1/2 Brake dust

[ChiTDI]

I'm preparing to do a full brake job on my '02 Avalon, and I notice one front wheel bathed in brake dust, but not the other one, nor the rears. I replaced all four pads about 35k ago and I think they were Monroe.
Anything to look for out of the ordinary when I pull the wheels? No other symptoms or complaints from the spousal op.
I'm hoping this is just a "pad" issue.

 

[Warstud]

Caliper may not be working properly. See if the car pulls to one side while braking with your hands off the wheel.

 

[daman]

Yep that corner is dragging more for some reason,caliper sticking,break hose swelled.

the front does more breaking vs the rear so thats why that is.

 

[mechtech2]

Uneven brakes of course, from improper action of the parts.

But this may also be from unmatched components - pads/rotors.
I don't know what is in there.
Maybe a bleed problem.
And a line that is internally or externally blocked can do this.
Someone should have felt something wrong when braking.

 

[onion]

Could be that one wheel drives through the puddles pretty often and the other doesn't. I'd consider it a non-issue unless and until I saw some undesirable symptom, uneven wear, or the like.

I HAVE seen vehicles where somebody replaced only one caliper... and the new one would grab more readily (and therefore generate more heat) than the old one, simply because it moved more freely. I reckon that would generate more brake dust. But if it's something along these lines, it should be obvious enough once the brakes are apart- by caliper appearance, uneven pad wear, etc.

 

[ChiTDI]

Went to pull the tires to do the brake job and found the one wheel has a clear membrane peeling off the alloy metal. Brake dust just adheres to the unprotected metal like glue and explains the black. Seems the wheel weights being removed and applied must have done the damage. Couldn't figure why the ugly look and yet no braking symptoms. The "alloy" is actually giving way to unprotected rusty looking metal, so I'll be shopping the bone yards soon. Did the magnet test and no they are not ferrous, just shiny veneer with a clear coating. OEM
Thanks all for the replies and support. I don't do this for a living and it is very comforting to get ideas from those who know and have more experience. Bitog rocks.

 

[mechtech2]

There is always the oddball situation/problem that is almost impossible to diagnose on the internet.
But good thinking in deducing what is really going on!