Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: joshwyatt on 24 September 2010, 22:46:49

Title: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: joshwyatt on 24 September 2010, 22:46:49
I've no idea what brake pads are on my 2.6 Elite currently, but they do produce a lot of brake dust, even after a gentle drive the front wheels are always black.
Do OEM pads produce less brake dust? The brakes feel fine, but not excellent...so I may change the discs and pads, and wonder whether the cheap VX pads are ok, or whether to go for the OEM ones?
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: Entwood on 24 September 2010, 22:52:20
I have the tradeclub ones, those that come with the discs as a kit, and they do create a great deal of black dust, which also indicates to me that they must be wearing fairly quickly.

My intention next time is to buy the OEM ones from VX and see I notice the difference others have reported... I think it was Chris Gixer (might be wrong) who went for the OEM ones

EDIT .. have a read of this thread .. I think it's the one I'm thinking of .. :)

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1279141118

Found the one I was thinking of ..

post 38 of this one

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1211404230

:)
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 24 September 2010, 23:05:52
if it doesnt create dust it will eat the discs quickly.. I think its normal.. I have used ate, vx/opel all of them create considerable dust especially at the front..
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: feeutfo on 24 September 2010, 23:07:10
Yep oe are good, but steep, get what you pay for....
Although £70 a front axle set is ott IMO, but the alternative is tc pads which are crap in comparison. tc work, they will stop the car as well, just a lot more feel and bite in-between. Little dust, no squeak, last well loads of feel.
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: feeutfo on 24 September 2010, 23:08:31
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Yep oe are good, but steep, get what you pay for....
Although £70 a front axle set is ott IMO, but the alternative is tc pads which are crap in comparison. tc work, they will stop the car as well, just  oe havea lot more feel and bite in-between. Little dust, no squeak, last well loads of feel.
Did I mention.... Lots of feel :y
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: joshwyatt on 24 September 2010, 23:12:01
Thanks Nige and Chris  :y
I try to keep my car looking presentable whenever possible, and the brake dust is becoming excessive. So I'll most likely get some OEM pads.
I do find the current pads don't bite that well, but for all I know they could be cheap one's on there. I'll have a look over the weekend at some point.
Thank you both for your imput.

You're right Cem...but it just seems that mine are a bit too excessive, a 20 miles drive can have the front wheels black with brake dust, even if the braking has only been moderate to light.
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: tomoco on 24 September 2010, 23:22:08
Yes i have to give my wheels a good scrub every week or it starts to burn into the alloy. only way round it is to paint your wheels a nice shade of black  :P
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: feeutfo on 24 September 2010, 23:24:38
Might be worth a quote from andyc, or enquire at allgermanparts whe supply jurid pads. Oe have jurid on the back.

There must be a cheaper way to get these pads.
Tc are two at the top, oe are the 4 at the bottom.
(http://i344.photobucket.com/albums/p326/chrisgixer/11062009654.jpg)
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 24 September 2010, 23:27:58
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Yes i have to give my wheels a good scrub every week or it starts to burn into the alloy. only way round it is to paint your wheels a nice shade of black  :P

try paint protector polishes also for alloys, they do help..
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 24 September 2010, 23:30:03
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Thanks Nige and Chris  :y
I try to keep my car looking presentable whenever possible, and the brake dust is becoming excessive. So I'll most likely get some OEM pads.
I do find the current pads don't bite that well, but for all I know they could be cheap one's on there. I'll have a look over the weekend at some point.
Thank you both for your imput.

You're right Cem...but it just seems that mine are a bit too excessive, a 20 miles drive can have the front wheels black with brake dust, even if the braking has only been moderate to light.

20 miles =30 kms nearly my daily commute.. yep.. mines get very lightly dusted for that distance..
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: tomoco on 24 September 2010, 23:37:16
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Yes i have to give my wheels a good scrub every week or it starts to burn into the alloy. only way round it is to paint your wheels a nice shade of black  :P

try paint protector polishes also for alloys, they do help..
Thanks CEM i've never tried paint protectors on wheels before :y
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: Broomies Mate on 24 September 2010, 23:53:55
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Yes i have to give my wheels a good scrub every week or it starts to burn into the alloy. only way round it is to paint your wheels a nice shade of black  :P

try paint protector polishes also for alloys, they do help..
Thanks CEM i've never tried paint protectors on wheels before :y

Even a coat of polish over clean wheels will make future cleaning much easier.  :y
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 25 September 2010, 00:08:38
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Yes i have to give my wheels a good scrub every week or it starts to burn into the alloy. only way round it is to paint your wheels a nice shade of black  :P

try paint protector polishes also for alloys, they do help..
Thanks CEM i've never tried paint protectors on wheels before :y

 :y :y

ps:  dont wash your alloys when they are hot ( I did this mistake) they will turn to undertone..
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: damon80 on 25 September 2010, 02:29:09
I've always used gen GM pads on mine, and as you say Josh - they do make a fair bit of dust.

Who's are those pads which don't have the chamford (sp) edges on them?  Same footprint, but a greater disk-pad contact area must be a benefit in the brake performance area?

I've been tempted to run some EBC Grenstuff or Redstuff Pads in my motor (used Redstuff in my Astra GSi, but they seemed almost dangerous when cold, never tried greenstuff) - but the redstuff gave next to no dust off, greenstuff perhaps worth a try?  I'm tempted by the redstuff, given the weight/inertia of the Omega to generate some heat, with obviously the shoebox Astra didn't have??  :-/  :-/

Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: damon80 on 25 September 2010, 02:31:44
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Yes i have to give my wheels a good scrub every week or it starts to burn into the alloy. only way round it is to paint your wheels a nice shade of black  :P

try paint protector polishes also for alloys, they do help..
Thanks CEM i've never tried paint protectors on wheels before :y

Even a coat of polish over clean wheels will make future cleaning much easier.  :y

On that front BTW, I put a coat of Turtle Wax Ice on mine after I've washed them - the brake $h17e doesn't bak on as much then, so it's  just a quick rinse/sponge off job then.

Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: tunnie on 25 September 2010, 08:56:32
just let them go black and stay black, i've not washed my alloys since about March  ;D
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: VXL V6 on 25 September 2010, 09:34:43
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I've always used gen GM pads on mine, and as you say Josh - they do make a fair bit of dust.

Who's are those pads which don't have the chamford (sp) edges on them?  Same footprint, but a greater disk-pad contact area must be a benefit in the brake performance area?
I've been tempted to run some EBC Grenstuff or Redstuff Pads in my motor (used Redstuff in my Astra GSi, but they seemed almost dangerous when cold, never tried greenstuff) - but the redstuff gave next to no dust off, greenstuff perhaps worth a try?  I'm tempted by the redstuff, given the weight/inertia of the Omega to generate some heat, with obviously the shoebox Astra didn't have??  :-/  :-/


Those are the genuine OE (as the vehicle left the factory) pads, the ones with the chamfer on the edges are the more common trade club / standard pads that the dealer supplies as standard.

Chrisgixer and I will happily tell you the difference between the two although we often get shot down in flames.
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: VXL V6 on 25 September 2010, 09:36:15
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just let them go black and stay black, i've not washed my alloys since about March  ;D

You may find that when you clean the brake dust off it will have eaten though the laquer / paint and be making a start on the alloy.
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: TheBoy on 25 September 2010, 09:52:34
I keep toying with OE, but I cook pads often enough to make it expensive.

I have TC on the back, and I've had that blacken the rear alloys within a couple of days, after regularly 'testing' the traction control system.

TC ones are dusty, but I've never had issues with feel, bite, efficiency or noise.  I suspect there are different manufacturers of TC pads, and its luck of the draw.
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: Teebee on 25 September 2010, 11:26:23
Same here, my TC pads drop huge amounts of dust. As i'm still running the old elite 16" wheels I just dont bother to clean them as I know I can buy a new set cheap if needed  ;)
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: tunnie on 25 September 2010, 11:38:25
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just let them go black and stay black, i've not washed my alloys since about March  ;D

You may find that when you clean the brake dust off it will have eaten though the laquer / paint and be making a start on the alloy.

I've generally been leaving it few months between washes most of its life, each time its been cleaned they came up well. CD alloys tend to be quite good, as the spokes are quite chunky
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: aaronjb on 25 September 2010, 16:04:58
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I've been tempted to run some EBC Grenstuff or Redstuff Pads in my motor (used Redstuff in my Astra GSi, but they seemed almost dangerous when cold, never tried greenstuff) - but the redstuff gave next to no dust off, greenstuff perhaps worth a try?  I'm tempted by the redstuff, given the weight/inertia of the Omega to generate some heat, with obviously the shoebox Astra didn't have??  :-/  :-/

I was running Greenstuff on the MR2, which were alright and not too dusty.. but I just switched to Yellowstuff - much, much better feel than Greenstuff, just as good initial bite and better under heat.. I'd suggest not trying Redstuff on a road car and just stick to Yellowstuff, personally.
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: VXL V6 on 25 September 2010, 19:24:38
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just let them go black and stay black, i've not washed my alloys since about March  ;D

You may find that when you clean the brake dust off it will have eaten though the laquer / paint and be making a start on the alloy.

I've generally been leaving it few months between washes most of its life, each time its been cleaned they came up well. CD alloys tend to be quite good, as the spokes are quite chunky

Must admit I do like the CD alloys on our Estate, you can hold the spokes when you put the wheel back on!  :)
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: Omegatoy on 25 September 2010, 19:57:40
Had o.e. pads on for last 38thousand miles yes they were expensive however theyw ere fitted on 7th july 2006 ;D and are still only halfworn, must admit though i have to clean the wheels of brake dust at least once every six seeks  or they start looking grubby :o
however as most know i live in the mountains( house is at the same level as ben nevis) and im not renouned for driving the car gently :D never had any prblems with them at all and NO  they dont eat the discs!!! mine are still original!! at over 130k
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: Tony H on 25 September 2010, 20:13:22
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Had o.e. pads on for last 38thousand miles yes they were expensive however theyw ere fitted on 7th july 2006 ;D and are still only halfworn, must admit though i have to clean the wheels of brake dust at least once every six seeks  or they start looking grubby :o
however as most know i live in the mountains( house is at the same level as ben nevis) and im not renouned for driving the car gently :D never had any prblems with them at all and NO  they dont eat the discs!!! mine are still original!! at over 130k
[/highlight]
Jeeesus thats good going! :o
Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: plym ian on 25 September 2010, 20:15:19
how about something like this  :)

http://www.innerauto.com/Auto_Part/Brake_Dust_Shields/

Title: Re: OEM brake pads - Brake dust
Post by: TestOmega on 26 September 2010, 01:28:19
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I've no idea what brake pads are on my 2.6 Elite currently, but they do produce a lot of brake dust, even after a gentle drive the front wheels are always black.
Do OEM pads produce less brake dust? The brakes feel fine, but not excellent...so I may change the discs and pads, and wonder whether the cheap VX pads are ok, or whether to go for the OEM ones?
I switched to GM ceramics on my Catera, virtually no dust. 

You do need good rotors/discs with these was my experience in the past.  My previous garage put cheap rotors and cheap ceramics, pretty bad combo.

GM in north America for sure offers ceramics as an option.

Cheers.