Front wheel drive, but rear wheels get dirty

THX1138 · 21st May 2007, 10:04

Since my 1,5 month old car has lost it's virginity, it's not as clean as it used to be, I noticed the rear-wheels get a lot more dirt on them as do the front wheels.
This used to be the other way around on my previous Civics and I always thought that's what happens to front wheel drive cars.

Could this be the way the exhaust are located at the rear ?
Really weird.

elfa7 · 21st May 2007, 10:06

I think having brake discs all round causes the wheels to get equally dirty.

Bungle · 21st May 2007, 11:18

Brake dust collection will not be affected by which wheel are driven.

dave9_3 · 21st May 2007, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by THX1138

Since my 1,5 month old car has lost it's virginity, it's not as clean as it used to be, I noticed the rear-wheels get a lot more dirt on them as do the front wheels.
This used to be the other way around on my previous Civics and I always thought that's what happens to front wheel drive cars.

Could this be the way the exhaust are located at the rear ?
Really weird.

Front wheels will normally pick up more brake dust than the rears, given that most of the braking effort is on the front brakes. Having said that I too have noticed that the rear wheels on my civic seem to collect more brake dust than the fronts. This is at odds with my statement above, and my experience with other cars. Are honda fitting exceptionally soft rear pads?

elfa7 · 21st May 2007, 13:30

If you do a lot of high-speed driving, and your late and hard on the brakes, then I suppose you would get dirtier front wheels. I try to brake early and light, and I find the front and backs are pretty equal for brake dust.

Pottsy · 21st May 2007, 13:33

My fronts collect a lot of brake dust, but the rears hardly any at all - just road muck.

Charles_Harding · 21st May 2007, 13:33

My Millie really suffers from the dust at the front but the rear wheels seem to remain relatively unscathed.

Probably the secret is to drive like an old man!

"They say that everyone should pay their Road Tax with a smile. I did try that once but they made me pay in cash!"

Charles H.

THX1138 · 21st May 2007, 13:36

Their not equally dirty by far. From a fair distance it now even seems the rear wheels are different then the front (time for a wash job I guess

)

I drive both hard and relaxed, but I used to do the same on my other civics, which also had 4 discs. Always the front wheels would get a lot more dirt, since the braking is mostly done on the front discs.

Perhaps the body/underside shape sends more crap/dirt towards the rear wheels. Like it's being kicked up from the road or something.
Or it's the exhaust fumes. The stuff on my rear wheels feels a bit oily. Not just dust.

Charles_Harding · 21st May 2007, 14:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by THX1138

The stuff on my rear wheels feels a bit oily. Not just dust.

I think that that 'oily' stuff IS the residue from the discs.

That's why it's a bu**er to get off!

"I've told my bank that if they send me any more nasty letters I shall take my overdraft elsewhere!"

Charles H.

Pottsy · 21st May 2007, 14:23

Here's mine in desperate need of a wash. Front wheels get the brake dust, rear wheels don't:

dirtywheels.jpg

Charles_Harding · 21st May 2007, 15:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pottsy

Here's mine in desperate need of a wash. Front wheels get the brake dust, rear wheels don't:

Attachment 3834

Looks like the pressures in the front need checking too!

Backs look ok tho'.

"The homeless are homeless no matter where they live!"

Charles H.

Pottsy · 21st May 2007, 15:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles_Harding

Looks like the pressures in the front need checking too!

That's actually how the diesel looks normally - you get used to it after a bit. The price of all that extra power is a little bit of extra weight...

Charles_Harding · 21st May 2007, 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pottsy

That's actually how the diesel looks normally - you get used to it after a bit. The price of all that extra power is a little bit of extra weight...

Your the Boss.

You should know.

How's your spare then?

"I've got a rare antique globe. It's flat!"

Charles H.

Topcat · 21st May 2007, 17:52

Still it is only dirt and can be washed off

THX1138 · 21st May 2007, 20:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topcat

Still it is only dirt and can be washed off

Yeah, but the rear wheels are now more dirty then the rest. If the car was equally dirty, the motivation is a bit better

In the end I'm just lazy. And a bit ill right now, so won't go out this week to get wet.

Topcat · 21st May 2007, 20:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by THX1138

Yeah, but the rear wheels are now more dirty then the rest. If the car was equally dirty, the motivation is a bit better

In the end I'm just lazy. And a bit ill right now, so won't go out this week to get wet.

