This brake dust is awful!
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Mercedes-Benz
This brake dust is awful!
My C 4matic puts out soooo much brake dust! I wash my rims and there seems to be black specs of the dust ground into the finish! ugh... the car only has 4.5k miles too! My ML is bigger, heavier, and has larger brakes and doesn't dust nearly as much as the C. Nor does it have the ultra strong dust that just sticks to the finish. Does anyone else think their C dusts more than other MB's? Maybe its just the 4matic? 
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From: Australia
W203 C Class 19" Brabus Monoblock V, Brabus illuminated door sills, Brabus Bodykit, Brabus Pedals
My c definatley puts out more brake dust than the X5 that I had. I wash the rims and within two days there is a film of dust on all four. I have been trying to find the white brake pads but no one locally seems to have them. I know BMW has them 
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From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
Re: This brake dust is awful!
Originally posted by AlBoston
My C 4matic puts out soooo much brake dust! I wash my rims and there seems to be black specs of the dust ground into the finish! ugh... the car only has 4.5k miles too! My ML is bigger, heavier, and has larger brakes and doesn't dust nearly as much as the C. Nor does it have the ultra strong dust that just sticks to the finish. Does anyone else think their C dusts more than other MB's? Maybe its just the 4matic?
My C 4matic puts out soooo much brake dust! I wash my rims and there seems to be black specs of the dust ground into the finish! ugh... the car only has 4.5k miles too! My ML is bigger, heavier, and has larger brakes and doesn't dust nearly as much as the C. Nor does it have the ultra strong dust that just sticks to the finish. Does anyone else think their C dusts more than other MB's? Maybe its just the 4matic?
-G-
on a second note, my w202 gets a lot of brake dust as well...
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From: Croton, NY
1991 mr2 turbo, 2002 coupe
Then you ask yourself what's worse, some brake dust or some other crappy pads that squeal like a pigs just like the ML500 I had for a loaner w/14k on it? I'll live w/the dust, my brakes work great, not even close to needing replacement at 24k. I don't want to risk compromising safety or longevity for cosmetics. Its weird though you'd think all that dust would equate to faster than normal wear, but that certainly doesn't appear to be the case.
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Originally posted by zimmer26
Then you ask yourself what's worse, some brake dust or some other crappy pads that squeal like a pigs just like the ML500 I had for a loaner w/14k on it? I'll live w/the dust, my brakes work great, not even close to needing replacement at 24k. I don't want to risk compromising safety or longevity for cosmetics. Its weird though you'd think all that dust would equate to faster than normal wear, but that certainly doesn't appear to be the case.
Then you ask yourself what's worse, some brake dust or some other crappy pads that squeal like a pigs just like the ML500 I had for a loaner w/14k on it? I'll live w/the dust, my brakes work great, not even close to needing replacement at 24k. I don't want to risk compromising safety or longevity for cosmetics. Its weird though you'd think all that dust would equate to faster than normal wear, but that certainly doesn't appear to be the case.
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From: Bay Area
I agree brake dust sucks on the C. I'm hoping porterfields will fix that but I hear that they squeal. Not sure if there's any truth to that. I'm curious, what do you guys use to clean your rims? I'm just using Zaino's Z7 car wash and a microfiber towel.
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From: Croton, NY
1991 mr2 turbo, 2002 coupe
It was a rather pleasant surprise getting 4 extra cylinders, but 2 days was enough for me. My car felt like a Lotus when I got it back! Not that I've ever felt a Lotus but you get the point. Next time I'm angling for a C320/new E320, or that black E55 will do just fine too- yeah right! There is no reason why a 50+K vehicle's brakes should squeal at all. It was an 03 with 14K! I reported it to the service guy, he said, very unsurprised, yeah those things eat brake pads- understatement of the year- they don't even wait for the entree!
Last edited by zimmer26; Nov 18, 2003 at 12:39 PM.
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Re: This brake dust is awful!
Originally posted by AlBoston
My C 4matic puts out soooo much brake dust! I wash my rims and there seems to be black specs of the dust ground into the finish! ugh... the car only has 4.5k miles too! My ML is bigger, heavier, and has larger brakes and doesn't dust nearly as much as the C. Nor does it have the ultra strong dust that just sticks to the finish. Does anyone else think their C dusts more than other MB's? Maybe its just the 4matic?
