Hi, I've got a 2000 XK8 coupe. Hubby has been using as his daily driver. (He was not into sports cars until we got the Jag. Hmmm!) Noticed before last wash that chrome front wheels were obscured by lots of black sooty stuff not present on rear wheels.
Any thoughts or ideas as to cause would be most appreciated.
Thanks!

 

Brake Dust, you will always get more on the front than the rears. Normal occurance.

 

Brake pad dust. As a 10 year old car the front pads may have been replaced with ones that create more dust compared to the rear. But then, the fronts always produce more dust because they produce more of the stopping friction.

 

Wow !
Never noticed brake dust before ?
I`ll guess someone else always has cleaned your car for you .

 

If you don't like the dust, just let us know and we can recommend some alternate brake pads that will create barely any. Makes cleaning easier and wheels stay shiny longer.

 

Thanks for the replies w/explanations about brake dust, & suggestions about alternate pads - they were both helpful & appreciated.

The snark about someone else always cleaning my car for me struck me as odd (as in, why would you make such an assumption? We simply hadn't been putting enough miles on the car for the brake dust to be obvious before previous washes) but whatever.

 

Wasn`t/don`t think it was a `snark` (whatever that is?), just a tongue in cheek remark at my suprise anyone driving a motor vehicle (presumaly its not your first ?) had never noticed brake dust before, you have been most fortunate.
No offence was meant or implied.

 

Sorry SeattleSun, but on first reading your OP i had exactly the same reaction as dervdave and may have posted something similar if he had not already commented. I guess the only difference is that I would have included a couple of smiley faces. You are very fortunate if you have never encountered brake dust before or you REALLY have been fastidious in frequently caring for your automobiles.

BTW, I would suggest adding a good tire and wheel cleaner to your automotive cleaning, detailing products. Just spray it on, wash and hose it off. It makes the job relatively simpler but cleaning the wheels is always my least favorite part or washing my cars. (Something I have always done by hand on my personal cars.) Also, my "second car" has almost always been a two seat roadster of some type so i share your enthusiasm and love of Sports Cars. The XK8 coupe is a beautiful automobile.

Welcome to the forum! Lot's of great info here for your XK8.

 

Thanks Quiet1, I`ve been a bit concerned that my post had been misunderstood.
I had intended to add a suitable emoticon but for some reason there didn`t seem to be any readily available, only post icons.

 

Thanks for the clarification.

 

^ see, smileys make it all better. Hugs all around, koombaiya (sp?) and all that jazz