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Car Forum / Chrysler Cars / September 2004Brake dust question
I have a 2003 Caravan, which I got recently with only 23,000 km. I have never had a vehicle that produced front brake dust like this. Within two hours of driving the front wheels are black. I haven't gotten into the brakes to see if there is an issue, but I seem to notice the same thing on other Caravans. Is this normal for this vehicle? Why is it so susceptible? > I have a 2003 Caravan, which I got recently with only 23,000 km. I have > never had a vehicle that produced front brake dust like this. > Within two hours of driving the front wheels are black. > I haven't gotten into the brakes to see if there is an issue, but I seem to > notice the same thing on other Caravans. > Is this normal for this vehicle? Why is it so susceptible? You might switch over to ceramic pads - available from tirerack.com (Akebono ProACT brand), NAPA, and a host of other aftermarket sources. Ceramics are supposedly very long-wearing and low dust - I'm getting ready to order the Akebonos for my Concorde based on good things I've read about them on the 300M ezBoard. Bill Putney (to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with "x") I tried ceramic pads on the front of my 2002 Caravan to help with that horrible black dust. It did help alot, but every 5-6k miles the rotors would develop a sort of invisible glaze on them and the steering wheel would develop an anoying wobble when stopping. I took the rotors back twice to the auto parts store for resurfacing, and they always said they took hardly anything off cause the rotors were smooth and not warped at all. Each time the brakes worked smoothly after that. After the second round of this, I changed back to regular pads and put up with the dust. Maybe also a perception, but I can stop better with the regular pads, maybe because they are softer and grip better? The ceramic pads have a copper look to them. Perhaps someone can come up with a heavy duty clear plastic "dust deflector" disk to fit onto the studs prior to mounting the rim, if it would not interfere with cooling the rotor. Just my experience. Rick >> I have a 2003 Caravan, which I got recently with only 23,000 km. I have >> never had a vehicle that produced front brake dust like this. [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! > -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- Just because you got "ceramic" doesn't mean you got quality. I"ve been using quality ceramic pads and rotors with NO problems whatsoever and fantastic brake performance. I've used them on my 93 T&C, my 99 T&C and my Suburban. Larry > I tried ceramic pads on the front of my 2002 Caravan to help with that > horrible black dust. It did help alot, but every 5-6k miles the rotors [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > > http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! > > -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- I've used ceramics for a few years and they've done fine. What brand are you using? > I tried ceramic pads on the front of my 2002 Caravan to help with that > horrible black dust. It did help alot, but every 5-6k miles the rotors [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > > http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! > > -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- Yah! Can you give some suggestions for what brand would be best? > I've used ceramics for a few years and they've done fine. What brand are > you using? [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > > > http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! > > > -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- I have had very good luck with the NAPA product. Larry > Yah! Can you give some suggestions for what brand would be best? > > I've used ceramics for a few years and they've done fine. What brand are [quoted text clipped - 48 lines] > > > > http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! > > > > -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- >I have had very good luck with the NAPA product. >Larry ------------ If ceramics are installed in just the fronts, does this change the overall braking characteristics of the vehicle ? TIA ! Zork > >I have had very good luck with the NAPA product. > >Larry [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > TIA ! > Zork For the purist, it does. In actuallity, people mix and match all the time with no problems. Any given pad will have a certain friction coefficient, and, excluding the very bottom of the scale, they all are within some range of about 25%. The factory designs in a balance between front and rear, but it isn't an exact science - some of it is for perception, or to determine what happens under extreme conditions (which wheels lock up first, etc.). For example, with a 300M, depending on the brake package you get, the proportioning valve will have a different front-to-rear factor - same car, but the proportining is different simply because of the brake/handling package. ABS lessens the importance of any difference in front and rear pad friction. Bill Putney (to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with "x") I've used Raybestos Quiet Stop pads with good results. > I have had very good luck with the NAPA product. > Larry [quoted text clipped - 55 lines] > > > > > http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! > > > > > -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- These vans are very hard on front brakes. Keeping your rears adjusted properly will help. Also, a.s Bill said, ceramic pads reduce the black dust. > I have a 2003 Caravan, which I got recently with only 23,000 km. I have > never had a vehicle that produced front brake dust like this. > Within two hours of driving the front wheels are black. > I haven't gotten into the brakes to see if there is an issue, but I seem to > notice the same thing on other Caravans. > Is this normal for this vehicle? Why is it so susceptible? > ...Also, a.s Bill said, ceramic pads reduce the black > dust. Hey - watch those typos!! 8^) Bill Putney (to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with "x") oops! :-) > > ...Also, a.s Bill said, ceramic pads reduce the black > > dust. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! > -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- > These vans are very hard on front brakes. Keeping your rears adjusted > properly will help. Also, a.s Bill said, ceramic pads reduce the black > dust. I don't think Bill has said anything here that warrants that adjective! :-) Matt > > These vans are very hard on front brakes. Keeping your rears adjusted > > properly will help. Also, a.s Bill said, ceramic pads reduce the black [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Matt Well, no - not in *this* thread! 8^) Bill Putney (to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with "x") You're not alone. Ford/Lincoln received so many complaints that they changed the pads for free on the Expy and Navigators. Unfortunately, not all dealerships were willing to do so. Ken > I have a 2003 Caravan, which I got recently with only 23,000 km. I have > never had a vehicle that produced front brake dust like this. > Within two hours of driving the front wheels are black. > I haven't gotten into the brakes to see if there is an issue, but I seem to > notice the same thing on other Caravans. > Is this normal for this vehicle? Why is it so susceptible? > I have a 2003 Caravan, which I got recently with only 23,000 km. I have > never had a vehicle that produced front brake dust like this. > Within two hours of driving the front wheels are black. > I haven't gotten into the brakes to see if there is an issue, but I seem to > notice the same thing on other Caravans. > Is this normal for this vehicle? Why is it so susceptible? Yes; it is normal. One suggestion is to apply a good polish to the wheels. This will make it easier to wash the dust off. I did try the ceramic pads on my 96 mini-van and it did seem to do the trick. I also switched to those nice Italian rotors Tire Rack offers. Too bad the transmission case cracked just a few months later, so I don't have any long term experience with this. Richard. |
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