My C 4matic puts out soooo much brake dust! I wash my rims and there seems to be black specs of the dust ground into the finish! ugh... the car only has 4.5k miles too! My ML is bigger, heavier, and has larger brakes and doesn't dust nearly as much as the C. Nor does it have the ultra strong dust that just sticks to the finish. Does anyone else think their C dusts more than other MB's? Maybe its just the 4matic?
happens with me. lots of dust on the car and brake dust on the rims. doesn't bother me since i wash my car often.
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From: ROSEMEAD
2001 C320
well this is how i solved the problem...brake dust will appear most after a car wash..i wait about 10 min after my car wash,and i let the rust appear on my brakes..i then use a old sock and wipe away the brakes dust from brakes!! this takes no more then 10 min for all four.the rear doesnt have much brake dust so u dont have to even touch the rear brakes..your wheels should be much cleaner..ive noticed my brabus stay clean for a good week..thats a long time considering they were only clean for 2 days before.
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Originally posted by hammyoni
Try a clay bar on baked brake dust. It can work wonders. Just use a clay bar you can dedicate to your wheels as you wont wanna use it on the pait afterwards
Try a clay bar on baked brake dust. It can work wonders. Just use a clay bar you can dedicate to your wheels as you wont wanna use it on the pait afterwards
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From: Australia
W203 C Class 19" Brabus Monoblock V, Brabus illuminated door sills, Brabus Bodykit, Brabus Pedals
I know this sounds a little extreme but it isn't but try using Acid. I spoke with the guys who detail my cars and they use Hydrofluric Acid which is like only 1% or for even milder application Phrosphric Acid.
I spray the hydrofluric and the brake dust just falls away I just wash some water over it and the rims are clean.
But they recommend the Hydrofluric for lacquered rims that are in good condition and Phrosphric for others.
This stuff is awesome especially for those hard to reach places it just eats it away. And its cheaper than buying those supposed wheel cleaners that you have to spray and spray to get stuff off. 25 litres of the hydrofluric is 60-70 Aussie dollars. Compare it to the 16 I pay for a 750ml bottle of wheel cleaner which is a watered down equivelant.
All I can recommend is if your using it try it on a small spot first to see the results.
I spray the hydrofluric and the brake dust just falls away I just wash some water over it and the rims are clean.
But they recommend the Hydrofluric for lacquered rims that are in good condition and Phrosphric for others.
This stuff is awesome especially for those hard to reach places it just eats it away. And its cheaper than buying those supposed wheel cleaners that you have to spray and spray to get stuff off. 25 litres of the hydrofluric is 60-70 Aussie dollars. Compare it to the 16 I pay for a 750ml bottle of wheel cleaner which is a watered down equivelant.
All I can recommend is if your using it try it on a small spot first to see the results.
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Here is a little secret I used on my bike that had white wheels and you can do this with alloy as well, but not chrome. Use pledge or its generic version. What happens when you put pledge on a table? It gets smooth. After washing your car, let teh wheels dry. Clean the wheels with pledge and the brake dust won't stick as well. A lot easier to clean. I use it on my bike and my wifes C240.
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Originally posted by machoman
Buellwinkle.. where to get such brake pads ? I guess I really need them too
Buellwinkle.. where to get such brake pads ? I guess I really need them too
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Originally posted by Rotty
Here is a little secret I used on my bike that had white wheels and you can do this with alloy as well, but not chrome. Use pledge or its generic version. What happens when you put pledge on a table? It gets smooth. After washing your car, let teh wheels dry. Clean the wheels with pledge and the brake dust won't stick as well. A lot easier to clean. I use it on my bike and my wifes C240.
Here is a little secret I used on my bike that had white wheels and you can do this with alloy as well, but not chrome. Use pledge or its generic version. What happens when you put pledge on a table? It gets smooth. After washing your car, let teh wheels dry. Clean the wheels with pledge and the brake dust won't stick as well. A lot easier to clean. I use it on my bike and my wifes C240.
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I use it on her wheels and no problems. I use it on my bikes wheels which were freshly painted white when I started. And they are still good as well. I have been doing this for a couple of years now.
