Brake dust issues...
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Orange Co., CA, USA
'02 C230K Coupe
Brake dust issues...
I'm very sure that I'm not the only one that has this problem: brake dust builds up at an alarming rate on my front rims. (not so much on the rear rims)
I know that it's not a sign that the brake pads are "broken" or anything, but I really hate the mess they leave. They make it really difficult to clean the rims, and I seem to have a thick coat of brake dust on the rims within a week after I wash the car.
I tried talking to my friends about this, and they thought it was strange. One told me I should either use the brakes as little as possible (and use engine braking - on an automatic, mind you), or get new brake pads that won't generate as much dust.
Is there any way to prevent or at least reduce the amount of dust generated?
I know that it's not a sign that the brake pads are "broken" or anything, but I really hate the mess they leave. They make it really difficult to clean the rims, and I seem to have a thick coat of brake dust on the rims within a week after I wash the car.
I tried talking to my friends about this, and they thought it was strange. One told me I should either use the brakes as little as possible (and use engine braking - on an automatic, mind you), or get new brake pads that won't generate as much dust.
Is there any way to prevent or at least reduce the amount of dust generated?
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Excessive brake dust is a feature of German cars. I think VW's dust even more, if that's possible. Some forum members, tired of cleaning their wheels daily have switched to Porterfield brake pads. My front pads now dust about the same as the factory rear pads. Porterfield is in Cost Mesa, CA and you can buy direct or to save a few bucks check www.speedtoys.com, they did a group buy discount a few months ago for this forum and were great to deal with.
Another choice is Pagid and Mintex, much cheaper but I don't have personal experience with these brands. Pagid is what Brembo uses for pads. Also TireRack carries EBC Greenstuff which is Kevlar like the Portfields. The reviews were very mixed on these pads, some loved them, some hated them.
As a last resort you can put dust shields on the wheels but with today's open style rims I think it would look bad. I had dust shields on previous MBs for years without any problems.
Another choice is Pagid and Mintex, much cheaper but I don't have personal experience with these brands. Pagid is what Brembo uses for pads. Also TireRack carries EBC Greenstuff which is Kevlar like the Portfields. The reviews were very mixed on these pads, some loved them, some hated them.
As a last resort you can put dust shields on the wheels but with today's open style rims I think it would look bad. I had dust shields on previous MBs for years without any problems.
Member
Joined: May 2002
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From: Ohio
2001 Silver C320
I agree. I have chrome rims and they get WAY too dirty. I wash or have my car washed at least twice a week to help it, you might try that. I'm did a little research and think that I'm gonna get the Porterfeild low dust brake pads and try them. I'll let you know how it comes out.
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From: Canada
Originally posted by Buellwinkle
As a last resort you can put dust shields on the wheels but with today's open style rims I think it would look bad. I had dust shields on previous MBs for years without any problems.
As a last resort you can put dust shields on the wheels but with today's open style rims I think it would look bad. I had dust shields on previous MBs for years without any problems.
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From: Sitting behind thing freakin desk of mine. Dreaming I was playing my Taylors, and driving my Benz. Long Live The VRAA!!!!!!
C230 Sports Coupe
some things that I have tried were waxing the wheels. Once you clean them really well put a nice think coat of wax on them. It will help them not to get as dirty, but the real reason for doing it, is so the dust comes off easier. I also use the california car duster, the mini one. It works like a charm on my rims. When i need new pads I will get porterfields.
The bad brake dust is just something we have to live with.
The bad brake dust is just something we have to live with.
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From: Chicagoland, IL
09 C63
STAY AWAY FROM GREEN STUFF!!!
I've tried the EBC Green pads before, they warped my rotors. This is very common according to many forum threads I've participated in when I was an M3 head.
As far as Pagid, great pads, not less dust. They are super at stopping and keeping quiet, but still very very dirty.
Also never use the dust shields on a car you 'beat on'. That is to say, if you drive hard, let the brakes cool. Tips to think about:
1) when stopping, hold off braking until the last moments (obviously use your head - don't crash to save on brakes).
2) when standing @ light, don't stand on brake if your car is manual transmission
3) clean often and only use solutions that are high in quality P21 makes some super wheel cleaner products (I recommend the gel) that allow you to clean the wheels with little or no brushing and with no damage
4) never buy EBC green pads. (seriously). But to give EBC the benefit of the doubt, their red pads supposedly shed heat better, but at the cost of being hard to warm up.
