I am SICK of brake dust!!!

Originally Posted by Alexb650

When chrome rims were in style, I used to keep a small (12"x12") towel in my trunk and I would use it to wipe my rims down once a day. It literally took 30 seconds and if you stay on top of it, it's wipes of easily.

Have you seen the 135 style wheels.

The last time I did my brakes, I installed PBR Axxis Deluxe Plus. They generate less dust, but I think you give up a little stopping power as compared with the OEM.

You gotta make a choice, between dust and performance. My wheels always look dirty, no matter how often I clean them, its never enough.

I have an '11 e90 and hardly get brake dust at all. BMW must have made a change. I haven't noticed a drop off in "bite" from my previous '01 5 series that accumulated a ton of dust.

I've had good luck with Armor all wheel protectant. Keeps the wheels dust - free for about a week's worth of driving, on average. That's for my garage queen. I just live with it on my other cars. It only bothers you as much as you let it.

Originally Posted by Fishful Thinking

I'm in the same boat, except I have to do something about it soon, as my brake sensor has tripped. I'm considering the kit from Turner with Zimmerman rotors, PBR XBG pads, sensors and Ate Super Blue brake fluid, all for $317. Of course shipping will add another $60, but its still a good deal. Supposedly, these pads are an improvement over stock, but with much less dust. Smolk, for your car it'd be $419 + shipping. If I do get this kit, I'll let you know how it feels ASAP.

BTW, my dealer quoted me $1200, and Strictly quoted 1000. No friggin way.



Mal, which PBR pad are you using? And when you talk about bite, are you talking "rolling up to the stoplight first thing in the morning" bite, or "flogging it down Angeles Crest Highway and stomping the brakes to the edge of lock-up" bite?.

Not sure what kind I use I just use whatever was available the cheapest ones lol. And I'm talking about coming to s stoplight.

Originally Posted by MalibuMafiaV

Not sure what kind I use I just use whatever was available the cheapest ones lol. And I'm talking about coming to s stoplight.

Thanks, MMV. I'll try the XBGs and report back. I'll be pissed if they don't perform as advertised.

Try SONAX Wheel Cleaner Full Effect. Pros in my area (and elsewhere) are raving about this stuff. I won a bottle as a door prize a few months back and found it really, really, really works. Yes, it is expensive compared to parts-store crap but you won't go through gallons of it to get results, either. Spray on, let it dwell until fully reacted (complete color change) and hose off--a narrow-jet garden hose nozzle helps. Resist the urge to scrub, wipe or brush it while it's reacting--it will significantly reduce the effectiveness.

Even with the E90's low-dust pads, my wheel barrels get pretty grungy from rotor dust. I reach most of them with a brush through the spokes, but because there isn't enough clearance between caliper and barrel I would have to roll the car a few feet to clean that area. Since I started using the Sonax cleaner I haven't had to do that--it does all the work with just a spray & rinse. The wheels only need a quick brushing once a month or so to deal with accumulated road film.

IIRC the half-liter bottle lasted for about two months of weekly cleanings.

Originally Posted by Fishful Thinking

Thanks, MMV. I'll try the XBGs and report back. I'll be pissed if they don't perform as advertised.

Are the XBGs probably the ones I have? or are they the more advanced ones?. All I can tell you is I have no brake dust and it doesn't grip as much as I'd like it to

Originally Posted by Fishful Thinking

So, where's the best place to buy them from?

No idea on best price, I believe 1 of the sponsors carry them. I would check out our sponsors.

I buy them locally from LPI due to the convenience= http://www.livermoreperformance.com/

Originally Posted by MalibuMafiaV

Are the XBGs probably the ones I have? or are they the more advanced ones?. All I can tell you is I have no brake dust and it doesn't grip as much as I'd like it to

The cheapest ones are the Deluxe Ceramic. The XBG is a semi-metalic and supposedly more suitable for aggressive driving.

Originally Posted by Fishful Thinking

The cheapest ones are the Deluxe Ceramic. The XBG is a semi-metalic and supposedly more suitable for aggressive driving.

yeah Deluxe ceramic sounds like the ones I got lol. I'll try the XBG ones next time.

+1 on PBR pads. I used PBR/Axxis Deluxe Advanced and love them. Almost no dust and I could hardly tell a difference in stopping power (although I don't punish my brakes). For car care products, always been impressed with Griot's Garage products. http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...ortby=ourPicks

Originally Posted by Scottji

I could hardly tell a difference in stopping power (although I don't punish my brakes)

Maybe I'll try these and just push the brake pedal down harder to get the stopping power......

