2003 Ford Escape Brake Dust

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JEFFCHELE
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Is it normal to have excess brake pad residue on the outside of open faced wheels. A friends car has a lot of what i think is brake pad residue on the outside of the open wheels where you can see some of the brake pads. The pads look good but i have not taken off wheel to check. I was wondering if it could be something else or if it was the pads. The residue is a thinck dust that smears like it has oil in it but doesn't seem like it. It is smeared all over both front wheels on her newly purchased car but the car is a couple of years old. It is not on the back wheels at all, only the front. It is a ford escape about a 2003.
Jun 26, 2006 at 3:06 PM
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VANDRAGON
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 298 POSTS
very normal for a ford. most newer cars come with metalic pads on the front, which create a lot of grey to black dust. just don't try knocking it off with a water hose until the wheels and rotors cool, or the rotors might warp.
Jun 27, 2006 at 3:39 AM

Suggested Repair

Heavy gray or black dust on the front wheels is normal with metallic brake pads. Do not wash the wheels with a hose until the wheels and rotors have cooled, or the rotors may warp.

Conversation Summary

The owner noticed thick, smearable dust on both front wheels of a newly purchased, roughly 2003 Ford Escape, but none on the rear wheels. The pads appeared good, though the wheels were not removed. The expert said this is normal for Fords because metallic front pads produce a lot of gray to black dust, and advised waiting until the wheels and rotors cool before washing them to avoid warping the rotors.

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