Brake dust

[Jo]

Hi, about 6 months ago I had a problem with a loud squealing noise coming from my car ('62 automatic). It turned out to be a build up of brake dust which Honda sorted for me and I've not had the squealing noise since.

However, I have noticed and I think it's probably been happening since I've had the car that the 2 front wheels are always dirty and covered in what I assume is brake dust.  Within a couple of days of getting the car washed the front wheels look filthy again within a couple of days. 

I've got to book the car in for a service so was going to mention this to them.  Do you know what they might be able to do about it?  I know my last automatic Jazz didn't have this problem.

Thanks.

[VicW]

Brake dust is a fact of life, will be worse on the front and the severity will depend on how hard you use the brakes.

When you wash the car wash the brake calipers and you may surprised at how much black muck comes away from them or you can use an airline. Otherwise there is not a lot you can do about it


Vic.

[madasafish]

Brake dust is a fact of life, will be worse on the front and the severity will depend on how hard you use the brakes.

When you wash the car wash the brake calipers and you may surprised at how much black muck comes away from them or you can use an airline. Otherwise there is not a lot you can do about it


Vic.

Well washing them carefully and then waxing the rims makes them easier to clean again.. If a bit of a pain..

[Jo]

Thanks for your replies.

[Andrewbuch]

Good quality wax on wheel rims keeps them cleaner longer and makes them so much easier to clean.

[Ozzie]

I was told that the old brake pads were made with asbestos, but as it is very toxic and not kind to the environment or mechanics they have changed the compound of brake pads. Brake early and gently and the pads last a lloonnggg time, my front pads have been on for 60,000 miles so far

[Eddie Honda]

A couple of things.

Asbestos-free pads have been around a long time now, but regardless of the composition, I wouldn't advise blowing any sort of dust around with an airline.

Any sort of brake pad will last a looong time if you avoid using them (I'm looking at motorway-man Ozzie here)

When I used to despatch round London on a Kawasaki GT750, I could finish off a set of front pads in eight weeks flat.   Horses for courses.

In ye olden days of Asbestos pads/shoes, discs and drums would last ages. With modern materials, they seem to chomp their way though discs and drums in no time at all.

[madasafish]

My average front pad life is 50k miles on good disks. Rusty/worn disks can seriously increase wear as can infrequent use and light braking all the time (will not remove rust)