Brake Dust Sucks!!!! - United Bimmer Community

**BMWFreak** · 03-02-2008, 01:14 AM

I've got an 87 e30 with those classic "bottle cap" wheels and it takes 4 ever to clean off the brake dust. I sit on the ground and spend about 10 minutes on each wheel and by the time i'm done my hands are black. Is there some easier way?

witeshark · 03-02-2008, 08:47 AM

The only way is to do it more often. About every 2 weeks may cut the time in half. "Dust covers" are not a good thing because the brakes won't cool as well.

denyo77 · 03-02-2008, 09:03 AM

I hate brake dust as well
but slightly off topic I'm really, REALLY content with my brake discs from brembo.
I haven't driven the car in about 3-4 months and yet they're barely rusty, in spite of the really wet weather we've had the whole time

nick_318is · 03-02-2008, 09:50 AM

You might try some wheel wax it should help to make it easier to clean them up after you wax them.

**BMWFreak** · 03-02-2008, 10:13 AM

ok i'll look into tht

**celsdogg** · 03-02-2008, 10:17 AM

there are brake pads that throw off less dust. try some of the mintex pads. they still stop decently and you wont have to clean your rims as often

denyo77 · 03-02-2008, 01:50 PM

and you might want to resize your signature

**Antiburn** · 03-02-2008, 02:10 PM

If you dont track your vert then your brakes wont overheat from normal road driving. I have them on my e21 and they work great.

**iamcreepingdeath** · 03-02-2008, 05:17 PM

I have been plagued by massive amounts of brake dust. I think my aluminum wheels are actually permanently pitted from brake dust and it pisses me off. Here is how i wash my wheels every week: I carry around a spray bottle of insanely powerful cleaning chemical like concentrated Simple Green and a short stiff-bristled wheel brush. Every time i run across a running water source (a hose) i soak the wheels, spray the cleaner on a wheel, and scrub the piss out of it with my brush. It takes me about 10 min in all to complete all 4 wheels. It is the times that i don't get around to doing this which pisses me off, because brake dust will pit aluminum if left there for a long time

About Mintex brake pads:
I finally got around to installing a set on all 4 wheels, because Mintex pads are advertised as producing "virtually no brake dust". I have not had the pads on long enough to affirm this, but i definitely do notice a decrease in braking power. My brakes are much more soft now and i have to push the brake pedal harder than before to stop. This is not a bad thing, i just have to get used to the different braking feel of my car. Other than this, i am happy with Mintex so far!!

denyo77 · 03-02-2008, 05:26 PM

^be careful that you don't get the chemical stuff on the brake disks...that can cause accidents

**215BIMMER535** · 03-02-2008, 07:22 PM

ARDEX makes a great non-acid wheel cleaner that i use. its green, forget the name if someone wants to know ill check but anyway, if u have a pressure washer u just spray the stuff on, leave it for a minute, then spray away. NO SCRUBBING (even on my M doublespokes which can be annoying to clean)

**nagolskram** · 03-02-2008, 09:28 PM

put some EBC green stuff brake pads on there and it will significantly reduce the amount of dust.

**pswirley** · 03-03-2008, 12:44 AM

Try BMW wheel gel that is sold at the dealerships. First time using will be a pain then for about every 4 washes you can spray off about 80 percent of the dust to make them easier to clean.

**iamcreepingdeath** · 03-03-2008, 01:14 PM

question: What can i do about the little black specks that have gathered on my aluminum M double-spoke wheels that won't come off with the wheel scrubber and Simple Green? is there a solution?

nick_318is · 03-03-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamcreepingdeath

About Mintex brake pads:
I finally got around to installing a set on all 4 wheels, because Mintex pads are advertised as producing "virtually no brake dust". I have not had the pads on long enough to affirm this, but i definitely do notice a decrease in braking power. My brakes are much more soft now and i have to push the brake pedal harder than before to stop. This is not a bad thing, i just have to get used to the different braking feel of my car. Other than this, i am happy with Mintex so far!!

If you just put the pads on you need to get them bedded in and get a coating of the compound on the rotors before you will see your best brake performance, so it might get better after you get some miles on them.