You could just wash the wheels

Hope you feel better soon.

pjr · 22nd May 2007, 08:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topcat

You could just wash the wheels

I actually do this quite a lot - the wheels probably get cleaned twice as often as the rest of the car, to get rid of the brake dust. Even though the body of the car might be a little dirty, the car looks much cleaner if the wheels are clean.

elfa7 · 22nd May 2007, 09:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjr

I actually do this quite a lot - the wheels probably get cleaned twice as often as the rest of the car, to get rid of the brake dust. Even though the body of the car might be a little dirty, the car looks much cleaner if the wheels are clean.

I agree. I clean the wheels more often than the body. Lets face it, black stays pretty clean anyway

.

THX1138 · 22nd May 2007, 09:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topcat

You could just wash the wheels

Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks !

The Phantom · 30th May 2007, 23:45

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.

21st May 2007, 10:04	#1 (permalink)
THX1138 Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 2nd March 2007 Location: Den Haag, The Netherlands Posts: 387 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Front wheel drive, but rear wheels get dirty Since my 1,5 month old car has lost it's virginity, it's not as clean as it used to be, I noticed the rear-wheels get a lot more dirt on them as do the front wheels. This used to be the other way around on my previous Civics and I always thought that's what happens to front wheel drive cars. Could this be the way the exhaust are located at the rear ? Really weird.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads for: Front wheel drive, but rear wheels get dirty
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Front Wheel arch trim	rtypeblack	Type-R	17	10th November 2007 18:43
Front/Rear Splitters...	Big Slick	Type-R	21	12th August 2007 12:38
Wheel Tech Front wheels turning by themselves	Skaven252	Wheels, Tyres, Suspension and Brakes	14	14th May 2007 19:56
Other Dirt above rear wheel arches	WiredBob	Bugs, faults and irritations	7	29th April 2007 21:20
Rear wheel arch replacement?	generationgav	General Discussion	6	22nd June 2006 10:47


This thread is about: Front wheel drive, but rear wheels get dirty, it's in Cleaning and Styling at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Since my 1,5 month old car has lost it's virginity, it's not as clean as it used to be, I noticed the rear-wheels get a ...

21st May 2007, 10:06	#2 (permalink)
elfa7 Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 8th May 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,700 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I think having brake discs all round causes the wheels to get equally dirty.

21st May 2007, 11:18	#3 (permalink)
Bungle Rocketship door handle Join Date: 3rd July 2006 Location: SE London/Kent Posts: 1,217 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Brake dust collection will not be affected by which wheel are driven.

21st May 2007, 13:30	#5 (permalink)
elfa7 Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 8th May 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,700 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	If you do a lot of high-speed driving, and your late and hard on the brakes, then I suppose you would get dirtier front wheels. I try to brake early and light, and I find the front and backs are pretty equal for brake dust.

21st May 2007, 13:33	#6 (permalink)
Pottsy Administrator Civinfo guru Join Date: 10th April 2006 Location: Leics Posts: 4,668 Thanks: 3 Thanked 51 Times in 25 Posts	My fronts collect a lot of brake dust, but the rears hardly any at all - just road muck.

21st May 2007, 13:33	#7 (permalink)
Charles_Harding Civinfo guru Join Date: 14th August 2006 Location: S.E. London Posts: 2,703 Thanks: 8 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	My Millie really suffers from the dust at the front but the rear wheels seem to remain relatively unscathed. Probably the secret is to drive like an old man! *"They say that everyone should pay their Road Tax with a smile. I did try that once but they made me pay in cash!"* Charles H.

21st May 2007, 13:36	#8 (permalink)
THX1138 Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 2nd March 2007 Location: Den Haag, The Netherlands Posts: 387 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Their not equally dirty by far. From a fair distance it now even seems the rear wheels are different then the front (time for a wash job I guess ) I drive both hard and relaxed, but I used to do the same on my other civics, which also had 4 discs. Always the front wheels would get a lot more dirt, since the braking is mostly done on the front discs. Perhaps the body/underside shape sends more crap/dirt towards the rear wheels. Like it's being kicked up from the road or something. Or it's the exhaust fumes. The stuff on my rear wheels feels a bit oily. Not just dust.

21st May 2007, 14:23	#10 (permalink)
Pottsy Administrator Civinfo guru Join Date: 10th April 2006 Location: Leics Posts: 4,668 Thanks: 3 Thanked 51 Times in 25 Posts	Here's mine in desperate need of a wash. Front wheels get the brake dust, rear wheels don't: dirtywheels.jpg

21st May 2007, 17:52	#14 (permalink)
Topcat Supporter Civinfo guru Join Date: 11th May 2006 Location: Middlesex Posts: 2,730 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Still it is only dirt and can be washed off

30th May 2007, 23:45	#20 (permalink)
The Phantom Supporter Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 18th March 2007 Location: Scotland Posts: 236 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	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.