LT4 M6 Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 1,249	I have never did it to the extent of the manual procedure. But I do hit the interstate and hit the brakes hard from 70 to 20mph a few times if traffic is light.

11-03-2018, 07:37 AM	#4
Amiaji Drives: 2018 1SS Camaro Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: North Carolina Posts: 49	The manual says not to do it before the break in period is over which is 1500 miles. I just now got past the break in period so if a warm enough day comes along I might give it a go.

11-03-2018, 06:09 PM	#6
Inspector 17 I love crepes Drives: 2017 ZL1 NGM A10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 4,955 View My Garage	I was planning on taking my car to the track so I did it pretty much per the instructions exactly. Brakes have been amazing through all my track events so far. Still on the original set and just starting to get to where I need to think about replacing them next year.

11-03-2018, 06:32 PM	#7
RSFR Drives: ZL1 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Texas Posts: 350	I burned the stockers in at the track at ~300 miles. Same for Carbotech pads I replaced the stock pads with. Works like a charm.

11-07-2018, 09:26 AM	#9
Snakebt6 Drives: Rally Green 2020 ZL1 1LE A10 Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Jacksonville Florida Posts: 402	I did mine per the manual/performance supplement and it made a difference in the brake performance. I did it at about 1500miles.

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