While refurbishing brake pads is beyond the scope of the average DIYer’s toolbox, it is very possible to refurbish brake pads. When you think about it, a brake pad is just a steel plate with a retention clip and friction material on it. As the pads wear out, this friction material wears away. The actual steel plate and the retention clip are not worn or damaged at all if used properly, so there is no reason that you cannot reuse them. Many manufacturers and some machine shops will do this to save money. After all, the materials required are much cheaper than a new set of pads. So, how is it done?
Materials
The first thing you will need to do is track down your materials. You will need new friction material, but you will also need something to bond the friction material to the steel plate. This is where a brake bonding adhesive comes in. This is basically an extremely strong glue that is used to bond the friction material to the steel plate. You will also need access to some heavy machinery that is used to deck the surface of the plate and make it perfectly flat and smooth. This is why this is beyond the scope of most DIYers. If you own a rare classic, then you may not have a choice but to take your old plates to a machine shop and have them reworked.
Process
The first thing that will need to be done is the old friction material will need to be completely removed. In order to make sure your friction material bonds properly, the steel plate must be machined down to a perfectly flat, bare metal surface. Next, you apply the bonding adhesive and then the friction material. From there simply let it cure, and you are done.
This is not a difficult process, but most people simply do not have access to the machinery needed to do the job right. Chances are, you will be better off buying a new set, but if you are friends with the local machine shop owner then see if he will let you try it out.
