What is brake dust, where does it come from - and how do you reduce it?
Firstly, it is important to understand that there is no such thing as completely dust-free brake pads. Brake systems rely on the interaction between cast iron brake discs and the friction material in the brake pads, and this will always produce brake dust.
What car owners are usually looking for are two things:
- Less brake dust
- Brake dust that is easier to wash away
This is where EBC Brakes comes in with two very good options.
EBC brake pads with low dust
EBC Redstuff Copper Free Ceramic Granule Enhanced Brake Pads
A performance brake pad developed for premium cars and fast street driving, reducing brake dust by 30-50 %.
EBC Bluestuff Copper Free Non-Metallic Brake Pads
A super street and trackday brick that also has a similarly low dust production as the Redstuff range.
Redstuff is EBC's best-selling brake pad material globally, closely followed by EBC Yellowstuff. Its popularity is fuelled by the demand for less brake dust, as many drivers value cleaner rims as much as clean performance. Bluestuff is also a low-dust brake pad, but has a significantly higher performance level. For those who often drive actively and demand more from their brakes, Bluestuff is a great choice.
What causes brake dust?
Brake dust is primarily caused by iron (Fe), which is found in large quantities in semi-metallic brake pads. These pads are made from steel fibres that are pressed together with binders such as resins, as well as other components. When you buy a semi-metallic brake pad - which around 95 % of original OEM pads are - you're effectively buying a friction material with a high metal content.
Why do car manufacturers use semi-metallic brake pads? The answer is simple: cost.
Tests carried out by EBC Brakes show that when brake dust is washed off rims, dried and analysed, it contains a high proportion of iron. This iron comes either from the semi-metallic brake pad material or from the brake disc itself.
EBC, on the other hand, uses synthetic fibres such as Kevlar or Twaron in its brake pad compounds. These fibres help to bind the material together, but provide a softer and less abrasive contact surface. EBC's brake pads for cars also contain no harmful materials such as copper, antimony trisulphide, lead, cadmium or mercury.
EBC achieves high friction without unnecessarily “scraping” against the iron brake disc. Instead, more advanced and expensive ingredients are used in the material mix. The result is brake pads that are designed to provide less dust, lower noise levels and high performance.
Why do the rims get so dusty?
Iron dust from a semi-metallic brake pad is to some extent magnetic, which makes it easier to attract the rims. In addition, iron particles can react with the surface and adhere through both chemical reactions and static attraction.
The less iron (Fe) there is in the brake pad, the less attraction you get - and the easier the dust is to wash off the rims.
What does ceramic actually mean in a ceramic brake pad?
Ceramic materials are typically used as granules in small quantities, where they contribute to longer service life and lower noise levels. EBC clarifies that their automotive brake pads have never contained ceramic fibres and that they are completely copper-free.
Does a lighter brake pad give less black brake dust?
Maybe, but not necessarily. As mentioned, most brake dust is iron (Fe), so the colour of the brake pad itself doesn't alone tell you how much dark dust you get on the rims.
Does braking performance improve with ceramic materials?
It can be, but it's not just about the word «ceramic». Ceramic brake pads belong to a family often referred to as organic pads. EBC Redstuff, Yellowstuff and Bluestuff are all organic compounds that use the fibres mentioned above, combined with ceramic materials and other important additives.
In short, you shouldn't choose brake pads based on market buzzwords alone. It's smarter to look at performance, service life, braking power and noise reduction. Here, EBC goes a step further by using dampers or counterweights on some pads, as shown in the picture below.
What are dampers and counterweights on brake pads?
Some brake pads have dampers or counterweights of various shapes and sizes attached to the top of the backplate. Pads without such damping weights can be 20-30 % cheaper than pads that have them, so this is worth checking before you buy.
Dampers or counterweights can significantly reduce vibrations and braking noise.
In addition, shims, bevelled edges and grooves in the brake pad play an important role in reducing noise. This is one of the reasons why EBC pads with these solutions are among the quietest on the market.
Summarising
Brake dust can't be completely removed, but it can be significantly reduced with the right choice of brake pads. If you want cleaner rims, less visible brake dust and good braking performance, both EBC Redstuff and EBC Bluestuff are excellent options - depending on how you use your car.