Hope this helps.
P
As far as Pagid, great pads, not less dust. They are super at stopping and keeping quiet, but still very very dirty.
Also never use the dust shields on a car you 'beat on'. That is to say, if you drive hard, let the brakes cool. Tips to think about:
1) when stopping, hold off braking until the last moments (obviously use your head - don't crash to save on brakes).
2) when standing @ light, don't stand on brake if your car is manual transmission
3) clean often and only use solutions that are high in quality P21 makes some super wheel cleaner products (I recommend the gel) that allow you to clean the wheels with little or no brushing and with no damage
4) never buy EBC green pads. (seriously). But to give EBC the benefit of the doubt, their red pads supposedly shed heat better, but at the cost of being hard to warm up.
Hope this helps.
P
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If it doesn't rain much between car washes, plain water and a sponge gets the dust off easily. However, if rain water sits on the dust, it can cake. In this case, spray some 100% (non-diluted) "Simple Green" on the wheels, let sit a minute, and the dust then will come off easily.
Brake pads cost less than downshifting and engine braking.
Brake pads cost less than downshifting and engine braking.
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Super Member
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Dallas
C32 AMG
We get rain in the Dallas area about once every coupla months.
You can come here and watch some time!
Envious? :p
I did the wax-the-wheels thing. Took them off, cleaned them (and the calipers) waxed them with three coats (and the calipers - don't get wax on the disks or the pads, dudes!
)
The dust problem is marginally better. Luckily C32 wheels are pretty easy to clean - those new SL55 wheels look like you should just leave it to a professional!
Any drawbacks to Porterfields? Cost, stopping power, squealing, etc? Warranty issues?
You can come here and watch some time!
Envious? :p
I did the wax-the-wheels thing. Took them off, cleaned them (and the calipers) waxed them with three coats (and the calipers - don't get wax on the disks or the pads, dudes!
)The dust problem is marginally better. Luckily C32 wheels are pretty easy to clean - those new SL55 wheels look like you should just leave it to a professional!
Any drawbacks to Porterfields? Cost, stopping power, squealing, etc? Warranty issues?
Member
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Columbia, MD
2002 C230K Sport Coupe M6 C5 desert silver
I did the waxed wheel thing and found it works pretty well in making the cleanup easier. If you regularly clean your wheels, I have found that a simple dry paper towel works well to wipe off brake dust from waxed wheels. Do it when the wheels are cool. It comes off pretty easily. Alternate weeks I use "soap" and water.
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Originally posted by jswedberg
Any drawbacks to Porterfields? Cost, stopping power, squealing, etc? Warranty issues?
Any drawbacks to Porterfields? Cost, stopping power, squealing, etc? Warranty issues?
Don't know if they will have them for your C32 since that's a different caliper.
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Buellwinkle, I think I recall that with most of these aftermarket pads you loose the wear sensor capability. Is that correct? Or was it because you had one of the preproduction sets of Porterfields?
I think those comtemplating the switch should be aware of this compromise.
I think those comtemplating the switch should be aware of this compromise.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Yes, I lost the wear sensor but eventually they will have it in when MB starts selling the metal plates. Not all MB models do you lose the sensor so the C32 may have the sensor. Check with Porterfield on availabilty.
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From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
I recommend the Porterfields if the dust bothers you, it sure bothered me until I installed the R4s. The stock pads squeeled slightly under certain conditions. The Porterfields squeeled slightly under a different set of conditions but only for about 500 miles, now they are quiet. The wear sensor can be mounted in the Porterfields easily I believe just by drilling a hole in the pad like the stock pads and gluing it in...there's nothing fancy about them but the stock pads have fixtures on them that hold the sensors. Unless I'm wrong, the 'sensors' are nothing more than a wire loop in a plastic housing that alarms when the wire is worn through and opens. As far as wear goes....I replaced the stock pads at 20K miles and the rotors and pads each had about .0015" wear on a surface. I guess they would have gone easy 100K miles for me. I have only 10K miles on the Porterfields but the rotor wear stopped. Easy to install and the only way to stop the dusting that I am aware of.
