REFLECTOR: Brake conditioning

[Ron Brown]

Hi Darrell,

Here's something I wrote up last December:

Some Brake Education (IMHO):

Brake rotors typically get warped during the time that they are new or newly
resurfaced and new pads installed.  Too often, folks get on the brakes too
hard before they are burnished in, which overheats the new pads and
warps the rotors.

Burnishing the pads and rotors can be done by just taking it real easy on
the brakes for the first 20 flights.

OR you can burnish them by taxiing at about 45 knots, apply the brakes down
to 30 knots, then wait a minute and do it again, being careful not to get on
the brakes hard when you turn around.  Do this about 10 times, then repeat
from 60 knots down to 30 knots about 5 times.

The brakes will be burnished, they will work better, last longer, have less
tendency to fade AND the rotors won't get warped.

(Works good on cars and trucks too!!!)

And the chatter (if they are not warped) can be reduced by removing the pad
residue using a sander with 180-220 grit. I replaced my pads after 330
stops, had pretty heavy chatter from day one, but it went away after the
sanding job.

Ronnie Brown
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