Front wheel drive, but rear wheels get dirty

[civicsport]

Originally Posted by The Phantom

This wouldn't be a weight issue would it?

Are the Type R & CDTI engines heavier than the 1.8? That would mean that the brake distribution would change and the heavier engines require more front brake to reduce momentum.

Also the smaller size of the discs coupled with a softer brake pad compound may add to the effect.

Just a though as I have also noticed that my rear wheels are much dustier than my fronts.

As for cleaning them, I haven't yet as I like the gunsmoke effect that the brakedust gives the standard alloy.

And it's been raining sine I got the car.

I Agree, the rears on mine seem to get dirtier, could be to do with the engine weight on the front. Possibly. Maybe.

[Munro]

I have noticed that my rear wheels collect brake dust faster than my front wheels. This is very strange as it is normally the other way round.

I am only just running the car in and it has only done 600 miles. I haven't been driving around with my handbrake on. The brakes seem to work fine and do not appear to be binding (it is easy to push the car with the handbrake off).

Has any one else experienced this or have any suggestions?

[Jabberwocky]

Hi Munro, I get exactly the same with my CTR. In fact I posted this exact same question on several forums and nobody gave me a definitive answer. However the impression I got was that this is normal for many CTR's and was not something to worry about. I keep intending to pop into my dealer and ask the question to see if they know but I have not been conveniently near to them recently.

[Pottsy]

It is slightly odd. I always suspected that the VSA was doing something (it can apply the rear brakes at will), but if you're running in then the odds of the VSA being busy are slim.

Maybe it's just aerodynamics of certain wheels?

http://www.civinfo.com/wiki/index.php?title=VSA

[alastair b]

I recently read something on the forum,member was getting pads replaced,dealer told him turning off the vsa would extend the life of the pads?

[THX1138]

Originally Posted by alastair b

I recently read something on the forum,member was getting pads replaced,dealer told him turning off the vsa would extend the life of the pads?

Sound logcal, but I wouldn't want my pads to last longer then myself

About the dust on the rear wheels. I'm at 10K km's now, and it seems to have gone away. Both front/rear are now equally clean/dirty. So I guess it has to do with running in.

And when my car get's fixed (see my other post about right side damage) I hope they clean it anyway, so that'll save me a day out cleaning in the cold.

[Munro]

It sounds like more brake dust on the rear rather than the front wheels is not an unusual feature of the Type R - very strange. The front brakes should always do more work as the weight transfers to the front when braking, and brake balance is set accordingly. The extra brake dust on the rear wheel also makes its way onto the bodywork behind - I have not seen that on any of my previous cars either.

I was beginning to get worried that the first time I really used the brakes, the rear wheels would lock up and I would plough into a Type R unfriendly object.

Here are some pictures for the record. There are finger marks at the 3 o'clock position to help show up the difference:

[Pottsy]

Originally Posted by Munro

...The front brakes should always do more work as the weight transfers to the front when braking, and brake balance is set accordingly.
... the first time I really used the brakes, the rear wheels would lock up

The VSA adjusts the brake balance dynamically. Between it and the ABS, the rear wheels should never ever lock up, nor even come close to it. Does this still happen? Just one lock up really does indicate a full on VSA fault (that may have something to do with all that dust - might just be worth checking the pad thickness to see how the wear is being distributed).

[Munro]

Originally Posted by Pottsy

The VSA adjusts the brake balance dynamically. Between it and the ABS, the rear wheels should never ever lock up, nor even come close to it. Does this still happen? Just one lock up really does indicate a full on VSA fault (that may have something to do with all that dust - might just be worth checking the pad thickness to see how the wear is being distributed).

The wheels have never locked up as I have yet to brake heavily enough for a skid or the ABS / VSA to work. It is only the accumulation of brake dust on the rear wheels that has given any indication of brake balance being incorrect. The car seems to brake as you would expect - superbly!

[THX1138]

Wait a few months for the first 1mm of brake disc to wear off, then the dust is less obvious on the rear wheels. More rain while driving also works which is easy this time of year.

[ASH]

I'm not worried as front and rear brake pads are different in size and probably compounds. I've also heard some VW cars does the same (rear wheels get dirtier than front).
I would be worried if brake dust residue is different between right & left as modern cars' brake force is distributed in 'X' figure.
Operation of VSA is quite noticable, like ABS, and short, therefore unlikely to make difference with nomal braking.
I'm sorry if I'm not making sense.

[smeg9]

I've got a 2.2D Type-S Standard 17" wheels, I've just covered 200 miles, and the wheels (all four of them, mainly on the front) were extremley dirty. I guess I've been driving a lot of short 'A' roads, and I have tried to avoid HARSH braking.

I assume this is normal (obviously I want my car to be looking at it's best) I will take a photo in another 200 miles and let you know. The wheel spokes do get 'warm' (not cold, but warmer than ourside temp (~13C) to touch after 20 minutes driving, again I assume this is normal???

[hondafan]

Charles,Where are you gettin the quotes,they are brill