What Does Excessive Brake Dust Mean? Causes & Prevention

What does excessive brake dust mean? What should I do to prevent it?

After long driving, you will find brake dust on the tires. This layer of dust will be denser and easier to detect if you don’t regularly wash and clean your car properly.

Will it bring any negative effects on the wheel and brake performance? What do you need to do to remove it quickly and effectively? Jump into the next sections to learn more!

What Does Excessive Brake Dust Mean?

what does excessive brake dust mean

Excessive brake dust on one rim or wheel appears as a dark buildup on your wheels, coming from friction material of brake pads and iron particles of brake rotors.

It develops when driving or even when you are not in a vehicle.

What Is It?

Why do I have so much brake dust?

The surface of your wheels can be harmed by excessive brake dust, a dark-colored accumulation of iron from the braking rotors and friction material from the pads.

The more you drive your car, the more residue accumulates on the wheels.

It’s crucial to remember that an accumulation of these metallic particles cannot be avoided, regardless of your car’s brake system, whether it has a disc or drum brake arrangement.

The brake caliper(s) on your vehicle may be sticking if one of the wheels has noticeably more dirt than the others. You should have a professional examine the car.

Does brake dust mean I need new brakes? The fact that dirt deposits on the wheel when you drive normally suggests that your car may not always have an issue.

So it’s not necessary to replace the brake in all cases.

Common Causes Of Brake Dust

Substandard Brake Job

Why do I have so much brake dust? Excessive dirt is caused by improperly placed brakes on the caliper that are too close to the drum or disc.

The pressure on the brakes increases at the connecting point if they are too close to the rotors, which is against their design.

Wheel Size

What causes brake dust on rims? Too-small pads will wear out more quickly than pads that are properly sized for the car.

I see my brake pads wear down to 3mm quicker when I use smaller tires.

Since this part must work harder to stop the automobile, the additional wear from small-sized brake pads on huge wheels will enhance the dirt off the vehicle.

Worn Springs

Hydraulic fluid pulls the brake pad against the rotors when you hit the brake pedal to stop. When this part is released, the springs will pull the brake pads back.

The brake pads and rotors might not be entirely separated by the springs if they are too old, leading to persistent rubbing.

More dust will be produced when the brake pad constantly contacts the drums.

Brake Types

Why is there brake dust on my wheels? The brake manufacturing material may also contribute to excessive dust.

Organic ones, such as those composed of rubber and glass, deteriorate more quickly and produce dust.

Those made of low metallic fibers might also result in an excessive dirt buildup on the tires.

Although more expensive, metallic and semi-metallic brakes produce not as much dust as organic or low-metallic parts.

Why Should You Clean Brake Dust? 

does brake dust mean i need new brakes

It Damages Your Wheel

When the brake is applied, it’s in a position that naturally forces dirt to fall on the rims. Tires and rims turn brown as dust coats on them.

Although you can clean it, it becomes more difficult if you delay for too long. The dirt becomes harder and adhesive to alloy and metal rims.

Even when you regularly clean your car, the surface will still appear soiled and stained.

Your rims will be scratched and damaged over time. If left unattended, you might have to rebuild or resurface the rims.

Brake Dust Affect The Braking Performance

Little dirt coated on the wheel is nothing to worry about. But excessive brake dust on the front wheels can increase braking distance and produce more noise.

Additionally, the dust accumulation on the brake rotor and caliper leaves a rough braking surface, generating vibration and a squeaky brake noise.

Have a professional check your system if you detect significant dust or noise on a wheel.

It can be a sign of something more serious, such as brake drum spring wear or an issue with how the brake pads and rotors were installed.

How To Clean Brake Dust Properly? 

What To Prepare 

Although removing the dirt is not difficult, conventional car wash materials may not ensure spotless wheels if it has built up for an extended time.

You’ll need a dedicated wheel cleaner in this case. Each finish and coating on wheels calls for a different wheel cleaner.

Choose a product without harsh chemicals. They spotlessly clean grime on wheels, but the protective coat can also be harmed.

Step-by-step Guideline

  • Before cleaning, let all wheels cool down. If possible, park your car out of direct sunlight.
  • In case your wheels have hubcaps, take them off. You need to wash each hubcap thoroughly and rinse them separately with the car wheels. Dust is likely to build up inside the hubcaps, so cleaning them is a must.
  • Spray high-pressure water on the entire wheel reel, from the tires to the wheels’ spokes, to completely wash away grime and dirt from hard-to-reach areas.
  • Use a wheel cleaner to clean them and let the solution do its job to dissolve the dirt. The cleaner often dissolves the dirt and brake debris in some minutes.
  • Use a soft brush to brush off the remaining dust. Don’t utilize a steel brush since it can scratch the wheel finish.
  • Utilize a wash mitt or a wheel washcloth to wipe away the residue.
  • Rinse all the wheels thoroughly under water to remove any cleaning agent or soap.
  • Pat dry the wheels and apply a layer of wax to protect them.
  • Call an expert wheel cleaner for help if the stubborn dust layer is still stuck on the wheels.

Tips To Prevent Brake Dust 

excessive brake dust

Use Brake Dust Repellent

Spray an aerosol brake dust repellent on the rims. This creates an unseen, protective barrier and keeps dirt away for several weeks.

Remember that this repellent can’t work for all alloy wheel types.

Mount A Brake Dust Shield

Another way to minimize dirt buildup is a shield. This aluminum brake dust cover will be placed between the rotor and the rim to collect brake pad dust on rims.

However, this can cause certain front brakes to overheat excessively, impairing its efficacy.

Apply An Advanced Finishing

To produce a barrier that ward off road debris and excessive brake dust on front wheels, consider applying a high-end finishing to the car wheels, like a ceramic coating.

Being semi-permanent or permanent in nature, these coverings are simple to clean. They usually work their magic on various surfaces to help remove road debris.

That said, you should bring your car to a professional repair shop for installation, and this method is more expensive than using a dust repellent.

Replace It With Ceramic Pads

Compared to semi-metallic types, ceramic ones give off less noise, emit little dark brake dust, and last longer. The only trade-off is that they are more pricey than semi-metallic ones.

And they are not compatible with performance automobiles.

You should ask a pro mechanic for help if you’re unsure what pad is best for your car.

FAQs 

Is It Normal If My Car Wheels Have Brake Dust?

Is brake dust normal? Yes, a little bit of this black buildup is typical, but you might want to be concerned if it persists for too long.

You won’t know if you have a more serious problem or have just not cleansed the wheels as often as you should. You might occasionally suffer too much dirt. This may occur when:

  • You’ve installed cheap pads.
  • Calipers become sticky.
  • A scored rotor with an uneven surface could be present.

Why Are My Front Wheels Always Dirty?

The front wheels in the majority of cars are where the majority of the braking occurs. Unless you have an AWD car, rear brakes aren’t applied as frequently.

More dirt accumulates on the front wheels than on the back as a result.

Many vehicles on the road have front wheels that are practically black or gray, while the back wheels are shiny and spotless.

How Often Should I Clean My Wheel Brake Dust?

Most experts concur that cleaning its dust-covered wheels at least once a week is necessary to maintain their finish.

Bottom Lines 

What does excessive brake dust mean? It is the dark layer of dust on the rims that not only affects the aesthetics but also the car’s performance.

So clean your car periodically to remove this layer of dust as soon as possible.

At the same time, if this coating is too thick, you can contact the mechanic for assistance in checking and handling.

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