Brake Dust Question
05-02-2006, 10:33 AM
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Brake Dust Question
I'm in the market for a 06 RX-8 and has never owned a Mazda before. I saw one on the freeway and the front rims are dirty black. Obviously he is not in to clean cars. I like to keep mine spotless and wondering if the RX8 has problems with too much black brake dust like German cars. German cars use soft metal for brake pads. It has good stopping power but produces a lot of black brake dust. I have a Mercedes and I have to clean the wheels regularly so they don't get black.
Also, the car at the dealer lot has on 20" wheels and 245/35 tires. Should I keep them on or just stick with the stock wheels?
Also, the car at the dealer lot has on 20" wheels and 245/35 tires. Should I keep them on or just stick with the stock wheels?
05-02-2006, 10:48 AM
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If the seller is not into cleaning cars, I doubt the car is much taken care of. The brake dust is ok if you stick with stock rims (easy to clean) but more importantly is the brake squeal. I would just use stock wheels or light weight aftermarkets if you can afford them, 20 inch is not exactly light and the car is slow enough as it is.
05-02-2006, 12:12 PM
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I'm not buying the car from a private seller. I'd buy it off the dealer's lot brand new. However, I don't want to buy one if it procudes a lot of black brake dust like German cars. I'd have to clean it twice a week to keep it clean.
So to those who already own one, does your RX8 wheels get black from all the brake dust? What kind of pads does it use?
So to those who already own one, does your RX8 wheels get black from all the brake dust? What kind of pads does it use?
05-02-2006, 12:15 PM
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Stock RX-8 brakes do create an above average amount of dust. Not nearly as bad as BMWs and Audis I've seen though. If you clean it once a week, they should never get that dirty. Some aftermarket options for the RX-8 can create a LOT of dust (Hawk, Carbotech), so keep in mind the RX-8 you saw with the black wheels may have had one of these types of brakes.
As others have said, the stock brakes squeak. Mazda has tried and failed to address this. If squeaking bothers you, you may want to change the pads.
The trade-off for the dust and noise is excellent braking performance. If you're willing to deal with DRASTICALLY reduced performance, you can get Wagner Thermoquiet brakes. These will dust very little, and make no noise, but the stopping absolutely sucks!
As others have said, the stock brakes squeak. Mazda has tried and failed to address this. If squeaking bothers you, you may want to change the pads.
The trade-off for the dust and noise is excellent braking performance. If you're willing to deal with DRASTICALLY reduced performance, you can get Wagner Thermoquiet brakes. These will dust very little, and make no noise, but the stopping absolutely sucks!
05-02-2006, 12:24 PM
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From the sounds of my brakes, they seem to be semi-metallic (they freakin squeel when cold), which do produce a moderate amount of dust under heavy load. If you like to wash your car everyweek or every two weeks you won't notice it, especially if you don't drive very spiritedly. The amount of dust produced is directly proportional to your braking habits. Even under heavy consistent heavy braking and a weekly washing, it shouldn't be enough dust to bother you. My MX6 was terrible with dust, everytime I got out of the car I wanted to whipe the wheels off.
I would suggest you keep the stock wheels, while the 20's are more than likely heavier, which will slow you down a bit (disregard if speed isn't of any signifigance to you), and if wider than the stock wheels will cause understeer (disregard if you aren't a fanboi).
I would suggest you keep the stock wheels, while the 20's are more than likely heavier, which will slow you down a bit (disregard if speed isn't of any signifigance to you), and if wider than the stock wheels will cause understeer (disregard if you aren't a fanboi).
05-02-2006, 12:33 PM
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That's what I was afraid of. Not to mention the squeal, I wouldn't want to deal with all that brake dust. As I said, I like to drive clean cars. It annoys me that after washing it to a spotless shine, black brake dust is visible just after a couple of miles down the road. I have to deal with this with my Mercedes. I wash the wheels twice a week. I guess I'll just go get a Lexus IS.
05-02-2006, 12:44 PM
#9
幹他媽!
NO, it's not as bad as German cars. It ultimately depends on (1) how you drive and (2) how often you wash your car. I like to drive both my cars pretty hard. So, I know exactly what you're talking about, btw... 
Originally Posted by Flipsonic
So does the RX8 produce a lot of black brake dust like German cars?
Last edited by Detrich; 05-02-2006 at 12:52 PM.
05-02-2006, 12:49 PM
#10
The Professor
Originally Posted by Flipsonic
So does the RX8 produce a lot of black brake dust like German cars?
Excellent brakes have their tradoffs. Dust, noise.
Just like excellent handling/responsiveness has its tradeoffs. Rough ride, poor rain/snow perfomance.
