Brakes On 56 Plate Volkswagen Lt

[Mr-H]

A friend drives the above. He had the brakes relined a few days ago, and was told to 'take it easy' for the first 250-300 miles, because the brakes would need 'bedding in'. I'm told that Transits are similarly affected. Could this be correct? I have never heard of this before; I cast my mind back to when I looked after my own cars, and when new brakes were fitted you just pumped the pedal 3 or 4 times, took the car for a short test drive and bob's your uncle, everything done. Perhaps a bit wary for the first hour or so, but surely not for 300 miles. Is this the mechanic not having confidence in his work?

[bhg481]

Old discs are full of concentric ridges, new pads are flat. The old pads fitted the ridges; the new pads do not. It follows that, until the new pads have worn a little and fit the ridges, braking may not be as efficient with the new pads as it was with the old. Being gentle on the brakes for a few hundred miles gives the new pads chance to bed in.