Gentlemen,
As we prepare to start taxi tests on Jim White's IV-P, I've been searching
unsuccessfully for information about conditioning/breaking in the new
rotors/pads. I seem to recall at least a couple of threads on this subject
over the past several years, but am now unable to retrieve any.

Any guidance and/or references to same most appreciated!

Bob Pastusek
-see you at OSH!

 

Hi Bob, I won't be seeing you at OSH this year and even though you addressed this to Gentlemen I will still give it a try. From Jim Hergert LlVP N6XE.

 

I have broken in two sets of High Energy brake pads. I assume you have the High Energy brakes? If you don't you must get them. In the L4 you use lots of braking and of course you need them for steering. The HE brake pads are made mostly of pressed sintered Metal. They need to be broken in with heat and pressure. It is easy, just taxi about normal speed with hard braking along the way. You will feel it getting better but don't get them TOO hot, they are small and close to the tire. It is best to keep it moving for the cooling. Then after cool down try it at about 20 mph a couple of times letting it cool and finally doing a hard stop from about 60 mph. You should feel a big difference form the first time application. Let it cool, inspect, you can accomplish this during taxi testing before fist flight. You should note that both brakes feel about the same so that turning, or keeping it straight in that high speed stopping felt about equal on both left and right sides. My discs look real burned with even heat patterns all around but they work great. My pads lasted 170 hrs on the first set and look like even longer on the second set with 180 hrs and still going. Good Luck on first flight.

 

Still waiting for my engine overhaul completion,

Jim Hergert
N6XE (An Sexy)