Brake Dust Brand New Model 3 (Help)

[Shelburne]

I've had my M3 for about 18 months. I've never had an issue with brake dust. It might be because I live in a very rural area and can rely on regenerative braking for the majority of times I have to slow down or stop. But then, except for Portland, most of Oregon is pretty rural too. I'd suggest cleaning the car well, then after you've driven it for awhile, wipe down the wheels (just the wheels) and bring that rag with you to a Tesla service center and see what they say.

 

[rpiotro]

I have had very minimal brake dust. And that was mostly when new as the pads seat in.

If you think your car is bad, you have never owned a German car. After cleaning the front wheels they are black after three stops. Okay, I'm exaggerating. But not much.

 

[kessel_run]

When i have a new car or change out brakes/rotors i more or less follow this process:

1. From 60 MPH, apply the brakes gently a few times to bring them up to their usual operating temperature. This prepares your pads and rotors for the high heat generated in the next steps.
2. Make a near-stop from 60 to about 10 MPH. Press the brakes firmly, but not so hard that the ABS engages or the wheels lock. Once you've slowed down, immediately speed up to 60 MPH and apply the brakes again. Perform this cycle 8-10 times. Do not come to a complete stop! If you hold the brake pedal down while stopped you will leave excessive pad material on the rotors and ruin your braking performance.
3. Once you've performed that final near-stop, accelerate and drive a bit more, trying to use the brakes as little as possible so they can cool down. Again, do not come to a complete stop while the brakes are still hot.

 

[CSOTH7]

I had zero brake dust on my Uberturbines, but when I switched to aftermarket MOMO's they are way dirtier than the original wheels by a longshot. My guess is they are lot more open and easily pick up anything from the road...I tried to ceramic coat them but no luck!

 

[lUtriaNt]

on the old performance wheels i would see a lot of brake dust.

 

[ODWms]

I have had very minimal brake dust. And that was mostly when new as the pads seat in.

If you think your car is bad, you have never owned a German car. After cleaning the front wheels they are black after three stops. Okay, I'm exaggerating. But not much.

I’ve had several BMWs and Benzes over the years, and I can attest to the brake dust problem. There are a few companies out there that offer pads that reduce it. That did help.

 

[tm1v2]

I’ve had several BMWs and Benzes over the years, and I can attest to the brake dust problem. There are a few companies out there that offer pads that reduce it. That did help.

In my limited experience over the years the better the pad, the more it dusts. Has that matched your experience? Did those lower dust pads bite and modulate and handle heat as well as the dustier ones they replaced?

The pads (and brakes overall) in my M3P feel good but it's really hard to compare dust levels with my past ICE cars! Regen sure helps these seem like low dust brakes.

 

[ODWms]

Definitely a trade off, especially in the earlier years. As time went on you could see improvement in that dichotomy, but still... yeah.

 

[rpiotro]

In my limited experience over the years the better the pad, the more it dusts. Has that matched your experience? Did those lower dust pads bite and modulate and handle heat as well as the dustier ones they replaced?

The pads (and brakes overall) in my M3P feel good but it's really hard to compare dust levels with my past ICE cars! Regen sure helps these seem like low dust brakes.

I'll give them that. The OEM pads on the wife's SLK 350 work great. I'm impressed with the stopping power. But the dust is awful. I suspect that is because of the "organic" compound. Germans. Green you know. Fanatically so.

 

[Occhis]

I'll give them that. The OEM pads on the wife's SLK 350 work great. I'm impressed with the stopping power. But the dust is awful. I suspect that is because of the "organic" compound. Germans. Green you know. Fanatically so.

Yeah, the Germans are so green that they shut down all their nuclear power plants and burn some of the dirtiest coal on earth instead.

 

[one2many]

Yeah, the Germans are so green that they shut down all their nuclear power plants and burn some of the dirtiest coal on earth instead.

Well that may be true, but most of the roofs here have solar panels, and your's
Do model 3 have brakes, never used them, hunn It happy hour never mind.

 

[BMWM3Man]

Correct me if I’m wrong but regenerative braking doesn’t even use the brakes/brake pads!?

 

[Occhis]

Regen does not use the brakes, but if you use HOLD mode for one pedal driving the friction brakes are used to bring the car to a full stop.

 

[rpiotro]

Yeah, the Germans are so green that they shut down all their nuclear power plants and burn some of the dirtiest coal on earth instead.

I never pretended the "Greens" were rational.

 

[mswlogo]

I've had my M3 for about 18 months. I've never had an issue with brake dust. It might be because I live in a very rural area and can rely on regenerative braking for the majority of times I have to slow down or stop. But then, except for Portland, most of Oregon is pretty rural too. I'd suggest cleaning the car well, then after you've driven it for awhile, wipe down the wheels (just the wheels) and bring that rag with you to a Tesla service center and see what they say.

If you want get on service centers *sugar* list, this sounds like a great plan.

 

[m3rwd]

Maybe one side of the pads are rubbing even when you are not on the brakes.

Try doing a few firm presses on the brake pedal to self centre the pads.

 

[zhu-]

Correct me if I’m wrong but regenerative braking doesn’t even use the brakes/brake pads!?

No, it uses the drive motors' resistance to slow down the car and regenerate the energy back into the battery.

 

[rpiotro]

No, it uses the drive motors' resistance to slow down the car and regenerate the energy back into the battery.

I'm pretty sure It does use the brakes for that last 5 mph. Just the rears I believe. Still should last a long, long time.

I say that because the stops became even smoother after the brakes were bedded in.

 

[zhu-]

I'm pretty sure It does use the brakes for that last 5 mph. Just the rears I believe. Still should last a long, long time.

I say that because the stops became even smoother after the brakes were bedded in.

Oh yes, on the Hold drive mode it blends in regular brakes for a complete stop, but regen itself is motor only.

The last OTA update mentioned Hold mode using regen to work at even lower mph but no mention of actual numbers.

 

[rpiotro]

Oh yes, on the Hold drive mode it blends in regular brakes for a complete stop, but regen itself is motor only.

The last OTA update mentioned Hold mode using regen to work at even lower mph but no mention of actual numbers.

I think it said to work a little more aggressively at low speeds. Nothing about lowering the threshold.