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Are brake shields important? #1204239 03/26/12 10:49 PM 03/26/12 10:49 PM
Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 212 Mid Michigan C Coronet-R/T-Rag OP enthusiast
Coronet-R/T-Rag OP enthusiast C Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 212 Mid Michigan	I'm doing the "Disc o Tech" disc brake swap on my 67 coronet. I've got everything I need (those spindles and caliper adapters DO NOT grow on tree's by the way). I've got it all, except, the brake shields. I've got them for the 10.75 rotors but not the 11.75. What do you think? Run the 10.75's? Don't run them at all? What do they do? Keep balljoint grease off the rotors? Thanks.

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: Coronet-R/T-Rag] #1204240 03/26/12 11:11 PM 03/26/12 11:11 PM
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 3,426 weymouth,mass. M meepmeep70 master
meepmeep70 master M Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 3,426 weymouth,mass.	i would locate a correct pair,brakes are a particular area that would serve best to be good working order

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: Coronet-R/T-Rag] #1204241 03/26/12 11:26 PM 03/26/12 11:26 PM
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 9,312 SoCal 68HemiB master
68HemiB master Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 9,312 SoCal	Some shield is better than no shield, and the proper sized shield is best. There is debris coming up from the roadway - that is the issue. Keeping as much foreign matter off of your brakes as possible should be more than just a minor concern. Down to just a blue car now.

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: 68HemiB] #1204242 03/26/12 11:28 PM 03/26/12 11:28 PM
Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 212 Mid Michigan C Coronet-R/T-Rag OP enthusiast
Coronet-R/T-Rag OP enthusiast C Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 212 Mid Michigan	Am I wrong or do most new cars with disc brakes NOT have shields?

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: Coronet-R/T-Rag] #1204243 03/26/12 11:29 PM 03/26/12 11:29 PM
Joined: May 2005 Posts: 2,295 dark side of the moon D Dougsmopars top fuel
Dougsmopars top fuel D Joined: May 2005 Posts: 2,295 dark side of the moon	They all have sheilds

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: Coronet-R/T-Rag] #1204244 03/26/12 11:32 PM 03/26/12 11:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,344 Central TX roe master
roe master Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,344 Central TX	Quote: Am I wrong or do most new cars with disc brakes NOT have shields? No you're right (at least I think). New cars don't have them. Personally I think that the spinning rims block all debris from the outside and there's not much chance of something popping up from the inside. I figure if there are millions of new cars running without them, then why can't the classics? Last edited by roe; 03/26/12 11:33 PM. 1971 Plymouth Satellite 408/904 8 3/4 3.23 SG

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: Coronet-R/T-Rag] #1204245 03/26/12 11:32 PM 03/26/12 11:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,357 Rancho Cordova, California (Sa... hemi71x master
hemi71x master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,357 Rancho Cordova, California (Sa...	FYI There is no difference in the diameter of a brake shield for either the 10.80 rotor, or the 11.75 rotor. They are all the same. Last edited by hemi71x; 03/26/12 11:34 PM. RF-4C Phantom 69-370 Zweibrucken, Germany

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: roe] #1204246 03/26/12 11:38 PM 03/26/12 11:38 PM
Joined: May 2005 Posts: 2,295 dark side of the moon D Dougsmopars top fuel
Dougsmopars top fuel D Joined: May 2005 Posts: 2,295 dark side of the moon	I work on new cars every day. Never seen a factory disc brake car without sheilds. As mentioned above there to keep road trash and stones out of the brakes. Runing disc brakes with no sheilds is asking for problems

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: Dougsmopars] #1204247 03/27/12 12:00 AM 03/27/12 12:00 AM
Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 212 Mid Michigan C Coronet-R/T-Rag OP enthusiast
Coronet-R/T-Rag OP enthusiast C Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 212 Mid Michigan	Ahhh. Shields are the same size for big or small rotors. Thanks guys, I'll run them. Gotta love Moparts!

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: Coronet-R/T-Rag] #1204248 03/27/12 12:13 PM 03/27/12 12:13 PM
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 15,134 Kelowna, B.C. Canada D DPelletier I Live Here
DPelletier I Live Here D Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 15,134 Kelowna, B.C. Canada	No I don't think they are that important on a collectible car that presumably doesn't get driven off road. None of my motorcycles have them BTW. Dave 1970 Super Bee 440 Six Pack 1974 'Cuda 2008 Ram 3500 Diesel 2006 Ram 3500 Diesel 2004.5 Ram 2500 Diesel 2003 Ram 3500 Diesel 2006 Durango Limited [url] http://1970superbee.piczo.com [/url]

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: DPelletier] #1204249 03/27/12 12:59 PM 03/27/12 12:59 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,575 The Netherlands BigBlockMopar master
BigBlockMopar master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,575 The Netherlands	I don't think it's sand or gravel they're supposed to block, but water(-splash). BigBlockMopar.com

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: BigBlockMopar] #1204250 03/27/12 01:11 PM 03/27/12 01:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows? 1_WILD_RT Management Trainee
1_WILD_RT Management Trainee Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows?	If you what to run the early shields with late rotors you need to modify them slightly.... The stepped area around the grease seal needs to be removed, it interferes with the larger bearing area of the late style rotor... "The Armies of our ancestors were lucky, in that they were not trailed by a second army of pencil pushers."

