Brake Dust Shields???
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Gettysburg, Pa
Brake Dust Shields???
What your guys opinions on Dust Shields that keep brake dust from getting on your wheels. I have the 18" chrome wheels and find it darn near impossible to keep them clean. I know that getting a new set of pads (ceramics?) will help out a lot, but right now I have plenty of pad left and don't really want to get a new set until my current ones are shot. I know the Shields are vented but I'm still a little leary that the brakes aren't gonna get cooled enough. Good idea or not?
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Gettysburg, Pa
Originally Posted by WheelMA1
I run them, and they work just fine for me. Too expensive for what they are (thin stamping), but they are the only game in town.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: southeast PA
I would avoid them. They call them "vented" but the vents are tiny, and in my opinion, useless. I used to work for Mercedes Benz, and we had quite a few customers that used them. Their brakes were more likely to wear quicker, and squeal more. We tryed to convince customers to remove them.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: nevada
dirty pads
I agree! My stock '05 brake pads are some of the dirtiest, dustiest pads I've ever had on a vehicle. Nice wash job, and in a couple days, dirty rims again. It is def brake dust, kind of a rosy/brown color. Guess I'll spring for some new ones soon. What does everybody like?
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
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I guess I am the exception rather than the rule my 04 an early build has virtually no brake dust really don't know why live in a wet climate but even in the summer no dust????
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,269
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
yeah my dad's early 04 doesn't have much brake dust either. but mine did.
You guys keep posting the same complaints about the brake dust month after month, and in all that time, you could just have gone out and gotten some new brake pads like WE keep suggesting, and have no more dust. Be done with it. Who cares there is a bunch of pad life left on the stock pads, they are CRAPPY pads! They dust alot and can squeal alot too (at least mine did in the short time they were on my truck). I changed mine out after only 500 miles on my new truck!
Porterfield carbon kevlar pads is what I've had success with. almost 3 years later, I'm now at 24k miles, with no dust, no complaints at all, and lots of pad left.
I'd stay away from those flying saucer shields. They are just covering up the problem. the brake and suspension components behind those shields are then just going to become caked with brake dust.
You guys keep posting the same complaints about the brake dust month after month, and in all that time, you could just have gone out and gotten some new brake pads like WE keep suggesting, and have no more dust. Be done with it. Who cares there is a bunch of pad life left on the stock pads, they are CRAPPY pads! They dust alot and can squeal alot too (at least mine did in the short time they were on my truck). I changed mine out after only 500 miles on my new truck!
Porterfield carbon kevlar pads is what I've had success with. almost 3 years later, I'm now at 24k miles, with no dust, no complaints at all, and lots of pad left.
I'd stay away from those flying saucer shields. They are just covering up the problem. the brake and suspension components behind those shields are then just going to become caked with brake dust.
Last edited by SteveVFX4; Mar 6, 2007 at 11:00 PM.
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Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2006
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If you have a Carquest Auto Parts nearby ask for the Carquest "blue" Semi Metallica Pads. I put a set on a couple months back and it is easily the best thing I've done to my truck since I bought it. The pads should be between $50-$75 bucks. I put mine on and it was 6 weeks later before I had to clean my wheels again and they still were not dusty. Change the pads man. You won't regret it.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Gettysburg, Pa
Originally Posted by SteveVFX4
yeah my dad's early 04 doesn't have much brake dust either. but mine did.
You guys keep posting the same complaints about the brake dust month after month, and in all that time, you could just have gone out and gotten some new brake pads like WE keep suggesting, and have no more dust. Be done with it. Who cares there is a bunch of pad life left on the stock pads, they are CRAPPY pads! They dust alot and can squeal alot too (at least mine did in the short time they were on my truck). I changed mine out after only 500 miles on my new truck!
Porterfield carbon kevlar pads is what I've had success with. almost 3 years later, I'm now at 24k miles, with no dust, no complaints at all, and lots of pad left.
I'd stay away from those flying saucer shields. They are just covering up the problem. the brake and suspension components behind those shields are then just going to become caked with brake dust.
You guys keep posting the same complaints about the brake dust month after month, and in all that time, you could just have gone out and gotten some new brake pads like WE keep suggesting, and have no more dust. Be done with it. Who cares there is a bunch of pad life left on the stock pads, they are CRAPPY pads! They dust alot and can squeal alot too (at least mine did in the short time they were on my truck). I changed mine out after only 500 miles on my new truck!
Porterfield carbon kevlar pads is what I've had success with. almost 3 years later, I'm now at 24k miles, with no dust, no complaints at all, and lots of pad left.
I'd stay away from those flying saucer shields. They are just covering up the problem. the brake and suspension components behind those shields are then just going to become caked with brake dust.
Who cares if I have plenty of pad left????? Well I do because currently between paying a mortgage payment on a new house and payments on a new truck along with the wife's new Mustang I don't have the money to throw into buying new pads, and then pay to have someone install them at when it doesn't need them. I have 22,000 miles on my original "crappy" pads and plenty of pad left....sure they might be dirty, but other then that they get the job done. I've never heard mine squeel once. Maybe these shields will cost as much as new pads, I'm not sure, thought the shields were somewhere around $60. I just wanted a solution until I need new pads.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,269
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
you need to find a friend who can show you how to install pads, that way you'll save a bunch of money. It's not that hard to change them on your own. I installed my own.
The way I see it, spend the money once to get the job done right the first time around. I just don't think the shields are the way to go, because you're just hiding the dust problem. and then there's the venting/cooling issues causing rotors to warp and brakes wear out faster (so people say). I can't say I like the way they look either.
for $60 get some decent pads and have someone help you install them for free and you're set for a long time. No more agravation of cleaning brake dust off your shiny chrome rims every other day = priceless!
The way I see it, spend the money once to get the job done right the first time around. I just don't think the shields are the way to go, because you're just hiding the dust problem. and then there's the venting/cooling issues causing rotors to warp and brakes wear out faster (so people say). I can't say I like the way they look either.
for $60 get some decent pads and have someone help you install them for free and you're set for a long time. No more agravation of cleaning brake dust off your shiny chrome rims every other day = priceless!
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Maple Grove, PA
i had the kleen wheels on my 88 F150 when i had that few years ago and they were nice but i did notice the brakes weren't quite the same....also the inserts if they get bent are a PAIN IN THE **** because they will move around and make awfull noises to the point that you will take them off and throw them in the trash....
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Gettysburg, Pa
Well you guys struck enough fear in my eyes... 
Looks like I'll hold off and deal with them until I can get some ceramic pads on there. I don't know how much more scrubbing of brake dust my arm can handle though!! I guess if I get new pads I should get for all four wheels...not just the fronts? Thanks for everyone's input!! 
Looks like I'll hold off and deal with them until I can get some ceramic pads on there. I don't know how much more scrubbing of brake dust my arm can handle though!! I guess if I get new pads I should get for all four wheels...not just the fronts? Thanks for everyone's input!!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,269
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
if the rears still have life left and are not dusting, then I wouldn't change them. Mine weren't dusting, just the front. But, my rear (crappy) stock pads wore out after 16k miles, so I changed them at that time with Porterfields as well.
My dad's early 04 XLT didn't produce much dust but both front and rears were worn after 22k miles and he switched to ceramics.
My dad's early 04 XLT didn't produce much dust but both front and rears were worn after 22k miles and he switched to ceramics.