Posted: 10/17/2011 6:22:48 PM EDT
So my car is a '09 VW Touareg. It always has brake dust on the rims, 4 wheel disk. Is this because the new pads are softer and wear faster? I just put a set on at 17K miles.  Had VW replace them with VW pads. No idea what brand they use.
Then again, the car is the same size as the Porsche Cayanne and performs super well, so is this all that can be done? The pads have sensors built into them and have a warning signal when they get low. Can a person find a brand with less dust? I hate wiping my rims daily for a nice, clean look..... T |
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The ones with less dust either dont work as well or squeal like hell, usually.
I suggest taking my approach, dont brake as hard and prepare to brake ahead of time, rather than slamming them on at the last second. I understand if you dont take my advice on this situation, my wife doesnt either. 
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Don't those reduce airflow to the rotors and increase operating temperature, thereby reducing braking effectiveness? DO THEY AFFECT THE BRAKES? Customers often question whether Kleen Wheels have an effect upon the braking system. Consider a Mercedes-Benz as factory delivered in Germany, usually delivered with a steel wheel and a stainless steel hubcap as standard equipment. Does this wheel/hubcap design allow for any passage of air through the wheel? If an American customer were to buy the same vehicle in the United States, where we usually find the vehicles come standard loaded with alloy wheels, and the customer installs a pair of Kleen Wheels (an inside hubcap) into the alloy wheels - would there be any more or less air circulating through the wheels than the vehicle was originally designed for with a steel wheel and an outside hubcap? The same amount, of course. ETA: What? Seems to me wheels are engineered with brake airflow in mind, not necessarily Kleen Wheels. |
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Ceramic pads produce less brake dust but I am not sure of the makeup of the OEM pads on your volks. They may be ceramic as well. What's the cost of ceramic? Plus don't they squeak? I use Akebono ceramic pads on my BMW, no dust and no noise. They stop just as good as the OEM, I will never go back. |
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Ceramic pads produce less brake dust but I am not sure of the makeup of the OEM pads on your volks. They may be ceramic as well. What's the cost of ceramic? Plus don't they squeak? I use Akebono ceramic pads on my BMW, no dust and no noise. They stop just as good as the OEM, I will never go back. My 2011 M3 has the worst problem with brake dust. The competition rims stay clean for about two days. Wonder if I can get the service department to use those. |
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Ceramic pads produce less brake dust but I am not sure of the makeup of the OEM pads on your volks. They may be ceramic as well. What's the cost of ceramic? Plus don't they squeak? I use Akebono ceramic pads on my BMW, no dust and no noise. They stop just as good as the OEM, I will never go back. My 2011 M3 has the worst problem with brake dust. The competition rims stay clean for about two days. Wonder if I can get the service department to use those. I doubt it, they are harder on the rotors and with your free maintenance they will want to make those rotors last as long as possible. |
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It's been said! It's all physics!
Harder compounds and ceramics may leave less dust, but they don't work as well until they are up to 'some' operating temperature. My e70 X5 3.5d and e53 X3M Sport, and e90 335i all have an auto windshield wiper function; a sq blue area in front of mirror facing out, that when activated, periodically squeegees the brake pads against the roots to 'keep them hot, (so they won't warp) should one travel into deep water or puddles when traveling! Brilliant! |
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Pads should last closer to 60-100,000 miles on an average daily driver too. I don't know what you're doing to wear them out at 17k. My mother-in-law has, for the 15 years that I've known her, had to get her brakes changed about once every year. When you drive behind her, you notice that her brake lights never go off. Yep, you guessed it... left foot resting on the brake pedal. 
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Quoted: try some green stuff pads?Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Ceramic pads produce less brake dust but I am not sure of the makeup of the OEM pads on your volks. They may be ceramic as well. What's the cost of ceramic? Plus don't they squeak? I use Akebono ceramic pads on my BMW, no dust and no noise. They stop just as good as the OEM, I will never go back. My 2011 M3 has the worst problem with brake dust. The competition rims stay clean for about two days. Wonder if I can get the service department to use those. |
If you wait long enough all 4 wheels turn an identical dark gray color. I think it looks acceptable as long as you dont make fingerprints on it. (Sucks to wipe clean 10 spokes on each wheel every day)
The bmw x5 looks better dirty imo ever since we put off road tires on it 
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| My Jeep came stock with metallic pads, they put out a really bad red colored dust that got all over the front end. I've switched to ceramic pads, they were around $75 a pair and I now have a lot less brake dust. They stop and perform very well too. Better stopping than the metallics. The only down side to ceramic pads is that they do need a slight warm up to work perfectly. I've noticed some slightly longer than normal stops when I first start up and drive away cold. One touch of the brakes to slow or stop is enough to get them warmed up. |
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ive got ebc green pads on my truck. They are a pain to keep from squeaking but no dust. I havent had any issue with squeaking to speak of, but Im not hard on my brakes. There is very little dust though. I live on a mountain so lots of elevation and gravel/dirt/dust and whatnot so im sure thats why. |