I'm getting tired of cleaning my wheels....it's half the job of washing my baby.
Just wondering if those metal brake covers actually work. Thanks

 

They generally work, but not perfectly. You will still be cleaning brake dust. They will also cause your brakes to overheat. MINI specifically disallows their use. If you use them and come in with brake trouble and expect warranty coverage, it will be denied.

 

Best solution is probably EBC Greenstuff brake pads. About $80 from most any of the tuners/vendors. Greatly reduce brake dust.

 

don't the EBC pads increase the noise, though, of the brakes? I have stayed away due to believing they pads were noisy. Is this just a vicious rumor?

 

Thanks guys...looks like I'll be investing in the better brake pads

 

My EBC brake pads are squeeky under light brake pressure, but the dust is dramatically reduced and there is better pedal feel.

Mintex are supposed to be just like stock without the added dust. Quite inexpensive also.

 

Their Rotors are what have the claim to fame from Noise. The Pads are not very noisy at all.

 

I added the disc brake dust shields to my car immediately and the reduction of brake dust is dramatic. If I ever have to take the car in for warranty work, they will come off. I rotate my tires every 5000 miles and clean all of the brake components at the same time. I've had no problems at all.
When it is time to change the brake pads, I plan to use the EBC green pads.

 

Don't have time or money to change your brake pads right now? Then the next time you clean your car, you should apply a coat of wax to your your wheels. You will be amazed how much longer they stay clean. I have R-90s and I tried this trick and I am washing my wheels half as much as before.
Larry

 

Wax or no wax I had to clean my white rims twice a week.

The ultimate solution that I eventually did was replace my brake pads with Mintex pads for $75. Almost no dust just like the EBCs but without their noise and scoring issues. They work great. I was spending more time cleaning my wheels than the rest of my whole car!

 

I use greenstuff's on the street and redstuff's on the track. I haven't noticed any increased noise or rotor scoring in 15,000 miles.
I leave the greenstuff's on for autocross.

 

Use a good wheel cleaner, and a good (non-scratching) brush (keep it cleaned between washes), and you shouldn't have any serious problems cleaning your wheels. Waxing also works well, but can be a pain to apply at first, depending on what you use. I don't like the idea of my brakes heating up anymore than necessary, so I'd take a pass on the covers, though they do seem like a nifty idea. I doubt they'd cause any real harm to use, but you'd still have to do some wheel cleaning regardless, so...what's the point?

I guess, if you have white wheels, any help you can get in keeping the wheels clean is worthwhile, but I'd hate to take 'em on and off everytime I went to the dealer.

Mintex brakes, eh? Hmmm, I'll have to look into those, I wouldn't mind some cleaner running, better feeling brakes. The stock pads are very so, so. In fact, I find them to be rather disappointing for this vehicle.

While we are on this "keeping are vehicles clean" subject, anyone here know if mudguards would help keep the back of my MINI any cleaner?

 

-Generally, brake dust protection devices are a bad idea:
-anything that restricts air flow on brake elements (passing over, around, behind, through) has the potential the restrict the normal thermal heating & cooling cycle and impacts thermal build-up/dissipation/ventilation.

-I've seen this problen on BMW's in the past: "tidy" brake dust devices causing warpping, damage, brake loss and premature brake failure.

 

Ditto!!!

BEFORE


After:



Waxed the inside & out. One week later they looked like the before picture again!!!

 

Honestly, I know a few people that have the EBC's, and it's amazing how much it reduces dust... it's virtually no residue at all, even after a week or so of not washing the wheels...

 

CruizinChris, do you take your wheels off every time you clean them???? Dang dude...

 

From previous threads, it seems nothing keeps the dust and dirt off the rear of the car. The back wheels are just back too far. This, and the hatchback shape off the car combine to form a vacuum which gathers all the grime. Ah well, a dirty boot is the sign of a well driven MINI!

Godspeed.

 

Of course mudflaps and brake covers are for two totally different things and the issue being discussed was dirty wheels, not dirty boots anyway.

 

No. I did that for a car show.

 

I don't think doing what one can to make keeping one's wheels clean, with less regular effort, and doing the same (somehow) for the back end of the car is all that different a subject matter.

Yes, this thread is primarily about brake covers being recommendable, or not, in helping keep brake dust levels down on wheels. But such a thread will always tend to lead to other subject matter coming up. Such as, yes, brake covers may very well work, but possibly at the cost of excessive break wear and damage due to overheating, and therefore a different brake pad, or different cleaning method, or both, might be recommendable instead. Does waxing wheels have anything to do with the subject? Well...yeah, I'd say so, since different maintenence methods might make the brake covers unnecessary.

Personally, I've never used brake covers, though they've caught my attention as a means of keeping my MINI cleaner. Mudguards (or are they called mudflaps?) have caught my attention for the same reason. From what I've read so far on this thread, brake covers work better than not having them, but COULD cause mechanical problems. That's not a risk I'm willing to take for the perceived benefit of such a device, even though some people have not experienced such problems. It sounds like mudguards won't cause any potential mechanical problems, but won't really help keep the MINI much cleaner either. (Well, at least not the back of the car, even in "muddy" conditions.)

So, I've learned that two aftermarket items that fit in and around the wheel well area are probably not for me, even though they may be for others. Further posts by those with more experience on the subject matter may change my opinion. I'm open to the possibility.

Oh, I've also learned that, later on (when the old brake pads are ready to be replaced), I may very well go with Mintex brake pads to replace my stock pads. That has nothing directly to do with yay or nay on brake covers, but it's sure nice to know anyway.

Oh, by the way, perhaps there is more than one brand (more than likely) of brake cover, and some work better than others? I've not always heard the particular brand being made mention of in some of these comments, and that seems like it might help in making a judgement on the subject.

 

I got the front mud flaps last spring.I do alot of gravel road motoring,they do help keep with keeping muck from flying up on the doors,but the black skirts till take a beating.
The Hatch back design sucks up everything,even on dry,asphalt,motors.
Did not bother with the rear mud flaps,as there is not much car body behind the rear wheels,and why add to the suction

 

I use Klasse synthetic 'wax' on my wheels to make cleaning the brake dust easier. It lasts for about two months before I have to re-apply. I can usually just wipe the wheels with a damp paper towel and they clean right up with no scrubbing at all. I don't need to used anything stronger than good car soap in water when I do a full wash of the car. I've read that using real wax on the wheels can actually end up trapping brake dust on your wheels because of the heat. I'll probably go to Mintex or Greenstuff when it comes time to change the pads. Since the white wheels are such an big part of the look of the car, I'll keep using the synthetic 'wax' even with better pads. Cheers,

 

I put Greenstuff pads on a couple of weeks after getting my car. Big difference in dust - no difference in sound.

There are such things as "vented" brake covers that supposedly wash air over the brakes so they don't overheat. Haven't used any covers myself, though I've been tempted.