Brake problem

[randomwalk101]

Okay, I'm not sure what the hell is going on but after I installed my KVR pads (all corners), the car brakes like crap. I mean this $100/set pads is WORSE (or seems like it) than my $10/set Autozone/lifetime warranty pads. Urghhh! KVR pads is really quiet, but could be since I installed the shims. But who care, it doesn't brake!!! I mean I have to brake waaayyy before to avoid a rear end collision. I bleeded the brake about 15K miles ago...never took the car to the track after that so boiling is not a problem. Resevoir is full...I use Castrol Synthetic fluid that supposed to go up to 500 degree boiling point or something. anyways, could it be the damn pads that is so highly regarded?

[BennyH]

Did you cut the rotor or put a new rotor in?
If you did not, then the new pads do not mate with the old rotor surface well until you have a few days to break in the new pads with the old rotors.
My suggestion is to take it easy and leave plenty of distance between you and the object in front of you. Your brake will be back to normal in 2-5 days.
Ben

[rjaffey]

You have to break in new pads for a few hundred miles before doing any hard breaking. If you've already done some hard breaking, they'll never grip as well as they should. In this case you should remove the pads and sand them very lightly by putting some sand paper on a flat surface (a sawtable for example) and rubbing the pads up and back on the sandpaper a few times to roughen them up a tad. Don't do this too much though or the break-in will take a lot longer.

As for the grip, I find they work about as well as stock until they heat up. Then they grip a lot better.

[dbman96]

Something is wrong if those pads are doing that poorly. I ran those for a good long time and as soon as I switched to AEM pads I missed my KVRs.

[SleepyGSR]

Sounds like your pads are glazed. Try roughing up the brake pad surface like rjaffey described.

Is it a good idea to lightly roughen the rotor surface at the same time?

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'95 Integra GS-R, JRSC@6psi
JR BTC, Walbro GSS-342

[randomwalk101]

Not sure how long is proper break in period should be but I've driving the car at normal city speed (normal braking) for approx. 600 miles already.