I've been running my Mustang at the track fairly frequently and whenever I do the race pads dust so badly that the car gets covered in brake dust. I've tried to wash it off but it seems to stick to the paint. I've even washed the car with a deck brush and it certainly helps but it still doesn't get it all off! Obviously, scrubbing your car with a deck brush can't be good for the paint. Has anyone else experienced this and what have you done to remedy this situation?

John

I am assuming you are running metallic pads? I would switch over to ceramic as the dust dose not adhere as strongly to the paint and they work equally well hot or cold (they claim to be dust free, but they still grind down the rotors so that metal has to go some place). Added benefit is they do not use any asbestos like organic and metallic pads still do.

Big Dave

I am assuming you are running metallic pads? I would switch over to ceramic as the dust dose not adhere as strongly to the paint and they work equally well hot or cold (they claim to be dust free, but they still grind down the rotors so that metal has to go some place). Added benefit is they do not use any asbestos like organic and metallic pads still do.

Big Dave

Already switching pads. Any idea how to get this stuff off the body of the car and not ruin the paint job?

John

John take it in to a detail shop and let them give it a good cleaning. They will get it all off, then when you race spray the areas that are affected with cooking spray like PAM.
If you go to ceramic pads you may have to change your rotors. If the rotors are not designed for the additional heat the pads generate they will warp real fast.

Bought a clay bar and a can of brake cleaner. I'm going to replace the rotors since they are wasted and drop in the street pads that Wilwood sent me but before I do that I'm going to spray down the suspension with Brake cleaner and try and get as much of it off as I can.
After that I'm going to wash the car then clay bar it and see if that helps!

John

Brake fluid and brake cleaner will trash your paint. Do not attempt this.

The problem is the dust (minute particles of hot iron and asbestos fibers at over 2,000°F) was hot enough to burn itself into the paint. That is why it so hard to remove (it has chemically bonded to the surface and will need to be abraded away with rubbing compound or a stiff brush)

Big Dave

So it would not be advisable to use brake cleaner on powdercoated surfaces? I guess I'll just have to scrape as much of it off as I can.:(

John

Powder coat is a thermal set plastic. Brake cleaner will ruin the finish if it did not cause it to out right disolve.

Big Dave

Powder coat is a thermal set plastic. Brake cleaner will ruin the finish if it did not cause it to out right disolve.

Big Dave

Brake cleaner has been put away for non-painted projects!:D

PHEW!!!! I am tired! I just got done pulling the whole DB setup out of the car, cleaning all the brake dust that accumulated on the suspension along with the wheels and installing the new rotors and pads. Now I just need to bleed the brakes tomorrow and I should be ready to roll!:beers:

These babies are TOAST!

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/novanutcase/Toast.jpg

I hate safety wiring brakes!http://climbatizeut.users.btopenworld.com/f-smilies/f-grumpy.gif

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/novanutcase/WiredBrake.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/novanutcase/WiredBrakeCloseup.jpg

John