Bendix 4WD Pads off when used cold.

[Offroader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Offroader]

After fitting Bendix 4WD pads I have noticed that cold/slow speed <8kph braking performance is quite scary. Once the pads warm up after a stop they are great. Anyone else experience this issue with the Bendix 4x4 pads?

[timmay5.7 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close timmay5.7]

Re: Bendix 4WD Pads

nope.
mine are fine

[Bazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bazza]

Re: Bendix 4WD Pads

G'day,
I noticed the same thing when I put them on my 03 120. I never put them on again. I also found them bad in the wet, probably becaused they were running too cool.
I now use an ACB american brand with impregnated kevlar, they also make motorcycle brake pads. I find them great in all weather and conditions, and they do'nt fade anywhere near as much as the Toyota pads.
Bazza.

[Chriso57 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chriso57]

Re: Bendix 4WD Pads

After fitting Bendix 4WD pads I have noticed that cold/slow speed <8kph braking performance is quite scary. Once the pads warm up after a stop they are great. Anyone else experience this issue with the Bendix 4x4 pads?

Yeah I found the same thing Offroader. Throw a trailer on the back and try to pull up at 5am half asleep.... :shock:

Chriso

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Re: Bendix 4WD Pads

Mine have been fine. Done 20k on them so far. Odd.

[damonat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close damonat]

Re: Bendix 4WD Pads

have the pads been bed-in fully and correctly?
i fitted my bentix 4wd pads, bedded them in and the braking is good in all conditions

[Offroader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Offroader]

Re: Bendix 4WD Pads

have the pads been bed-in fully and correctly?
i fitted my bentix 4wd pads, bedded them in and the braking is good in all conditions

The pads have a titanium stripe which Bendix claims does not require any special "bedding in" procedure. Nevertheless I did follow a full bedding in procedure to be sure. Rotors were spotless upon installation. The pads work fine once warmed up a little but after the vehicle has stood overnight and you attempt a sudden low speed stop they don't seem to bite very well - almost went through the garage! ops: It seems that once you use them moderately the problem goes away.

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

Re: Bendix 4WD Pads off when used cold.

got them in mine as well and i have had no trouble at all, pulls up well at all speeds. cheers samo

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: Bendix 4WD Pads off when used cold.

I've not tried the Bendix 4wd pads, but I have a loong history with their 'Metal Kings'

Bottom line is, if the pads have a lot of weight in them, like the metal kings did, they will take time to warm up to their best. In an automatic vehicle around town, this will not usually be a problem because you use the brake more in an auto, but in a manual vehicle you may find yourself short of braking power on the first stop or two.

If you want better brakes, check out the DBA options, or head to the Brembo Catalogue if you want a proper job.

Michael

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Re: Bendix 4WD Pads off when used cold.

While mine is an auto I am pretty light on the brakes (in the prado, no comment on the R8!), use the handbrake instead of holding on the footbrake, drop back through the box manually etc and I have never felt that the brakes weren't going to grip or the car walk away. The Bendix 4wd pads need no special bedding in and mine felt fine from the start. I did the install so I know nothing special was done. The only think I can think of is did you fit them to new discs? The DBA rotors I used have a preservative treatment that has to be removed with alcohol, the pure type you know, before use. Is it possible the rotors were oily? From my experience with my bikes if the pads are even the least bit contaminated they are scrap. Otherwise cannot help you because the change in my Prado's brakes going from OEM to DBA slotted/drilled rotors up front and machined rear with Bendix 4wd pads was amazing.

Michael

[Offroader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Offroader]

Re: Bendix 4WD Pads off when used cold.

While mine is an auto I am pretty light on the brakes (in the prado, no comment on the R8!), use the handbrake instead of holding on the footbrake, drop back through the box manually etc and I have never felt that the brakes weren't going to grip or the car walk away. The Bendix 4wd pads need no special bedding in and mine felt fine from the start. I did the install so I know nothing special was done. The only think I can think of is did you fit them to new discs? The DBA rotors I used have a preservative treatment that has to be removed with alcohol, the pure type you know, before use. Is it possible the rotors were oily? From my experience with my bikes if the pads are even the least bit contaminated they are scrap. Otherwise cannot help you because the change in my Prado's brakes going from OEM to DBA slotted/drilled rotors up front and machined rear with Bendix 4wd pads was amazing.

Michael

Pads were fitted with brand-new DBA slotted rotors as I found the OEM discs tend to glaze up too easily over time. I thoroughly cleaned the oily protective film from them before installing, bedded them in and avoided overheating during the first couple of hundred kays. I agree, the braking system is superior to the OEM gear and the car stops beautifully out on the road - the harder you use the slotted discs the better they seem to work. It's just the first low speed stop of the day is rubbish. I'm wondering if the combination of the new Kangaroo-paw ventilated DBA rotors with a heavy duty 4x4 pad just needs a little bit of warming to operate at maximum efficiency?

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Re: Bendix 4WD Pads off when used cold.

Is it worse in reverse or forwards? At what speed exactly and what conditions? I don't usually drive the Prado but will do a test if you can give me specifics and I will see if I notice anything untoward. Having said that I haven't noticed anything at all in the last 6 or so months the pads/discs have been in.

Michael

[Offroader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Offroader]

Re: Bendix 4WD Pads off when used cold.

Is it worse in reverse or forwards? At what speed exactly and what conditions? I don't usually drive the Prado but will do a test if you can give me specifics and I will see if I notice anything untoward. Having said that I haven't noticed anything at all in the last 6 or so months the pads/discs have been in.

Michael

It happens when the discs are cold during slow manoeuvring after the car has been sitting parked for a while. For example, moving the car from one spot to another in the driveway which happens to be rather steep. Hard pressure on the brake pedal normally should cause the vehicle to snap to a stop especially if you enter the garage a little too fast! But these brakes don't do this. It's slightly worse in reverse. I suppose it's no big deal because they work fine under normal conditions. I was just wondering if it was an inherent problem with the Bendix 4x4 pad.

[Offroader Member Find all posts View Profile Close Offroader]

Re: Bendix 4WD Pads off when used cold.

Here's what I found out, " Heavy duty metallic or semi metallic brake pads work best when they're warm. When a vehicle with metallic brake pads first gets going on a very cold day, stops may take slightly longer than usual until the brake pads heat up."
According to Bendix, the 4x4 pads are designed to operate close to the 400 C range for towing and braking under severe conditions which is a good 100 C + or so hotter than standard pads. I had a bit of a look on another forum and some users reported the exact same cold performance problem with these pads. It feels a bit like braking without the booster first thing in the morning but once warm no problems. I didn't really notice it until I had to stop in a hurry and found them to be rather ineffective when cold and applied at low speed. Maybe the Toyota pads might be the way to go next time, although they do dust up the wheels.

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: Bendix 4WD Pads off when used cold.

Metallic pads can also be a problem on long trips in alpine areas in winter. I had a few nasty surprises until I learned to prod the brakes every now and then.

There must be a better alternative for you than going back to standard though.

Michael