does brake dust damage your wheels?

tracerit · 05-31-2009, 12:27 AM

i'm trying to get a natural gunmetal finish on my wheels from leaving the brake dust on

but was wondering if this will damage the wheels later on.

snipersix · 05-31-2009, 12:49 AM

i think it just makes it harder to clean later on...

iAerodynamic · 05-31-2009, 01:43 AM

LOL i tried leaving brake dust on my oem wheels see if they'll turn black..

only takes one swipe to ruin the 3 week long brake dust work..

M3SWEETNESS · 05-31-2009, 02:41 AM

Absolutely not, as stated previously just more of a pain to clean....

VTECaddict · 05-31-2009, 03:59 AM

i saw a stock base 328i with matte black wheels from all the brake dust. no seriously, they were completely covered.

SC335 · 06-01-2009, 07:49 AM

Hard as hell to get off though if baked on...

BmwOwnsMe · 06-01-2009, 08:05 AM

Well my wheels are corroded now thanks to brake dust, salt and road grime. Here Ill go take a pic real quick...

Gary@TireRack · 06-01-2009, 12:43 PM

Yes, brake dust can have a corrosive effect. If it is left too long, it can also act as an abrasive if you have to scrub on it to wipe it off. Using caustic wheel cleaners can also damage the wheels clearcoat. The best solution is to wax your wheels often and keep clean/wash them often using a clearcoat safe car wash, or a non- acid wheel cleaner like the wheel cleaner from Griots Garage before the buildup gets too great. Some brake pads will also produce less dust.

tracerit · 06-01-2009, 10:52 PM

corrosive damage? time to wash my wheels AND car!

Hedges · 06-01-2009, 11:00 PM

no

dtm@heart · 06-01-2009, 11:20 PM

yes

BillLee · 06-02-2009, 01:10 AM

no damage, unless you leave it on for years maybe.
here's my car with about 2-3 weeks worth of brake dust. i should have waited longer to cover the rims fully.

E90 Autosport · 06-02-2009, 01:27 PM

why not just clean your wheels more often or get them powder coated gun metal for ever. lol

Hedges · 06-02-2009, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtm@heart

yes

BmwOwnsMe · 06-02-2009, 02:20 PM

im getting my wheels replaced under the corrosion warranty.

SpmnE9zero · 06-02-2009, 02:51 PM

My wife had a C240 and brake dust destroyed her rims, then again I live in pittsburgh so I am sure the salt from harsh winters helped out a lot! Now that we got her a new ML 350 we clean them religiously!

Peter@VMRWheels · 06-02-2009, 04:09 PM

BMW brake dust = bad. If left on too long, they will become a permanent feature of your wheels, stock or aftermarket. For this reason I swapped to Axxis brake pads and never looked back

There are also some brake pads on the market that is known for eating paint, but then again these are also racing pads.

Ramos · 06-02-2009, 07:21 PM

Dude that look of a a BMW with wheels covered in brake dust screams chick that knows nothing about cars and just bought a BMW for the badge.

That reminds me of my ex who had an E46 325 Graphite and would take it through the car wash and never ever cleaned her rims... The car always looked nasty

Hedges · 06-02-2009, 08:17 PM

maybe

VMRWheels · 06-02-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter@VMRWheels

BMW brake dust = bad. If left on too long, they will become a permanent feature of your wheels, stock or aftermarket. For this reason I swapped to Axxis brake pads and never looked back

There are also some brake pads on the market that is known for eating paint, but then again these are also racing pads.

I agree with Peter. I hate OE BMW pads!

It makes my Hyper Silver wheels look Gun Metal in 2 days!

I generally try to clean the wheels weekly, but if anyone is running certain race pads, make sure to clean them off ASAP! Iv seen wheels that have gone to the point of no return...

-Charles@VMRWheels

usc335 · 06-02-2009, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VMRWheels

I agree with Peter. I hate OE BMW pads!

It makes my Hyper Silver wheels look Gun Metal in 2 days!

I generally try to clean the wheels weekly, but if anyone is running certain race pads, make sure to clean them off ASAP! Iv seen wheels that have gone to the point of no return...

-Charles@VMRWheels

What race pads might those be?

