Brake Dust

Q: Why do the front wheels on my car get dirty quicker than my back wheels?

A: What you see on your wheels is disc brake dust. When braking, a small amount of brake pad material wears off and turns into dust. This dust commonly collects on your wheel or hubcap. There are two basic reasons your front wheels get dirty quicker. First, the front brakes do more of the braking than the rear brakes, making them wear quicker. Second, if your car’s rear brakes are drum style, the dust usually collects in the drum and then falls out on the backside of the wheel.