2008 Dodge Viper Owner Manual Supplement - Page 13

5. W  atch for the following: •  On the 8th or 9th stop, there should be a distinct smell from the brakes. Smoke may be evident during earlier stops as well. •  Also on the 8th or 9th stop, some friction materials will experience "green fade". This is a slight fading of the brakes. The fade will stabilize, but not completely go away until the brakes have cooled. •  After the break-in cycle is finished there will be a light gray film on the rotor face. The gray film is pad material starting to transfer onto the rotor face. 6.  After the final stop, drive as much as possible without using the brakes to cool off the system. Ideally, the brakes should be allowed to cool to ambient temperature before using them again.   CAUTION: Do not come to a complete stop when the system is hot and leave your foot on the pedal. Pad material will immediately transfer to the rotor causing a vibration during future use. 7.  After the first break in cycle, the brakes will still not be operating at optimum capacity. A second or third heat cycle is typically necessary before the brakes start to work optimally. This will occur during everyday use. 3.3 Care and Maintenance •  Your brake calipers have a painted finish. Immediately clean off any spilled brake fluid, wiping it off with a soft, clean terry-cloth towel. •  Do not use any harsh chemicals when cleaning your calipers. Wash your calipers with soap and rinse with water. •  Do not use any harsh chemicals when cleaning your rotor hats (the anodized center part of the rotor assembly). Wash your rotor hats with soap and rinse with water. •  Breaking-in rotors and pads is critical to the optimum performance of your new brakes. When breaking-in new parts, you are not only heat-cycling the pads, you are also depositing a layer of pad material onto the rotor face. If not broken-in properly, an uneven layer of pad material will be deposited onto the rotor, causing vibration. •  If you experience brake pedal pulsation, steering vibration, or repeatable brake noise, perform the break-in procedure again as soon as possible. This will re-condition the rotor surface and remove irregular brake pad deposits. If concerns continue, please visit your local dealer for further diagnosis.