Brake Dust on Alloys

[rosemary]

Hello All
I have a question concerning Brake Dust. On my S-Type the Alloys get a little black brake dust deposited on them over what I would accept a reasonable period. On my XF the deposit of black dust is deposited after a journey of 80 miles to an unreasonable amount in my view. The wheels are virtually black particularly the front. My car purchased earlier this year with 43k on the clock now has 45k ,so clearly has had new pads fitted at a previous service. Is it possible these were "Economy" pads and produce excessive dust or is it a characteristic of the "Carvela" style Alloys or is the "Black Option" on new cars Jaguar's way of disguising this phenomenon.Comments would be really appreciated.

[J44EAG]

I think you have almost answered your own question there, Dave.

Pad and disc material qualities and properties do vary from one manufacturer to another and may produce more or less brake dust fall out depending on composition. Contamination seems to have increased in line with manufacturers removing dangerous asbestos from their pad materials.

Upmarket materials such as the well known Red or Green Stuff produced by EBC, might prove more effective with dust control. Others here on this site who use the material may be able to comment further.

Mike K

[rosemary]

Hello Mike, thanks I thought that might be case. . Never seen so much dust before after such a short trip,
I was beginning to suspect some cheep pads had been fitted. Will get some Green Stuff or Pagids, been using them for years from Eurocarparts.

[rosemary]

Being curious I removed the near side front wheel to have a look at the pads. A horror story faced me with the pad with the sensor attached just wearing in to the contact housing of the sensor. This car was serviced at a Jaguar Main Dealer in March and MOT in August with no advisories so all a bit disconcerting. The pads are stamped Jaguar. On removal ,once I'd purchased new pads and sensor cable assembly, I found the pad with the sensor actually disintegrating, the origin of all the dust and a blackened Alloy. Clearly I changed all pads and sensors straight away. The discs remain in good condition having caught things in time.

[rosemary]

Just to be sure of everything and as I now have new pads for the rear and the wear sensor cable assembly, which is different to the front, I though firstly I'd check the pads then try to figure out how the sensor fits.
Utter relief the Pads are showing what I would think is acceptable wear, they had on average 4mm left from 10mm and I would guess have been changed sometime in the previous 40.000 miles given they don't have the Jaguar name on them. The sensor looks a bit fiddly to fit but perseverance is probably the order of the day when coming to do it. I've left everything as is for the moment.