I've only been driving my '06 for about 2300 miles now and I've got some really heavy brake dust on the front rims, they are black. Im assuming that when the dealer preped the vehicle they put on the very cheapest pads they could. I haven't had any problems with the rotors yet, knock on wood.

Can anyone recommend better pads? I figure if these are creating that much dust they aren't going to last very long.

 

The Ford pads are actually supposed to be pretty good - I have read that getting 70-90 k out of them was common. Have you looked at the amount of pad you have left? How many total miles on the pads?

 

Even if they were a quality pad why would my front rims be black after 2300 miles?

 

My front wheels look like they're grey instead of chrome after 1k miles. I just wipe them off. I'd say it better to be dusty than squeeky, as is typically found with hard pads. Plus you'll get better stopping power with softer pads, they'll grip more and slide less, and these trucks need all the stopping power they can get. I believe softer pads don't warm up as quickly either.

 

Is it just brake dust or a combination of road grime, etc.? If you just bought the truck, did the dealer get tire dressing on the rims when they prepped it? Every time I get mine serviced at the local Ford dealer, they detail it before I get it back. It's great but the detailer gets tire dressing overspray all over the rims. They crud up twice as fast and just seem to magnify the brake dust, grime, etc. Otherwise, I'm on the original pads at 32,000+ miles and I only have light dusting on the fronts.

 

I am willing to bet that they got tire dressing all over the wheels and thats what is causing the issues. I would also be willing to bet its all over your paint too. Anyway Mine do dust a little also but I would never go 2300 miles without washing it. thats just me though. I spend quite a bit of time keeping it clean and I alsways give the wheels a good scrub along with the White Letters on the tires.

If they did put crappy pads on it look for a set of Motor Craft Severe duty pads and that will all but eliminate your dusting issues.

Sarge

 

Mine dust up just after a couple of hundred miles. Just wipe them down once a week or so... they will stay clean that way. Just like Sarge said, the wheel dressing will attract the dust more. Use your Tow/Haul Button more to save the brakes a little.

 

Just put Rejex on your wheel. That's what sport car people put in their shinny expensive mags. It's like a wax, you don't see it but grim and brake dust don't stick to the wheel. It says you can also use on on windshield, forget about that part, but on wheel I can say personally that it works. RejeX®: So Slick, Bugs Can't Stick!

 

I installed a pair of brake dust shields on the front wheels. They work great and I've never had to clean brake dust off of the wheels since and I've noticed no negative effect on the cooling of the brakes.

 

Klean wheels makes some nice dustshields and they don't look bad even when they are painted to match the body color. Just remember they are directional and you need to put them on in the right direction.

I believe "brake dusting" is a lot about how you drive and not so much about the pad. I do use good pads, but I have broken every set I've owned in and have little to no problem with dust on the seen side of the brakes. The insides are a different story, but that's mud, dirt, cow crap, ect. Do a good pad break-in and clean the wheels up, see if that helps.