A lapping process for conditioning a metal working surface of a mechanical part, the metal working surface for bearing a load, the lapping process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a lapping system including: (i) a workpiece having the metal working surface, (ii) an elastic contact surface, disposed generally opposite said working surface, and (iii) a plurality of abrasive particles, said particles freely disposed between said contact surface and said working surface; (b) exerting a load on said contact surface and said working surface, such that at least one abrasive particle of said abrasive particles effects a penetration of both said contact surface and said working surface; and (c) lapping said workpiece by applying a relative motion between said working surface and said contact surface, to produce the mechanical part, said contact surface and said abrasive particles having physical and mechanical properties selected so as to: (i) effect an at least partially elastic interaction between said contact surface and said at least one abrasive particle, to effect said penetration of said working surface, and (ii) elastically embed said at least one abrasive particle in said elastic contact surface; wherein the abrasive particles penetrate into the elastic contact surface to a greater depth than their penetration into the metal working surface, and characterized in that said elastic contact surface has a Brinell hardness within a range of 2 - 10 kg/mm 2 and an impact resistance within a range of 30 - 70 kg·m/cm 2 (a) providing a lapping system including: (i) a workpiece having the metal working surface, (ii) an elastic contact surface, disposed generally opposite said working surface, and (iii) a plurality of abrasive particles, said particles freely disposed between said contact surface and said working surface; (i) a workpiece having the metal working surface, (ii) an elastic contact surface, disposed generally opposite said working surface, and (iii) a plurality of abrasive particles, said particles freely disposed between said contact surface and said working surface; (b) exerting a load on said contact surface and said working surface, such that at least one abrasive particle of said abrasive particles effects a penetration of both said contact surface and said working surface; and (c) lapping said workpiece by applying a relative motion between said working surface and said contact surface, to produce the mechanical part, said contact surface and said abrasive particles having physical and mechanical properties selected so as to: (i) effect an at least partially elastic interaction between said contact surface and said at least one abrasive particle, to effect said penetration of said working surface, and (ii) elastically embed said at least one abrasive particle in said elastic contact surface; wherein the abrasive particles penetrate into the elastic contact surface to a greater depth than their penetration into the metal working surface, and characterized in that said elastic contact surface has a Brinell hardness within a range of 2 - 10 kg/mm 2 and an impact resistance within a range of 30 - 70 kg·m/cm 2 (i) effect an at least partially elastic interaction between said contact surface and said at least one abrasive particle, to effect said penetration of said working surface, and (ii) elastically embed said at least one abrasive particle in said elastic contact surface; wherein the abrasive particles penetrate into the elastic contact surface to a greater depth than their penetration into the metal working surface, and characterized in that said elastic contact surface has a Brinell hardness within a range of 2 - 10 kg/mm 2 and an impact resistance within a range of 30 - 70 kg·m/cm 2