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: 1_WILD_RT] #1204251 03/27/12 07:08 PM 03/27/12 07:08 PM
Joined: May 2005 Posts: 4,724 Florida BDW master
BDW master Joined: May 2005 Posts: 4,724 Florida	Quote: If you what to run the early shields with late rotors you need to modify them slightly.... The stepped area around the grease seal needs to be removed, it interferes with the larger bearing area of the late style rotor... Found this out the hard way after struggling and wondering why the rotor wouldn't seat, dooh!

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: Coronet-R/T-Rag] #1204252 03/27/12 07:29 PM 03/27/12 07:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 22,696 Bitopia J jcc If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
jcc If you can't dazzle em with diamonds.. J Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 22,696 Bitopia	"Are brake shields important?" IMO, No. Ask this same question in race or corners forum, and they will likely ask which rock you crawled out from. As for as debris, I can't say I see much debris collect on the inner surface of a rim, and that surface doesn't have the self cleaning effect of centrifugal force of say a 60 mph spinning rotor. Regarding water splash, seldom is a rotor that hot, and if it is, there is seldom much water around, and if you have ever dropped water on recently hot welded part, the water, instantly vaporizes, carries little heat in the steam bubbles, but not sure what effect water has on friction on a cold rotor, but it still can't remain for long on a spinning rotor. Factory installed them imo likely because of lawyers, I say dump them both Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: BigBlockMopar] #1204253 03/27/12 08:32 PM 03/27/12 08:32 PM
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 15,134 Kelowna, B.C. Canada D DPelletier I Live Here
DPelletier I Live Here D Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 15,134 Kelowna, B.C. Canada	Quote: I don't think it's sand or gravel they're supposed to block, but water(-splash). Maybe but I doubt they'd do a very good job of it and like I said earlier; none of my motorcycles have them. I race offroad and routinely cross creeks, mudbogs and even shallow riverbeds and the disk brakes need only moments before returning to full stopping power...heck they even work underwater! It may seem a bit "apples and oranges" but if exposed disk brake rotors can work in that environment, I can't see automotive ones truly benefitting from the guards. Do F1 cars have them? Baja race vehicles? Go ahead, put them on (I did) but I seriously doubt you'd ever notice whether they were there or not from behind the wheel. Dave 1970 Super Bee 440 Six Pack 1974 'Cuda 2008 Ram 3500 Diesel 2006 Ram 3500 Diesel 2004.5 Ram 2500 Diesel 2003 Ram 3500 Diesel 2006 Durango Limited [url] http://1970superbee.piczo.com [/url]

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: Coronet-R/T-Rag] #1204254 03/27/12 10:27 PM 03/27/12 10:27 PM
Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA Kern Dog Striving for excellence
Kern Dog Striving for excellence Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 18,493 Granite Bay CA	Quote: What do they do? Keep balljoint grease off the rotors? Thanks. Since you referred to the Mopar Action brake swap, I'll take it a step further... According to Mr E-berg, one of the reasons that Ma Mopar used the shields was to keep heat that radiated from the rotors AWAY from the tie rod ends! I omit the shields on my cars though. I havent stressed the brakes enough to get the rotors THAT hot!

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: DPelletier] #1204255 03/28/12 05:17 AM 03/28/12 05:17 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,575 The Netherlands BigBlockMopar master
BigBlockMopar master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,575 The Netherlands	Quote: ... none of my motorcycles have them.... Dave But motorcycles can't experience a sudden brake-difference between the left and right front tires if water just lands on one of the rotors. There's also no tire 'on the otherside' which can splash water onto the opposite brake-rotor. On the other hand, these 'dustshields' also have open slots near the center where they mount. It wouldn't surprise me if such a shield is there to aid in brake-rotor cooling somewhat by directing airflow onto/around the rotor better. Although that leaves to wonder why a shield is only just on 1 side of the rotor and not both. BigBlockMopar.com

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: BigBlockMopar] #1204256 03/28/12 08:43 AM 03/28/12 08:43 AM
Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 212 Mid Michigan C Coronet-R/T-Rag OP enthusiast
Coronet-R/T-Rag OP enthusiast C Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 212 Mid Michigan	The shields I have are from a 74 coronet. Will I have interference problems?