I had the E60 M5 rims before and didn't have it in black and spent the past few years trying to keep the rims shiny. I had to even use a chopstick with a cloth to ease the dirt off the gaps in the spokes. So now i got smarter I guess. I got black matt rims =P I can still see the dust but i am not bothered anymore =)

But that also means I spend less time detailing the rims =) less bonding =P

the rims that I used to have =) when I first got it. No I am not going to show how it looked 3 years down the road =P

Originally Posted by vegadonovan

the rims that I used to have =) when I first got it. No I am not going to show how it looked 3 years down the road =P

Those look like 135 reps. The 135's are identical, but have a true cutout in the middle where those have an indentation.

I hated as well. My rims are 7-spoke. Definitely much better to handle comparing to what smolck has but I still got irritated and changed all the OEM pads and rotors when it was time. I used centric premium rotors and possi quiet ceramic pads from zeckhausen. After the brake job, I had zero dust. Yes not reduced dust. Almost zero amount of dust. I forgot the last time I cleaned my wheels. BUT I lost about 30% of braking power. I still miss my original powerful brakes (not the dust)...

I later heard much better ceramic pads. I am pretty sure none of them are as good as the dusty OEM ones (there's gotta be a trade off.)
Even if it is dustfree, I would NOT recommend the above combo I used. My brakes never felt like BMW brakes since then...

I was as frustrated as you are with brake dust but I loved the cold bite and stopping characteristics of the BMW pad so it took me a while to pull the trigger on aftermarket pads. I settled with the StopTech Street Performance pads and I'm very happy so far. IMO, they are 80-90% similar to BMW pads in stopping power but have 80-90% less dust. rockauto has the best prices.

Originally Posted by Zeichen311

Try SONAX Wheel Cleaner Full Effect. Pros in my area (and elsewhere) are raving about this stuff. I won a bottle as a door prize a few months back and found it really, really, really works. Yes, it is expensive compared to parts-store crap but you won't go through gallons of it to get results, either. Spray on, let it dwell until fully reacted (complete color change) and hose off--a narrow-jet garden hose nozzle helps. Resist the urge to scrub, wipe or brush it while it's reacting--it will significantly reduce the effectiveness.

Even with the E90's low-dust pads, my wheel barrels get pretty grungy from rotor dust. I reach most of them with a brush through the spokes, but because there isn't enough clearance between caliper and barrel I would have to roll the car a few feet to clean that area. Since I started using the Sonax cleaner I haven't had to do that--it does all the work with just a spray & rinse. The wheels only need a quick brushing once a month or so to deal with accumulated road film.

IIRC the half-liter bottle lasted for about two months of weekly cleanings.

I use sonax too and it is pretty amazing stuff. Worth a shot and cheaper than new brake pads. Still some work but its a no scrub option that might save you a lot of time.

I used german cool carbon brake pads and have not been happy but month ago I have changed them with akebono apsolutly no dust in three weeks just little bit
They cost more but it is good investment

Blow it off using a air compressor or vacuum with dusting tool.

Originally Posted by dkotanto

I was as frustrated as you are with brake dust but I loved the cold bite and stopping characteristics of the BMW pad so it took me a while to pull the trigger on aftermarket pads. I settled with the StopTech Street Performance pads and I'm very happy so far. IMO, they are 80-90% similar to BMW pads in stopping power but have 80-90% less dust. rockauto has the best prices.

I use the same on my car. I've been quite happy with them for the year that I've used them. My car gets dirty before my wheels do and I can stop stop hard enough to launch snot out of everyone's nose. I can do it 10 more times from 60mph to 10mph and fully clear my passenger's noses. Doing it another 2-4 times the brains start to noodle out...not a good idea but there is no brake fade on these babies.

This is a full spoke finger scoop when I did some brake pad/rotor bedding before cleaning the wheels: LOL

Originally Posted by Dougly503

Blow it off using a air compressor or vacuum with dusting tool.

Yeah, right....good luck with that. Brake dust adheres to wheels agressively, and will actually etch into the paint if left long enough. Cleaning your wheels weekly, using wheel cleaner and car-washing detergent, is the best plan of attack....

Pressure wash them is good for a few in betweens before you need to put pressure on them with your own hand/fingers. Just get it close enough to clean but not so close you blow the clearcoat off. haha

I bought Rim-Ice at BMW of south Atlanta, and it works great. It reduces by about 60%. I use the BMW wheel cleaner then apply RimIce. They have a website. I have been using it for 3 years. Really works.

Paint them balck

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