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.

---

Quote:

---

The shields I have are from a 74 coronet. Will I have interference problems?

---

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

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