Or even high power. Very high maintenance costs, high gas prices.
If you want a car you don't have to worry about, perhaps a sports car isn't for you.
05-02-2006, 12:54 PM
#11
幹他媽!
LOL... 
Originally Posted by staticlag
Perhaps you should be in the market for a dodge neon, or ford taurus.
Excellent brakes have their tradoffs. Dust, noise.
Just like excellent handling/responsiveness has its tradeoffs. Rough ride, poor rain/snow perfomance.
Or even high power. Very high maintenance costs, high gas prices.
If you want a car you don't have to worry about, perhaps a sports car isn't for you.
Excellent brakes have their tradoffs. Dust, noise.
Just like excellent handling/responsiveness has its tradeoffs. Rough ride, poor rain/snow perfomance.
Or even high power. Very high maintenance costs, high gas prices.
If you want a car you don't have to worry about, perhaps a sports car isn't for you.
05-02-2006, 03:13 PM
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The brake dust on this car generally stays on the wheel... and unlike the aforementioned german cars it doesn't get all over the fenders.
Brake dust is also one of the easiest things to clean. Just soap and water once every two weeks and your rims will be spotless.
-hS
Brake dust is also one of the easiest things to clean. Just soap and water once every two weeks and your rims will be spotless.
-hS
05-02-2006, 03:59 PM
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Here's another suggestion. If it bothers you that much, After you buy the car, get ceramic pads. GAME OVER. You WIN! THEN, send me your old relatively unused pads, and I'll even pay for the shipping.
Ceramic pads leave relatively no dust under normal conditions. If you get on them, you will get literally a tiny bit of brake dust on your wheels.
Ceramic pads leave relatively no dust under normal conditions. If you get on them, you will get literally a tiny bit of brake dust on your wheels.
05-02-2006, 04:34 PM
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Originally Posted by staticlag
Perhaps you should be in the market for a dodge neon, or ford taurus.
Excellent brakes have their tradoffs. Dust, noise.
Just like excellent handling/responsiveness has its tradeoffs. Rough ride, poor rain/snow perfomance.
Or even high power. Very high maintenance costs, high gas prices.
If you want a car you don't have to worry about, perhaps a sports car isn't for you.
Excellent brakes have their tradoffs. Dust, noise.
Just like excellent handling/responsiveness has its tradeoffs. Rough ride, poor rain/snow perfomance.
Or even high power. Very high maintenance costs, high gas prices.
If you want a car you don't have to worry about, perhaps a sports car isn't for you.
05-02-2006, 05:25 PM
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Mr. Lag's may come off as harsh, but he and I share similar sentiment. Although he's being brutally honest, I almost replied similarly. I guess, "are you serious" would summarize his message and tone. Lots of people on the forums tend to be a bit straightforward when they feel the need to opine. Many posts are sarcastic and crass and wouldn't be considered diplomatic.
While writing his post he was probably thinking the same thing that I was thinking, "is this guy ****** serious?"
Let me reaffirm for you that you will not get nearly as much dust that you are worried about, and even if you find you are having a problem, get ceramic pads. It's a world of a difference with them, in performance, noise, and dust (or the lack of the latter).
While writing his post he was probably thinking the same thing that I was thinking, "is this guy ****** serious?"
Let me reaffirm for you that you will not get nearly as much dust that you are worried about, and even if you find you are having a problem, get ceramic pads. It's a world of a difference with them, in performance, noise, and dust (or the lack of the latter).
05-02-2006, 05:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Skythe
Here's another suggestion. If it bothers you that much, After you buy the car, get ceramic pads. GAME OVER. You WIN! THEN, send me your old relatively unused pads, and I'll even pay for the shipping.
Ceramic pads leave relatively no dust under normal conditions. If you get on them, you will get literally a tiny bit of brake dust on your wheels.
Ceramic pads leave relatively no dust under normal conditions. If you get on them, you will get literally a tiny bit of brake dust on your wheels.
05-02-2006, 05:37 PM
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Originally Posted by BlueRenesis82
I'll pay you $10 plus shipping for em!
05-02-2006, 10:20 PM
#24
Originally Posted by Flipsonic
Geez staticlag, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. It's just a car. Sorry I'm not as passionate about the RX8 as you are. I've never owned one. I'm not trying to talk crap about your car, I'm just looking for answers. But do you really have to go and insult me because my point of view differs from you? FYI, I've owned many sports cars before. Peace!
wait,
its just a car? you make it sound like a clean zone... wash the damn wheels...
what is the issue.. you are to good to wash the wheels??? you followed the guy around and he did not wash his or her wheels enough?????
please buy a smart car, because you are not....
beers
