[Nai3t]

Bummer.

German cars are known for atrocious brake dust accumulating quickly on the front wheels. I changed pad compounds on my Audi allroad to get away from this, and was happy my i3 didn't suffer this problem, I assume because of strong regenerative braking.

I don't recall brake dust being particularly bad on our Jetta and Passat, but I'm noticing the ID.4 already has a decent coating on the front wheels.

Tell me, are you noticing the same, or should I be having a conversation with she who shall not be named who I believe is mostly driving in B mode?

 

[Huey52]

'B' mode for me and I haven't noticed any brake dust in a little over a month now. 'Course it helps that the FE wheels have a lot of black.

Yes, as we know Germanic brake pads have a lot of graphite in them by their DOT laws. At least our rear brakes are drum and thereby fairly encapsulated, not that they're used much anyway.

Confronting SWSNBN takes a lot of courage and is usually futile. Easier to just get some Griot's wheel cleaner.

 

[Nai3t]

I saw the value of aftermarket pads on the Audi. If this becomes a thing I'll swap asap.

 

[Astros]

Tell me, are you noticing the same, or should I be having a conversation with she who shall not be named who I believe is mostly driving in B mode?

I believe B mode only mixes in regenerative braking, not the friction brakes. So, I don't think that could be contributing to brake dust.

 

[ErickF]

B-moder here. Haven't noticed any dust. For that matter, I didn't in the 10 years I was driving my VW CC.

 

[ExCivilian]

I'm not seeing it on the wheels but I did swipe my finger around the inside (just for you!) and it did come away black. Now, that said, I've been driving this thing like my GTI and barely hitting 2.7 mi/kwh. I was excited today because I'm re-learning my old ways and was cruising through town a bit ago at 5 mi/kwh!

As for approaching The Boss. Luckily, I have cultural factors in my favor. For driving gloves I reminded her about the leather gloves I'd bought her when the steering wheel was too hot during the summer. I leaned in on her tendency to avoid the sun and she thought it was a great idea to wear her driving gloves. One point for me and my white steering wheel.

This weekend I'm going to approach the topic of efficient driving and lean in on her tendency to save money...but the free EA charging is going to work against me there for the time being. So probably no point there for me.

 

[sparkyr]

My 2016 GTI had terrible brake dust. Two days after washing my car and the front wheels would be dusty gray. At around 5,000 miles, I had had enough and got ceramic brake pads put on. Problem solved. Braking was as good as stock, no noise, no dust — and I mean no dust. Now I'm at 43,000+ miles and they're still good.

 

[Nai3t]

I believe B mode only mixes in regenerative braking, not the friction brakes. So, I don't think that could be contributing to brake dust.

That is my thinking too, or put another way, brake pedal usage should result in regen (primarily) plus mechanical braking added in as needed.

Heavy brake pedal usage, though...

 

[Nai3t]

... I had had enough and got ceramic brake pads put on. Problem solved. Braking was as good as stock, no noise, no dust...

I considered ceramics for the allroad but eventually went with Bosch Quiet Cast, which aren't advertised as low dust, but met my needs and performed fine. I may do the same here.

 

[Hdkeith]

My Audi was horrible. I swapped out the pads right away and the dust was gone. Disappointed that the ID.4 suffers from that, but I plan on B mode driving and hoping 1 pedal mode arrives when my AWD does.

 

[Huey52]

Yep, my Audi's produced a lot of brake dust with stock pads as well. Of course far more spirited driving in those then now my ID.4.

But again, to be fair, German pads contain a lot of graphite by law as it's a very effective braking agent. A case of optimal braking at the expense of dust. Ceramic brakes are low dust, but very noisy until warmed up (mostly intended for track use). You typically have to compromise in some area: dust vs. noise vs. efficiency.

btw: I'm sure you've noticed most every BMW sedan out there has significantly dust coated front wheels.

My Audi was horrible. I swapped out the pads right away and the dust was gone. Disappointed that the ID.4 suffers from that, but I plan on B mode driving and hoping 1 pedal mode arrives when my AWD does.

 

[sparkyr]

But again, to be fair, German pads contain a lot of graphite by law as it's a very effective braking agent. A case of optimal braking at the expense of dust. Ceramic brakes are low dust, but very noisy until warmed up (mostly intended for track use). You typically have to compromise in some area: dust vs. noise vs. efficiency.

I would add that there are different grades of ceramic brake pads, some for street and some for track. Mine have never squeaked. One just needs to be sure of getting the right type for their needs.

 

[Huey52]

Yes, that's what I was trying to convey with "track use." But your point supports my "compromise" in that somewhat less braking efficiency in street ceramic to reduce noise. All design is compromise.

btw: In my former program management life it was always "schedule, cost, quality - pick two."
In braking it's "efficiency, dust, noise - pick two." 😆

I would add that there are different grades of ceramic brake pads, some for street and some for track. Mine have never squeaked. One just needs to be sure of getting the right type for their needs.

 

[FredT]

I saw the value of aftermarket pads on the Audi. If this becomes a thing I'll swap asap.

That's strange that you would be seeing that. I had an Audi A3 e-tron PHEV, and the very bright wheels were pristine after three years.

 

[BlueDH]

That's strange that you would be seeing that. I had an Audi A3 e-tron PHEV, and the very bright wheels were pristine after three years.

I think it's somewhat dependent on wheel design or should be. I just don't want to see it on the outside of the wheels.
I'm thinking it also depends if there is "active" brake cooling. I'm seeing more and more front vents directing cooling air.
My Jetta had a plastic cover under the car for less resistance and noise. It also had slots directing air into the wheel wells.

 

[Nai3t]

Was it cooling air or boundary control? On the ID.4 for instance the front air vents are used to create a higher pressure in the wheel well to encourage the slipstream air to stay out of the well, reducing drag. But it doesn't cool the rotor or blow dust away from the wheel.

 

[BlueDH]

Was it cooling air or boundary control? On the ID.4 for instance the front air vents are used to create a higher pressure in the wheel well to encourage the slipstream air to stay out of the well, reducing drag. But it doesn't cool the rotor or blow dust away from the wheel.

Ya learn something new every day. Thanks.

 

[1440]

Bummer.

German cars are known for atrocious brake dust accumulating quickly on the front wheels. I changed pad compounds on my Audi allroad to get away from this, and was happy my i3 didn't suffer this problem, I assume because of strong regenerative braking.

I don't recall brake dust being particularly bad on our Jetta and Passat, but I'm noticing the ID.4 already has a decent coating on the front wheels.

Tell me, are you noticing the same, or should I be having a conversation with she who shall not be named who I believe is mostly driving in B mode?

Funny, my 2008 Jetta always accumulated atrocious brake dust on the REAR wheels
I hated it!

 

[Beav91]

If B mode is like the hybrids then it uses the motor to brake the car and you have full brake function. On the hybrids I never used it, because with the regenerative braking you never have to replace brake pads. I do a lot of driving. Had my ID.4 for 2 weeks and I have 2,000 miles of it.

 

[BlueDH]

B-moder here. Haven't noticed any dust. For that matter, I didn't in the 10 years I was driving my VW CC.

Wheel design.