Goodbye Cruel World...

"Firewrx234" (firewrx234)
08/03/2015 at 09:54 • Filed to: brake dust, c250

Everything is getting so dark...no wait...it’s just my brakes coating the world in brake dust.

As some of you may know, I got a Mercedes C250 coupe about 3 weeks ago. It’s been fantastic, (write up to come some time this week) except for one ridiculous thing, the brake dust. I went 3 whole weeks without washing my car (shame shame I know) and in that time I forgot what color my rims were. They are supposed to be a bright aluminum alloy color, but they were a dark Gunmetal this weekend when I cleaned them. It took me 45 minutes (conservatively) to clean the wheels after the car was already washed.

My question to you guys is, what do / can you do to prevent brake dust from sticking to your wheels? I cleaned them Saturday and I was already able to wipe off a significant layer that had accumulated on the wheels! Help!!!

Here are the poor wheels in question:

DISCUSSION (25)

OPPOsaurus WRX > Firewrx234
08/03/2015 at 09:58

stop using the brakes so much

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > OPPOsaurus WRX
08/03/2015 at 09:58

I try to avoid them. All they do is slow you down.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Firewrx234
08/03/2015 at 09:59

ah , the “joys” of owning a European car.

EL_ULY > pip bip - choose Corrour
08/03/2015 at 10:03

any car really :]

Firewrx234 > EL_ULY
08/03/2015 at 10:05

None of my previous cars were even close to this bad. This car sheds brake dust like a dog sheds fur in the summer

Echo51 > Firewrx234
08/03/2015 at 10:05

Use low dust pads, i think EBC makes some. Also Wheel sealant, make it rinseable off with a pressure washer.

Firewrx234 > pip bip - choose Corrour
08/03/2015 at 10:05

Why can't Euros use reasonable brakes that don't shed so much?!

Firewrx234 > Echo51
08/03/2015 at 10:06

Thanks! I'll have to try that because this is crazy

pjhusa > Firewrx234
08/03/2015 at 10:07

All wheel drive helped.

The brake dust on the 328xi is more even, and there is less of it, compared to the 328i.

I speak from personal experience.

Firewrx234 > pjhusa
08/03/2015 at 10:08

Yeah before I deep cleaned them Saturday it looked like I had two tone wheels

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Firewrx234
08/03/2015 at 10:22

Use your brakes less (as mentioned above) and/or switch to different pads.

The downside to pads is your car won’t brake as good. Upsides are less dust.

I feel your pain - Ford pads are just as terrible about dust. However, I don’t get much because I avoid braking. After two weeks without washing in dry/hot SoCal, the brake dust on the E350 I was driving was almost indiscernible, whereas others were covered with it.

Sn210 > Firewrx234
08/03/2015 at 10:39

You should wax your wheels every now and then. I’ve had good luck with Armor All’s extreme wheel and tire spray cleaner. I’ve also got two soft detailing brushes from Mothers

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/autogeek_…

Firewrx234 > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
08/03/2015 at 10:40

Unfortunately, I already avoid braking when possible but with construction going on all around me, you never know when traffic will come to a standstill

Firewrx234 > Sn210
08/03/2015 at 10:46

Thanks! That looks promising

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
08/03/2015 at 10:48

No joke ford pads suck. Our explorer had a nice coating of brake dust after a a week

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Firewrx234
08/03/2015 at 10:50

Swap the pads out. Different pads dust differently. If you think that this is bad, you should see the track pads I have for my MR2 and the “streetable” ones I use for my BRZ. I’ve accepted having brown/black wheels.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Firewrx234
08/03/2015 at 10:52

Look ahead, leave space. They seem to kick it out most under heavier braking.

Also, for the record, that trip included over 600 miles of driving in occasionally-heavy traffic, so it’s definitely possible to at least minimize the effect.

ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper > Firewrx234
08/03/2015 at 11:04

Were your other cars a manual? I noticed that on an auto you use the brakes a lot more since you cant effectively engine brake.

Firewrx234 > ESSSIX GmbH - Accountant/Wagon Thumper
08/03/2015 at 11:50

No, I've usually been pretty good about braking lightly and not jamming on it. It's just a different breed I suppose

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Firewrx234
08/03/2015 at 12:23

Our Wrangler does that but the dust is red so it looks like the wheels are rusted.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
08/03/2015 at 17:29

The options are always live with dust but have excellent brakes, or live with brakes you know could be better but don’t have dust. Lately I’ve been using the stoptech street performance pads, which, while still dusty, are not as bad as the stock ones, but don’t feel like they are giving up braking abilities too much. They are, however, not as good as the HP plus pads I use for track days, but those things turn my wheels black in a hearbeat.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Firewrx234
08/04/2015 at 03:38

i hear ya.

it shits me too.

pip bip - choose Corrour > EL_ULY
08/04/2015 at 03:40

Jap cars aren’t as bad.

wkiernan > Firewrx234
08/08/2015 at 22:54

Looks hard core - “somebody’s braking heavy!” I’d leave it like that and be proud.

vwbeamer > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
08/08/2015 at 23:39

LOL. Win!