I found a quick way to remove brake dust!

K

KenSilver

New member
I recently put new alloys on my Mercedes SL500... nice looking wide 5-spoke AMG's.



But the problem has been brake dust, which is more pronounced on these deep wheels than the previous ones because the spokes show more of the inside of the wheel than my previous 8-holes. The front brakes seem to have their own dust factory. In the space of a 30 minute drive, the inside flats of the front wheels are coated with black grime. As the inside wheels are a light grey color, it doesn't take long for them to turn black.



Until today I've been getting in there with a dry terry towel for the inner part of the wheel, and using mf's and QD for the clear coated rim and spokes.



However it was a long and messy job, and I never seemed to be able to get the inner part completely free of dust. But now I can, and I use my air compressor to do it.



Half a dozen quick blasts clears the dust right off the inside rims, even behind the spokes! What used to take 5 minutes a wheel now takes 15 seconds, and because I do this after every drive, it is a big time saver.



The only thing that worries me is the brake dust. What's in it? Asbestos? Just in case, I'm going to keep safe by wearing a dust face mask and doing the cleaning in the open.



Ken Silver

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1999 Mercedes SLK, 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara, 1993 Mercedes SL500, 1991 Daimler (Vanden Plas). Finish detailing, then start all over again...
 

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I have a similar prob, I can wash my in the morning and by the end of the day my wheels are almost black and im not exagerating.
 
some pads do have asbestos in them



to take it to the next level, take off your wheels and put some Zaino or Klasse on them so cleaning will be easier as the dust will not stick as much



for a more permanant solution consider ceramic brake pads
 
LouisanaJeeper said:
...for a more permanant solution consider ceramic brake pads
Click to expand...

Good idea, but Mercedes don't have these for a reason. As far as I'm aware, it's something to do with the disk wear.
 
The air compressor is extremely useful - I seem to find new uses for it every other weekend. I feel your pain as my set of BBS' become caked with dust shortly after washing. It looks unsightly and is a challenge to remove. Hawk, Mintex, Pagid, etc., make a better brake pad. These pads will dust much less without sacrificing performance or safety. As a matter of fact they'll outperform the OEM pads without chewing up the rotors. This is your best solution.
 
oaevo8u said:
I have a similar prob, I can wash my in the morning and by the end of the day my wheels are almost black and im not exagerating.
Click to expand...



I've heard that it's the Brembos (w/ cheap pads) that cause that.



AJ
 
Knockwurst said:
The air compressor is extremely useful - I seem to find new uses for it every other weekend. I feel your pain as my set of BBS' become caked with dust shortly after washing. It looks unsightly and is a challenge to remove. Hawk, Mintex, Pagid, etc., make a better brake pad. These pads will dust much less without sacrificing performance or safety. As a matter of fact they'll outperform the OEM pads without chewing up the rotors. This is your best solution.
Click to expand...



Any places in the USA that sell the Mintex or Pagid pads??





Can I use these pads on OEM rotars that have been turned once?
 
yup. first step to reducing brake dust accumulation is changing the pads. I second the hawks and pagid. I also recommend Axxis Deluxe + (US)/ PBS (canada). I'm not sure if they're manufactured for any ohter cars but the majority of BMW enthusiaists here in Toronto use them and they're great. BMW OEM pads are notorious for brake dust.



A couple guys I know have also suggested Wheel Wax for rim protection. I'm just not sure how good they are though.
 
Performance Friction Ceramic Brake pads.

Solved the dust problem on my Cad. I have not noticed any extra rotor ware. But if there is and I have to change them a little sooner its worth not having to mess w/the dust all the time. Plus I have saved $ not buying wheel cleaner all the time.
 
I'm going to check out the ceramic pads idea with my Mercedes shop this afternoon, but from past experience I doubt they'll have an answer.



Every Merc I've know, as well as the half dozen I've owned, produces dust like it's going out of fashion.



