I've noticed in the last few months that my front wheels get quite dirty. Washed the car today and the dirt is like an oily residue. I've never observed this on any car I've owned before, and even with my Copen, it seems like a new phenomenon. Anyone have any idea what might be causing this? The rear wheels had a little residue, but nothing like what the front ones have!
The vast majority of braking action (often >80%) is done by the front wheels. That's why cars like our beloved Copens have disc brakes upfront and drum brakes for the rear wheels. Dust from the brake pads and rust particles from the discs will accumulate on the front wheels. That should make them look black-ish much quicker than the rear wheels. This however doesn't explain the oilyness you describe. Could it just be moist brake dust with some road salt maybe?
I know what it is @baobab68, It's global warming! You just couldn't resist showing off the Aussi summer, right? The roads in the UK don't melt as easy, at least not now in wet winter... Sorry, I just couldn't resist... On a more serious note, that behaviour doesn't seem to be normal at all. I assume you have checked your car for oil/water/ac/break fluid leaks, right? I had that issue in a previous car but it only happened on one side. It was a gearbox oil leak. Tiny, but enough to puzzle me for a long time. Just a thought. Cheers
It is both front wheels equally though. Surely if I had a leak somewhere it would affect one side more than the other? Don't get me started on the Aussie summer, it's been a shocker. We've had some days 41 degrees centigrade. My poor little Copen has had to run the engine, and the aircon, at the same time! I might be overreacting on the stains, I must admit that when I washed the car yesterday it was the first wash it's had in a while. I'll keep an eye on it; a friend told me today that her car, which also has drum brakes, stains the front wheels really quickly.
