Borg & Beck offers best-practice braking tips

Renowned supplier of premium quality aftermarket components, First Line Ltd, is dedicated to assisting its customers with as much information as possible, which is demonstrated through the extensive technical and product bulletins the company produces.

The Borg & Beck brand, distributed in Ireland by Serfac Limited, is First Line’s leading brake brand and the company is a strong believer in the importance of promoting best practice during brake installation.

Global sales director, Kevin Neaverson, comments: “By following the correct procedures, possible complaints will be significantly reduced, saving time and inconvenience for both technicians and their customers. There are three main habits that some still adopt during installation, that if not corrected, can cause potential issues.”

Firstly, the use of copper grease on the back of brake pads is a definite no and can lead to complaints of noise and possibly affect the free movement of the pads. This is because Borg & Beck Brake Pads have double rubber shims on the back to absorb any noise and vibration, and therefore there is no need to apply anything else to the back of the pads, as this will be detrimental to their functioning.

Secondly, it is vital that the mounting surface of the disc and the vehicle’s hub are totally clean and free of rust and debris. The hub should be cleaned using a soft wire brush or emery paper, then wiped with a cloth and solvent.

If even a small amount of debris has not been cleaned away, it can cause an instant problem of excessive run out, which will be felt through the steering wheel.

The best practice to check if the discs are parallel to the hub is to check the run out of the discs. This should not exceed 0.08mm. If the run out exceeds this, the disc must be removed, and the hub cleaned again.

If this has no effect, the hub should be measured for run out as well. Hub run out in excess of 0.04mm is likely to cause a problem and should be investigated.

Thirdly, when new pads and discs are installed together, they must be bedded-in properly to ensure a great pedal feel and promote longevity of the components.

Failure to drive sensibly for the first 400 miles could lead to a hot-spotting incidence, which if severe will induce Disc Thickness Variation (DTV) – a problem that develops over a few thousand miles before being felt.

Technicians should always check to see if additional components are required to fit the pads or shoes and if so, with a full range of fitting kits, Borg & Beck is able to supply the correct solution for virtually every application.

“Borg & Beck’s range of more than 630 brake fitting kits and in excess of 200 wear leads provides a comprehensive solution for both pads and shoes,” says Gillian Fanning of Serfac Limited.

“This ensures that the correct operation of the braking assembly is achieved, minimising the possibility of noise, uneven wear, or unequal brake effort following complete replacement.”

First Line Ltd’s ‘Install with Confidence’ poster includes all of these top tips and is designed to help remind technicians and enable them to relay these messages to their customers.

Free copies are available by contacting Serfac on 01-4598700 or by email on sales@serfac.ie.

For more information about the premium quality products available from Borg & Beck, please contact your Serfac area sales manager.