I recentely purchased new rims and I constantly need to wipe them down because of the brake dust buildup. Is there any way to eliminate or, at least, minimize brake dust? Are there any sort of caps or anything of that sort?

 

There are two common ways to reduce brake dust on the rims.

1) Kleenwheels, which are the "sort of caps" you ask about. I wouldn't recommend these because they increase off-center rotational mass and also reduce brake cooling.

2) Lower-dust brake pads, such as Porterfields. You don't mention which car you have, so there may not be an application for you. In my experience, the street compount Porterfields reduce my brake dust levels from "dirty in three days" to "dirty in seven days"... to me, this isn't really a big reduction in brake dust. Other people report having little or no brake dust. So your results will vary depending on what car you have (brake size), what wheels you have (how the aerodynamics suck the brake dust through the wheel) and what kind of driving you do.

-s-

 

My 05 E320 CDI wheels don't seem to get dirty anywhere as fast as on previous MB's. I wonder if they are using Nanotechnology paint on the wheels as well as the body? The body paint has stayed clean during a month of driving. I have used my California Duster a number of times but that is all that has been necessary.

 

I wonder if this may be because the drive train is providing a greater degree of engine braking while coasting before a stop, reducing the load on the brakes. I'm thinking that since the diesel runs at higher compression and drives a turbocharger, it is able to dissipate more kinetic energy while coasting in gear, leaving less work for the brakes to do. I guess the ultimate test for this theory is to see if the brake pads wind up lasting longer on CDIs.

 

Thanks for the reply. I have an 04 E500 with 19" Maya wheels. Any help is appreciated

 

I have one and find it does an amazingly quick job on the wheels. Just don't use too fine a nozzle or blast too long at close range. Done once a week or so the wheels stay rather clean

 

1) Kleenwheels, which are the "sort of caps" you ask about. I wouldn't recommend these because they increase off-center rotational mass and also reduce brake cooling

I agree 150% with this! Brakes work by using friction to convert kinetic energy into heat, which is then radiated away. The Kleenwheels things trap both the heat and the dust, just what you don't want to happen!

BMWs are notorious for dirty wheels. Buzz over to the E39 forum at www.roadfly.org and see what they're doing. On my 5er, I've installed a set of Hawk black compound pads, which reduced dust deposition on the wheels by 95%.

Good luck. Post back when you've done whatever you decide and let us know how it works.

 

If you're interested, you can try applying Wheel Wax to your rims. It coats them and helps to prevent the dust from collecting and building up. you s/b able to find some at www.autogeek.net

 

Replace your pad with PBR Deluxe, and you will not have dirt problem whatsoever. Notice that PBR makes pad for Mercedes/Audi/BMW too.

 

Replace your pad with PBR Deluxe, and you will not have dirt problem whatsoever. Notice that PBR makes pad for Mercedes/Audi/BMW too.


They do not make this pad for my 04 E500. Thanks for your help though. Any other help is very appreciated.