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: Coronet-R/T-Rag] #1204257 03/28/12 09:02 AM 03/28/12 09:02 AM
Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,880 Out in Left Field, NY B bobs66440 top fuel
bobs66440 top fuel B Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,880 Out in Left Field, NY	They are there at least in part to block water. I was having issues with front rotors warping on my '07 Infiniti. They determined that the shields weren't blocking the splash sufficiently. The rotors would get hot, then get wet and warp them. They fitted improved ones and problem solved.

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: bobs66440] #1204258 03/28/12 09:10 AM 03/28/12 09:10 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,472 Lubbock, TX E Erics5th UsedtobeSatellite6
Erics5th UsedtobeSatellite6 E Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,472 Lubbock, TX	I daily drove my 5th Avenue in Seattle (kinda wet) for a year and a half with no brake shields. Never a problem. Eric

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: bobs66440] #1204259 03/28/12 09:42 AM 03/28/12 09:42 AM
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 15,487 Florida S scratchnfotraction I Live Here
scratchnfotraction I Live Here S Joined: May 2003 Posts: 15,487 Florida	On my 68 Dart running 73 A-body disc rotors and drag skinnys it was a nightmare driveing in the rain. It had sheilds on it. The rotors were exposed to the airstream to aid cooling,I cut and added a piece of exhast tube to the lower center of the sheild, 3" long with 45* slash cut to direct air to the rotor for more cooling. It looked cool from the front cause you could see the tire/rotor/sheild,but water/rain was the problem when driveing. When running the cop rims it never had that problem in the rain and they never had any brake fade or overheating. I even upgraded to the 11.75" brakes with 11x2.5 on the rear.That made for killer stoping power but not in the rain. IMO. I would keep them and add the cooling duct if over heating is a problem with a stock width rim. Running drag skinnys I would avoid driveing in the rain as much as I could.

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: BigBlockMopar] #1204260 03/28/12 11:40 AM 03/28/12 11:40 AM
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 15,134 Kelowna, B.C. Canada D DPelletier I Live Here
DPelletier I Live Here D Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 15,134 Kelowna, B.C. Canada	Quote: Quote: ... none of my motorcycles have them.... Dave But motorcycles can't experience a sudden brake-difference between the left and right front tires if water just lands on one of the rotors. There's also no tire 'on the otherside' which can splash water onto the opposite brake-rotor. On the other hand, these 'dustshields' also have open slots near the center where they mount. It wouldn't surprise me if such a shield is there to aid in brake-rotor cooling somewhat by directing airflow onto/around the rotor better. Although that leaves to wonder why a shield is only just on 1 side of the rotor and not both. Again, there are lots of people driving without them and they aren't having any big problems. The tires are a fair ways apart and at speed, I don't believe you are getting water from one tire over to the other. As far as airflow; no, I'm positive that the brakes would be cooler without. I'm sure the shields do something, just not much! I can see the heat from the rotor vs. balljoint issue and the shield would help a bit with water and road grime....enough to put them on if you've got them (or want your car to look stock like I do), but they are far from necessary IMO. Dave 1970 Super Bee 440 Six Pack 1974 'Cuda 2008 Ram 3500 Diesel 2006 Ram 3500 Diesel 2004.5 Ram 2500 Diesel 2003 Ram 3500 Diesel 2006 Durango Limited [url] http://1970superbee.piczo.com [/url]

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: Coronet-R/T-Rag] #1204261 03/28/12 12:16 PM 03/28/12 12:16 PM
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 9,312 SoCal 68HemiB master
68HemiB master Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 9,312 SoCal	Maybe it's about debris on the rotors, and maybe it's rotor heat on nearby components, and maybe it's about debris getting to the inner wheel bearing. And maybe the debris in question is small or maybe it's large. Maybe the debris is fluid or solid. Maybe the fluid is water, or maybe the fluid is something petroleum-based that can contaminate the pads. Automotive engineers put shields on these and the vast majority of other disc brake equipped cars for some or all of the reasons speculated on here and for other reasons overlooked. But by all means, feel free to discard an integral part of your car's BRAKE SYSTEM based on the statistically insignificant anecdotal stories of a few keyboard jockeys who did so and didn't instantly die as a result. Down to just a blue car now.

