Brake Dust??
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New User
Joined: Oct 2006
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Brake Dust??
I have a 2005 F150, and when I first started driving it, there was a lot of brake dust on the front wheels. My grandfather bought me the truck, and he said that it was like that just because it was new. Well I've had the truck for a year and a half now, and I am constantly cleaning the wheels because the brake dust seems to just keep getting worse. What causes this, and is there anything I can do to fix it? I've also seen other trucks similar to mine that have excessive amounts of brake dust on the front wheels, so I know its not just mine!
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,264
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From: North Carolina
You have 2 options.
1. Clean wheels daily and live with the dust.
2 change out your brake pads with ceramic pads from auto parts store.
I opted for the later option. They were $50 at Auto Zone.
They all do this. The dealer is going to tell you it's normal. Ceramic pads will also give you better braking.
1. Clean wheels daily and live with the dust.
2 change out your brake pads with ceramic pads from auto parts store.
I opted for the later option. They were $50 at Auto Zone.
They all do this. The dealer is going to tell you it's normal. Ceramic pads will also give you better braking.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 479
Likes: 1
From: Bartlett, TN
I agree with freak,
The only thing I wonder is.......
Why does only the front wheels dust up, and not the back????
a. diff pads?
b. diff air patterns?
c. Wheel Fairies only like rear wheels???????
Just curious.
The only thing I wonder is.......
Why does only the front wheels dust up, and not the back????
a. diff pads?
b. diff air patterns?
c. Wheel Fairies only like rear wheels???????
Just curious.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 479
Likes: 1
From: Bartlett, TN
Originally Posted by NDNMOJOMAN
When you stop your truck the front brakes absorb most of the vehicles forward momentum making them work harder than the rear to stop the vehicle. Thats why the front brakes dust up faster than the rear.
The fronts do wear much quicker than the rear.
Thanks,
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,269
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Originally Posted by BigDfromTN
The fronts do wear much quicker than the rear.
To the original poster, just get some new brake pads and it should get rid of the dust. Ask your local auto parts store to see what they recommend. Personally, I have had great success using Porterfield Carbon Kevlar pads on my truck, the brake dust is gone! But they are more expensive, around $90 shipped on ebay.
Junior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 73
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From: philly
checkout if there is a tsb for the front brakes...
my 04 f150 the fronts were "dusty" and "squeaky" and "vibrating" sounds like the seven dwarfs, until the the dealer found the tsb and replaced the rotors, they're still "dusty"... oh well....
my 04 f150 the fronts were "dusty" and "squeaky" and "vibrating" sounds like the seven dwarfs, until the the dealer found the tsb and replaced the rotors, they're still "dusty"... oh well....
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Back where I started...
Remember that ceramic and other aftermarket pads don't neccessarily decrease stopping distance, and they will cause premature rotor wear in many cases. Brake dust you have to clean, or expensive rotors you have to replace? Your choice.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,264
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From: North Carolina
I have had the ceramic pads on my truck for almost 20,000 miles. They look like the day they were installed and the rotors look just as good. No grooves, or gouges. I have to clean the front wheels every 2 to 3 weeks now VS every 2-3 miles before. Much better stopping power and just better all around. I did not install rocks for brake pads I installed the ones that the dealer told me to install. The truck was in for the brake caliper TSB. While they had it apart I asked them about the high dusting and they gave me the part # for the pads I purchased from Auto Zone. I brought them the pads and they installed them while it was there.
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,547
Likes: 6
From: MA
I believe it is a combination of compounds, as well as braking forces applied. They do not make pads like the used to. Many of the compounds that helped vehicles brake better, arent the best thing for the environment. The manufacturers have had to swap in inferior materials to be environmentally-friendly. They are not as efficient. Also, these trucks have very aggressive braking systems (light years better than older F series). This will also cause faster wear/more dust. Also, the % of braking power is not evenly split 50/50 over the two axles. It is front biased.
New User
Joined: Sep 2006
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Just got home from work so it's very early in the morning for me, 4:30AM so I'm not going outside to look but are the rear brakes disc or drum? If not that would explain the dust in front and not in the back. I have an 05 and can't stand nasty looking tires and rims from the junk pads!!
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 430
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From: Springville, AL
Originally Posted by 7T9F250
Just got home from work so it's very early in the morning for me, 4:30AM so I'm not going outside to look but are the rear brakes disc or drum? If not that would explain the dust in front and not in the back. I have an 05 and can't stand nasty looking tires and rims from the junk pads!!
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,547
Likes: 6
From: MA
Welcome to FTE zakrocket. Yeah, I have those dust shields. They work quite well. I only put mine on for the winter months, to keep all the nasty salt and road chemicals of the northeast off my rotors and calipers. The trade name you should search for is "Kleen Wheels". Good luck.