Akebono ceramic pads so soft?

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by Doru

I don't think ceramic pads should be bedded. Semimetallic - yes.
I had a nasty experience with Akebono, after I bedded them - one cool morning right after bedding them, I lost TOTAL braking power. Like pushing the brake pedal as hard as I could, and it seemed like the car had the pedal just for ornament. After this incident I did a research, and it seems that ceramics should NOT be bedded. maybe they form a glazed surface when bedding that will NOT brake at all?

These brake pads, slowly started to bite as time passed. But for about 2 weeks, it was a thrill driving in the city.

It's always been my understanding that ALL brake pads need bedding to set pads to rotors and transfer some of the pad materal to the rotor surface (brass in the case of ceramic pads, seeing as the matrix is a ceramic/carbon/brass on these pads).

[Doru]

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

It's always been my understanding that ALL brake pads need bedding to set pads to rotors and transfer some of the pad materal to the rotor surface (brass in the case of ceramic pads, seeing as the matrix is a ceramic/carbon/brass on these pads).

That's what I thought too when I bedded the ceramics. My next ceramics, I will not bed.
Semimetallic pads are probably different and need to be bedded for the above mentioned reasons. I just thought to share my experience, because I was this close to an accident. Actually, when that happened, I was alone on the road (it was very early in the morning, so no traffic), but I realized I was driving a tad too fast, so I tried braking. Well, first I brushed the brake lightly and nothing happened, then I pushed the brakes harder - still nothing. Then, I literally was scared and stood with all my might on it. At this moment, it barely started to slow the car down. As the brakes warmed up, and maybe as the first glazed (maybe?) layer of the pads started to wear down, the brakes started to slow the car more and more. Needless to say, for the first few days, I had to be very careful how I drove.
I just want to share my experience because those ceramic pads are getting more and more popular, and lots of people are looking at the "Zeckhausen" bedding procedure, which is correct as long as you have other pads than ceramics. I want to spare the guys who buy ceramics, a maybe very unpleasant surprise. This happened in the summer of 2010. I still have those pads & rotors, and after 3 years of magnificent dustless use, they still look like brand new, as opposed to OEM pads which were gone in 2-3 years, or the same amount of time I had these ceramics.

[TiAgX5]

Tire Rack sells Carbon pads and here is a quote from them...........

"All brake pads must be bedded-in with the rotor they will be used against to maximize brake performance. The bedding-in process involves a gradual build up of heat in the rotors and pad compound. This process will lay down a thin layer of transfer film on to the rotor surface. Following the bed-in procedures provided by the manufacturer will assure a smooth, even layer of transfer film on the rotor and will minimize brake judder."

[z168]

I have akebono on the X, e46 and e39 cars and theyve been good. I agree the initial cold braking is weak compared to stock but resumes to proper brake feel about the same time when the engine is at normal temp. I figured this is ok since I shouldnt be speeding on a cold engine anyway

[PropellerHead]

I had them on my 3.0 and absolutely loved them. Definitely less initial bite, but there when needed. I bedded both them and the ones on my wife's E46. Both have been running great for over 4 years.

I wish they would make them for the 4.8is fronts. Drives me batty I can't get them.

[Doru]

My next brake setup for the e53 is: Hawk Performance Ceramic Pads (F & R) combined with Centric Premium High Carbon Cryo Brake rotors (F&R).

I heard only good things about the Hawks - apparently they have a higher stopping power than the Akebonos.
Once I have them installed, I will let you know how it goes.

The e39 has the Akebonos, but if the Hawk perform better, I will switch them out.

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

I had them on my 3.0 and absolutely loved them. Definitely less initial bite, but there when needed. I bedded both them and the ones on my wife's E46. Both have been running great for over 4 years.

I wish they would make them for the 4.8is fronts. Drives me batty I can't get them.

You might want to look into Cool Carbon pads for the 4.8. Used them for years on my '05 e46 6 spd ZSP (performance pkg). Will be installing them on my '03 4.4 sport when I do a liner/rotor swap.

BMW uses Cool Carbon pads in all their big brake upgrade pkgs, that what made me go with them. They lasted for years and did not wear the rotors.

[bcredliner]

All street pads should be bedded to reach max. performance. New rotors need to be cleaned before installation so the corrosion prevention on the rotors from the factory is not transferred to the new pads. If the rotors have a coating like zinc, the bedding process should be delayed until the rotors are shiny.

There is a bedding process to transfer pad material to the rotor and to seat pads to the rotor. Pad material to rotors takes 10 or so moderate stops from 30-10 with a half minute gap between stops followed by a cool down period. To seat the pad to the rotor takes 5 stops from 50 to 10 and a half hour cool down.

IMO turning a rotor is a thing of the past. Rotors are thinner than the good ol' days and much cheaper and in the case of BMW are not designed to be turned. If you do turn the rotors it is a good idea to go through the pad to rotor bedding an extra time.

The biggest benefit of ceramic pads on the street is less brake dust.