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: Coronet-R/T-Rag] #1204262 03/28/12 12:52 PM 03/28/12 12:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows? 1_WILD_RT Management Trainee
1_WILD_RT Management Trainee Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 27,347 Today? Who Knows?	Quote: The shields I have are from a 74 coronet. Will I have interference problems? Flat design is early & needs to be trimmed Ribbed design is late & can be run as is... 7139458-2521273-splash.jpg (39 downloads) "The Armies of our ancestors were lucky, in that they were not trailed by a second army of pencil pushers."

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: 68HemiB] #1204263 03/28/12 01:15 PM 03/28/12 01:15 PM
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 15,134 Kelowna, B.C. Canada D DPelletier I Live Here
DPelletier I Live Here D Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 15,134 Kelowna, B.C. Canada	Quote: Maybe it's about debris on the rotors, and maybe it's rotor heat on nearby components, and maybe it's about debris getting to the inner wheel bearing. And maybe the debris in question is small or maybe it's large. Maybe the debris is fluid or solid. Maybe the fluid is water, or maybe the fluid is something petroleum-based that can contaminate the pads. Automotive engineers put shields on these and the vast majority of other disc brake equipped cars for some or all of the reasons speculated on here and for other reasons overlooked. But by all means, feel free to discard an integral part of your car's BRAKE SYSTEM based on the statistically insignificant anecdotal stories of a few keyboard jockeys who did so and didn't instantly die as a result. ...I think maybe it's about common sense...which seems to be in short supply these days You must live life pretty carefully if removing disk brake "dust shields" keeps you up at night! I ride and race motorcycles (you know, those motorized vehicles without crumple zones and air bags) both on and off road and have been doing so for over 30 years. These bikes have been exposed to the same roads as cars (gasp!) and so logic would suggest that their brake systems have been exposed to all the same potential contaminants....and I'm still here! I routinely do 1000 things more dangerous than driving a car without dust shields that, but to each their own I guess. Do you wear a tinfoil hat too and stand 10' away from your microwave when it's on? Dave 1970 Super Bee 440 Six Pack 1974 'Cuda 2008 Ram 3500 Diesel 2006 Ram 3500 Diesel 2004.5 Ram 2500 Diesel 2003 Ram 3500 Diesel 2006 Durango Limited [url] http://1970superbee.piczo.com [/url]

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: DPelletier] #1204264 03/28/12 02:03 PM 03/28/12 02:03 PM
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 9,312 SoCal 68HemiB master
68HemiB master Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 9,312 SoCal	Actually Dave, I don't lie awake at night, worrying about the integrity of my dust shields, nor do I look to the kitchen drawer for potential headgear. My post wasn't about common sense, about comparative risk, or about the brake configuration on dissimilar equipment with a different number of wheels and significantly less mass. The O.P. asked about running without dust shields on his car. My post was an observation that he could make his decision siding with those who engineered the vehicles in the first place, or siding with those with anecdotes and personal opinion. You don't think they're important. I get it. The membership here represents a wide variety of life experiences and personal knowledge (or lack thereof). I've never met you, but from reading your posts, I would consider you among those with knowledge. I have no beef with you. I do not seek to have an argument. Carry on. Down to just a blue car now.

Re: Are brake shields important? [Re: 68HemiB] #1204265 03/28/12 02:09 PM 03/28/12 02:09 PM
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 15,134 Kelowna, B.C. Canada D DPelletier I Live Here
DPelletier I Live Here D Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 15,134 Kelowna, B.C. Canada	Quote: Actually Dave, I don't lie awake at night, worrying about the integrity of my dust shields, nor do I look to the kitchen drawer for potential headgear. My post wasn't about common sense, about comparative risk, or about the brake configuration on dissimilar equipment with a different number of wheels and significantly less mass. The O.P. asked about running without dust shields on his car. My post was an observation that he could make his decision siding with those who engineered the vehicles in the first place, or siding with those with anecdotes and personal opinion. You don't think they're important. I get it. The membership here represents a wide variety of life experiences and personal knowledge (or lack thereof). I've never met you, but from reading your posts, I would consider you among those with knowledge. I have no beef with you. I do not seek to have an argument. Carry on. Sorry, I hadn't had my morning coffee yet! Yes, bottom line is that I don't think they're all that important and I wouldn't worry about driving a car without them. I've listened to all the reasons for putting them on and nothing I've heard has changed my mind. My car has them because it came with them from the factory and no other reason. again sorry for the harsh post, Dave 1970 Super Bee 440 Six Pack 1974 'Cuda 2008 Ram 3500 Diesel 2006 Ram 3500 Diesel 2004.5 Ram 2500 Diesel 2003 Ram 3500 Diesel 2006 Durango Limited [url] http://1970superbee.piczo.com [/url]

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