Brake dust

[dabzeil]

Question - I have a G35 and the brake dust generated by the front wheels is really something. Any recommended products (that really work) for making it easier to remove brake dust and / or help protect from pitting etc.?

Thanks,

[Chally]

Most water based engine degreasers. Use at a higher than normal dosage. ie: if you mix a 10:1 ratio of water to cleaner, make it 5 or 6 to 1.

I use "Under Bonnet Cleaner" , but that's only available in Australia.

[Silvia007]

get better pads, cheap pads are crap and wears out like nothing under heavy braking. Pick up some carbon pads from napa. That should minimize brake dust to pretty much nothing. I'd probably use brake cleaner to get the dust off. Don't blow it with a air tool.

[Mayhem_J30]

I don't like putting chemicals on the wheels as they see enough in day to day driving. Just use a little elbow grease to clean it up.

[gdude45]

here is a link to an article i found.

http://www.canadiandriver.com/...t.htm

[Q451990]

Dust is good! Here's the spectrum

Dusty/Stops Great <------------------>No Dust/Stops sometimes but it better be warm

The OEM Q pad in 1990 was very dusty and needed replacement every 15-20K, but stopped very well and were very quiet. They keep tinkering with the friction material mixture to make them last longer and cut down on dust, but braking performance has suffered.

Heath

[fxjackso]

Since your car is new, it has OEM pads. I wouldn't characterize the pads Nissan uses as "cheap." Any pad that produces less dust will produce less stopping power. Does it seem realistic that NAPA would outguess the facory's engineering staff on the pads for their new model?

There's a liquid cleaner called Simple Green. Use it full strength on cold wheels. No damage to paint, and gentle on the environment! Clean often, and you stay ahead of the problem.

Enjoy your new car.

[EWT]

Since your car is new, it has OEM pads. I wouldn't characterize the pads Nissan uses as "cheap." Any pad that produces less dust will produce less stopping power. Does it seem realistic that NAPA would outguess the facory's engineering staff on the pads for their new model?

NAPA lifetime pads are the most dust free pads I've ever used. Unfortunately, they're also by far the worst pads I've ever used. Very low coefficient of friction, and they would fade with only moderately hard street driving under conditions I've never faded any other pad.

Quote »There's a liquid cleaner called Simple Green. Use it full strength on cold wheels. No damage to paint, and gentle on the environment! Clean often, and you stay ahead of the problem. [/quote]Be careful using simple green full strength. I ruined the "crinkle" black finish on the valve cover on a car I used to own. I use a 10-20% solution, and it cleans brake dust just fine on my cars.

[fxjackso]

I may be wasting it, then. I will try a solution. I have never had a problem. Was the finish warm when you used it?

At least it does not contain lye! No ill affects on the skin, either.

[Q45tech]

NAPA had the honor of being the absolute WORST pads [tested 3 diffferent NAPA compounds] in a field of 27 pads in a techincal comparison of the Crown Vic, Impala, and Dodge poilice cars braking system.............even exotic carbon fiber did very poorly in cold!

In all cases the factory oem pads out performed everything in cold/hot regular and multi-pursuit stopping and usually were in the middle for wear and dust.

Since stopping distance [70-zero] are reported in magazine test.......there is pressure to be the best stopper and the factory buys accordingly!

In Europe a certain percentage of carbon fiber and carbon dust is required by goverments to enhance stopping BMW, Audi, MB, etc are really dusty!

[EWT]

NAPA had the honor of being the absolute WORST pads [tested 3 diffferent NAPA compounds] in a field of 27 pads in a techincal comparison of the Crown Vic, Impala, and Dodge poilice cars braking system.............even exotic carbon fiber did very poorly in cold!

In all cases the factory oem pads out performed everything in cold/hot regular and multi-pursuit stopping and usually were in the middle for wear and dust.

Since stopping distance [70-zero] are reported in magazine test.......there is pressure to be the best stopper and the factory buys accordingly!

In Europe a certain percentage of carbon fiber and carbon dust is required by goverments to enhance stopping BMW, Audi, MB, etc are really dusty!

Do you have a link to the test by any chance? I'd be interested to see the results.

[greg_atlanta]

Dust or squealing, take your pick!

I'll take dust anyday.

Pads are always very dusty when they're new, should produce less dust after 3-4K miles.

[elwesso]

On chrome wheels (and alloy wheels when dust isnt huge), I have had good luch with regular window cleaner. If there is lots of dust buildup, just get a brush and scrub. If you keep up with it, all you will have to is occasionally go out and spray a little window cleaner on the wheels and wipe with a paper towel.

[maxnix]

Well a tip given me is to spray clean wheels with WD-40, and they will come cleaner easier with less effort.

I still use a tooth brush on my BBS Q45t wheels, so I can't really comment on how much labor it saves.

[szh]

Something that was once recommended to me (but I have never tried it) is to clean the wheels first and then apply normal car wax to them. Supposedly, the dust is easier to remove and there is no pitting.

Since I have not tried this, please take my comments with a grain of salt!

Z

[theTony]

I just use a wheel cleaning brush and some hot soapy water.

[DAEDALUS]

Something that was once recommended to me (but I have never tried it) is to clean the wheels first and then apply normal car wax to them. Supposedly, the dust is easier to remove and there is no pitting.

Since I have not tried this, please take my comments with a grain of salt!

Z

I haven't tried it either, but it makes sense. The dust will have much less of a footing and the wax will protect the metal the same way as it protects paint. Not sure how long it'll last though. Wheels take so much more abuse than paint usually.

[diamondj30]

i put 5 coats of wax on my rims,100% carnuba.really helps.