Surely, if only a few thousand buyers rose up in protest over the years, you'd think Mercedes would see reason and produce ceramic as an option. But no - it's dust or nothing. And I'm not inclined to second-guess a giant multinational with more brake experts than the population of a small country. :)
 
kempie said:
Performance Friction Ceramic Brake pads.

Solved the dust problem on my Cad. I have not noticed any extra rotor ware. But if there is and I have to change them a little sooner its worth not having to mess w/the dust all the time. Plus I have saved $ not buying wheel cleaner all the time.
Click to expand...



I'll second these pads. Very little dust and perhaps a tad more rotor wear but I drive in the city a lot, so it's constant stop and go.:)
 
antwanjohnson said:
I've heard that it's the Brembos (w/ cheap pads) that cause that.



AJ
Click to expand...



I started with the regular MB pads, and they are a 10 out of 10 for dusting. Then I upgraged to Brembos & they're about 5 out of 10. When I have to replace these pads, I'll be going to the Pagid's. I have heard that there is almost no dust out of these. On the MB forums, this is what everyone turns to to stop the dusting.
 
For my Acura Integra, I put Hawk HPs up front and they have generated a lot of dust. My coworker had some on his 93 Mustang Cobra and he also had a lot of dust. My subaru WRX wagon has Akebonos and they have very little dust. Just what I found from my little experience.
 
derekz said:
Has anyone tried this product yet, it's fairly new. Might pick up a can tomorrow if I remember. Although I wonder if some polish and sealant will do the same thing.



Autoglym Alloy Wheel Seal
Click to expand...



I can't say that I've heard of/used this product but any polymer sealant (Autoglym SG?) will work fine



Brake dust:

Particles produced from the friction of brake pads rubbing against the rotor. This metal on metal friction disperses tiny particles of black dust, which adheres to the wheel. The front wheels are usually more soiled, as this is where most of the vehicle braking effectiveness is.



For badly soiled surfaces use an undiluted citrus-based APC (P21S Total Auto Wash), then use detailerâ€â„¢s clay followed by a gel-type wheel surface cleaner (P21S Gel Wheel Cleaner) apply a polymer surface protection to ensure easier future cleaning (Klasse All-In-One)



Sequestered brake dust, if left for any length of time on the wheels causes galvanic corrosion, which etches the surface and eventually dulls the wheels appearance if not removed on a regular basis. To remove brake dust stains use a mildly abrasive cleaner (Iz Einszett® Metal Polish "Chrompflegeâ€Â�, P21S Multi-Surface Finish)



Ceramic brake pads incorporate a formula that includes ceramic materials and utilizes less metal (approximately 15% metal content by weight). Ceramic brake pads combine exceptional braking power with very quiet and low-dust braking (Although not recommended for all towing applications)
 
I picked up some ceramic pads at CarQuest (don't remember the mfg's name) but dusting is just about nill, stopping power is unaffected, rotors don't "appear" to be wearing abnormally, and they are quiet.



Ceramic pads are definitely the way to go.
 
KenSilver said:
Surely, if only a few thousand buyers rose up in protest over the years, you'd think Mercedes would see reason and produce ceramic as an option. But no - it's dust or nothing.

Click to expand...



How many clean cars do you see out on the streets? When was the last time you saw some really clean wheels aside from your own? Most people barely pay attention to the paint of their cars, so wheels are even further from their minds. When they get an auto wash or a free dealer wash, they're just happy to see that the body got rinsed off, and might subliminially appreciate cleaner wheels without consciously knowing why a fully detailed car looks that much better.



Mercedes has too much to lose to satisfy so few customers with what the general population considers an unnoticeable problem. :(



I'll try out your compressed air idea on my own car! Thanks for the tip!
 
Well, I checked out the story of alternate brake pads from my shop, and it is as I thought - Mercedes have these dust producing pads on for a reason, and there's no substitute for them. Other pads will wear rotors out quicker and extend the stopping distance.



I'll put up with the daily clean in return for proper running.
 
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