05-31-2009, 12:27 AM	#1
tracerit Captain 149 Rep 804 Posts Drives: 13 BRZ Limited 6MT Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Huntington Beach/OC, CA iTrader: (9)	does brake dust damage your wheels? i'm trying to get a natural gunmetal finish on my wheels from leaving the brake dust on but was wondering if this will damage the wheels later on.
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05-31-2009, 12:49 AM	#2
snipersix Brigadier General 242 Rep 3,807 Posts Drives: Retired 2017 F87 M2 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Burnaby iTrader: (3) Garage List 2017 BMW M2 [0.00]	i think it just makes it harder to clean later on... __________________ 2017 M2 Coupe:\|Black Sapphire Metallic\|DCT\|Nav/Idrive\|M Performance CF Spoiler\|M Performance CF DCT Interior\| M Performance Gloss Black Kidney Grills\| M Performance Steel Pedals \| Eventuri CF CAI \| 19" Brixton Rims \| KW V3 Clubsport \| Retired: \|2008 328i Sedan\|Montego Blue\|
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05-31-2009, 01:43 AM	#3
iAerodynamic Colonel 121 Rep 2,178 Posts Drives: 325i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Marino, CA iTrader: (31) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	LOL i tried leaving brake dust on my oem wheels see if they'll turn black.. only takes one swipe to ruin the 3 week long brake dust work..
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05-31-2009, 02:41 AM	#4
M3SWEETNESS Watch This! 34 Rep 705 Posts Drives: 2010 E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Texas iTrader: (4)	Absolutely not, as stated previously just more of a pain to clean.... __________________
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05-31-2009, 03:59 AM	#5
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 488 Rep 6,068 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	i saw a stock base 328i with matte black wheels from all the brake dust. no seriously, they were completely covered. __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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06-01-2009, 07:49 AM	#6
SC335 Second Lieutenant 34 Rep 254 Posts Drives: 2016 435i GC/2015 X5 35i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (4)	Hard as hell to get off though if baked on...
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06-01-2009, 08:05 AM	#7
BmwOwnsMe Second Lieutenant 19 Rep 259 Posts Drives: 2006 325 xi Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bergenfield, NJ iTrader: (0)	Well my wheels are corroded now thanks to brake dust, salt and road grime. Here Ill go take a pic real quick...
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06-01-2009, 12:43 PM	#8
Gary@TireRack Moderator 372 Rep 4,742 Posts Drives: Formerly 1995 M3 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: South Bend, IN, Tire Rack HQ iTrader: (2)	Yes, brake dust can have a corrosive effect. If it is left too long, it can also act as an abrasive if you have to scrub on it to wipe it off. Using caustic wheel cleaners can also damage the wheels clearcoat. The best solution is to wax your wheels often and keep clean/wash them often using a clearcoat safe car wash, or a non- acid wheel cleaner like the wheel cleaner from Griots Garage before the buildup gets too great. Some brake pads will also produce less dust. __________________ Gary. Tire and Wheel Forum Moderator. Tire Rack Sales Rep Gary@Tirerack.com http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AH8&url=index.jsp Please refer to 'Gary/E90 Post' as your previous contact when you order online to help support this forum.
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06-01-2009, 10:52 PM	#9
tracerit Captain 149 Rep 804 Posts Drives: 13 BRZ Limited 6MT Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Huntington Beach/OC, CA iTrader: (9)	corrosive damage? time to wash my wheels AND car!
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06-01-2009, 11:00 PM	#10
Hedges Major General 122 Rep 5,176 Posts Drives: 12 C63 AMG Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (8)	no
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06-01-2009, 11:20 PM	#11
dtm@heart Captain 60 Rep 629 Posts Drives: TiAg E90 Msport Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Honolulu, HI iTrader: (8)	yes
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06-02-2009, 01:10 AM	#12
BillLee Major General 721 Rep 5,382 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: HTX iTrader: (21) Garage List 09 E92 M3 [9.00]	no damage, unless you leave it on for years maybe. here's my car with about 2-3 weeks worth of brake dust. i should have waited longer to cover the rims fully. Attached Images __________________ Follow me on instagram: billy.by
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06-02-2009, 01:27 PM	#13
E90 Autosport Banned 2 Rep 87 Posts Drives: BMW's Join Date: May 2009 Location: SFV Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	why not just clean your wheels more often or get them powder coated gun metal for ever. lol
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06-02-2009, 02:20 PM	#15
BmwOwnsMe Second Lieutenant 19 Rep 259 Posts Drives: 2006 325 xi Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bergenfield, NJ iTrader: (0)	im getting my wheels replaced under the corrosion warranty.
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06-02-2009, 02:51 PM	#16
SpmnE9zero DENY THE WORLD THAT SURROUNDS YOU 512 Rep 35,580 Posts Drives: JB 33ZERO Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: City of Champions iTrader: (14) Garage List 2006 330xi [0.00]	My wife had a C240 and brake dust destroyed her rims, then again I live in pittsburgh so I am sure the salt from harsh winters helped out a lot! Now that we got her a new ML 350 we clean them religiously!
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06-02-2009, 04:09 PM	#17
Peter@VMRWheels BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 94 Rep 685 Posts Drives: P85D Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (0)	BMW brake dust = bad. If left on too long, they will become a permanent feature of your wheels, stock or aftermarket. For this reason I swapped to Axxis brake pads and never looked back There are also some brake pads on the market that is known for eating paint, but then again these are also racing pads.
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06-02-2009, 07:21 PM	#18
Ramos Colonel 898 Rep 2,917 Posts Drives: G20 2020 M340 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: So-Cal iTrader: (7)	Dude that look of a a BMW with wheels covered in brake dust screams chick that knows nothing about cars and just bought a BMW for the badge. That reminds me of my ex who had an E46 325 Graphite and would take it through the car wash and never ever cleaned her rims... The car always looked nasty
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06-02-2009, 08:17 PM	#19
Hedges Major General 122 Rep 5,176 Posts Drives: 12 C63 AMG Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (8)	maybe
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