Rail Dust / Brake Dust problem
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Rail Dust / Brake Dust problem
I washed my truck today and noticed a bunch of little orange stains and dots on my truck. Most of these are concentrated below the molding on each side of the vehicle and seem to be concentrated more behind each wheel. (Even though I have the Ford plastic splash guards).
Do you think this is rail dust? I've had the truck for 11 months since new, and this problem has creeped up in just the last month. I washed in in early November and nothing was wrong with it. Most typical "rail dust" cases seem to appear quickly so I'm wondering if this isn't brake dust from the brake pads.
The truck gets about an even mix between city and highway driving, so the brakes do get used but not abused. The enviroment of the truck and the driving conditions have not changed in 11 months. Why the sudden appearance of these spots? Is it brake dust or rail dust?
What should I do to get rid of it? I've read about clay bars, but I've also read of people who used this and just had it scratch the paint badly. This stuff looks bad on white paint. If pics are needed, I can take some tomorrow.
BTW, even though it is concentrated below the moldings, it is on my topper and on the chrome cab steps. None on the hood or the roof.
Do you think this is rail dust? I've had the truck for 11 months since new, and this problem has creeped up in just the last month. I washed in in early November and nothing was wrong with it. Most typical "rail dust" cases seem to appear quickly so I'm wondering if this isn't brake dust from the brake pads.
The truck gets about an even mix between city and highway driving, so the brakes do get used but not abused. The enviroment of the truck and the driving conditions have not changed in 11 months. Why the sudden appearance of these spots? Is it brake dust or rail dust?
What should I do to get rid of it? I've read about clay bars, but I've also read of people who used this and just had it scratch the paint badly. This stuff looks bad on white paint. If pics are needed, I can take some tomorrow.
BTW, even though it is concentrated below the moldings, it is on my topper and on the chrome cab steps. None on the hood or the roof.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
From: Kansas, USA
I just spent a couple hours getting off some orange spots that looked like paint from highway stripeing (spraying lines). I hadn't washed the truck in a couple months and hadn't noticed. With a lot of elbow grease and some old (1998) Rain Dance wax that was laying around it came off of those rear fenders where it was the worst. But there's still more to do. Maybe your problem is something different, but I've never hear of brake dust making anything but black sooty dust...best regards.....tigerman. P.S. Mine is white also.
Last edited by tigerman; Dec 22, 2003 at 12:51 AM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 5
From: Allen, Tx
I also had raildust on my truck. The spots look like small rust spots the size of a grain of salt. (Orange-brown in color) They look like black spots at first, and with moisture they rust. I had them all over the hood, roof, front fenders, doors and half of the bed. My truck was a fleet truck that was not bought by a company so it sat at a dealer for a month and a half. By the time I bought it, it had been rained on several times so I had to deal with the problem immediately. The more you wait, the deeper the rust goes. I used a clay bar and clay bar lubricant to take them off. The acronym PITA does not remotely approach the description of the process. It took me 8 1/2 hours over two days to get them off. The paint. however, was not scratched or damaged in anyway. I guess as long as you use plenty of lubricant it will not scratch the paint. the key is to do about 4 square inches at a time so that the lubricant doesn't run-off or evaporate. After that, a good coat of wax and it looks brand new. (Actually, it was brand new.)
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Thanks for the replies. This is definately not paint overspray. It is more like what n578md had. It is orangish brown, and it has substance to it. In otherwords, it's like a metal shard is present causing the stain, not just a paint spec. You can feel it as you rub your finger over it.
My question for n578md is, how long did it take for rail dust to actually turn orange? My truck is 11 months old and never had any brown, black or orange specs on it until I noticed them yesterday. It just seems bizarre for rail dust to take that long to show up, and then have it concentrated behind each wheel and below the moldings. Maybe I picked some up from the road?
My question for n578md is, how long did it take for rail dust to actually turn orange? My truck is 11 months old and never had any brown, black or orange specs on it until I noticed them yesterday. It just seems bizarre for rail dust to take that long to show up, and then have it concentrated behind each wheel and below the moldings. Maybe I picked some up from the road?
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 5
From: Allen, Tx
I saw it the day I picked up the truck. My truck was probably parked on the bottom level and end of the railcar over the wheels, so I got rail-dust on 70% of the truck. Your truck might have been on the upper deck so it got hit mostly on the lower half. Since it sat at the dealer for a month and a half and it rained a lot that past month, I don't know how long it took to show up. My friends truck had the same problem and it took about a month to show up on his. Black spots first, then the rust color started showing. Is it possible that you waxed it when you bought it and kept the iron specks from oxydizing until now that the wax film has wore off? Every once in a while I'll see a new spot, I removed two more last month. I bought this truck June 2003 so it certainly possible.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Thanks again n578md. You've been a great help. At least I know it's rail dust. I'm going to Auto Zone shortly to pick up a clay bar or two.
I just need to figure out if that rail dust came from the factory trip, or enviromental conditions that I subjected it to. I don't care to see this stuff again.
I just need to figure out if that rail dust came from the factory trip, or enviromental conditions that I subjected it to. I don't care to see this stuff again.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
I've been reading FTE for a while now and am pleased I can add my 2 cents on one of these topics.
I have delt with the very same rail dust/brake dust problem on three vehicles. The clay bar method is probably your only answer. It works well but as previously stated use lots of lubricant. A constant flow of water works well but might get cold fast this time of year. My 2001 red 250 had the problem although it wasn't as noticible. My wife's WHITE Pontiac had the problem and the clay bar cleared it right up. With your white truck it will be easy to see where you miss. Now for the bad news...you need to do this once or twice a year. Your truck will pick up contaminants that will cause the spots you are seeing. This is evident on my wife's car. Especially on the rear where the airflow throws the dirt, and the brake dust, quickly.
Don't overuse the clay bar and you will minimize the scratches. I have not noticed any scratches caused by the clay in my vehicles.
It doesn't hurt to use the clay once or twice a year anyway it doesn't hurt the finish and you will be surprised how much gunk it gets off you car/truck. You should definitly wax soon afterwards.
Good luck
I have delt with the very same rail dust/brake dust problem on three vehicles. The clay bar method is probably your only answer. It works well but as previously stated use lots of lubricant. A constant flow of water works well but might get cold fast this time of year. My 2001 red 250 had the problem although it wasn't as noticible. My wife's WHITE Pontiac had the problem and the clay bar cleared it right up. With your white truck it will be easy to see where you miss. Now for the bad news...you need to do this once or twice a year. Your truck will pick up contaminants that will cause the spots you are seeing. This is evident on my wife's car. Especially on the rear where the airflow throws the dirt, and the brake dust, quickly.
Don't overuse the clay bar and you will minimize the scratches. I have not noticed any scratches caused by the clay in my vehicles.
It doesn't hurt to use the clay once or twice a year anyway it doesn't hurt the finish and you will be surprised how much gunk it gets off you car/truck. You should definitly wax soon afterwards.
Good luck
Trending Topics
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
i have been detailing my 2002 S/D since last week and i noticed the same yellow streaks behind the RF wheel. think i'll try the clay bar on it since nothing else worked yet. didn't know what it was on there till now....thanks for the tip.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
