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OK, I'm bored so here goes. In the interest of reducing brake dusting on our wheels, which would be better? (assuming driving conditions permit) Very light brake pedal pressure over a longer period of time/distance for stopping OR very heavy brake pedal pressure (no ABS activation) for a shorter period of time/distance. Lots of variables here, heat, friction, pad composition reaction to pressure, etc. Whats your opinion or theory?
P.S. Assume stock pad composition for discussion purposes.
Assuming you want to discuss it at all.
Last edited by Old Timer; Jul 30, 2004 at 01:49 AM.
I would think braking softly is better. After doing some autocrossing and some heavy braking, my wheels were black with brake dust. At most, I only put like 10 good miles before I looked at the wheels yet in normal traffic where I brake softly, it takes much longer to collect that much brake dust, of course, I was going much faster but the point is that heavy braking seemed to be the cause of such quick brake dust collection. Its like using an eraser lightly will make it last longer. But what do I know???
I would assume that the harder you use your brakes (thereby geeting them hotter) the more pad material you will burn off as brake powder. Stopping over a longer distance by using your brakes more gently would burn off less material even though you are stopping from the same MPH.
From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
I vote for unhooking the ABS and stomping on the brakes at the last available second. If you lock up all 4 wheels there won't be a chance for any brake dust.
In this test, are you breaking into the wind or with the wind. And what is the ambient temperature going to be. Relative Humidity should also be considered.And yes I am bored as well.
In this test, are you breaking into the wind or with the wind. And what is the ambient temperature going to be. Relative Humidity should also be considered.And yes I am bored as well.