Is it a good idea to remove disc brake mud shields

  • Yes they just collect mud.

    Votes: 21 91.3%

  • No the provide valuable protection.

    Votes: 2 8.7%
  • Total voters
    23
waldershelf

waldershelf

Well-Known Member
I read a comment on one of the excellent rebuild threads that it's a good idea to get rid of the mud shields from disc brakes. So is it a good idea? are they just muck traps or do they offer some protection for the brakes? What do you think?
 
waldershelf said:
I read a comment on one of the excellent rebuild threads that it's a good idea to get rid of the mud shields from disc brakes. So is it a good idea? are they just muck traps or do they offer some protection for the brakes? What do you think?
Click to expand...

Interesting thread. I have left them off my front discs after replacing the calipers on my 110 Husky rebuild... I did wonder if they assisted to divert cool air to the discs on top of protecting them from foreign object damage. They are not the strongest so I assumed they'd do more damage to the disc than an object if hit...
 
I removed mine as they cost far too much too replace.
If only road driving you could keep them but if off roading it's a good idea to remove as stone can get caught and cause more damage.

James
 
More trouble than they are worth. I 've lost count of the stones I've seen (or heard) trapped between them and the disk. They were one of the first things that came off mine and went in the scrap bin. You will never see a hard core competition motor fitted with them.

Some say they also help to keep brake dust off your alloy wheels. Well my alloys ceased to be shiny a long time ago so its not an issue.
 
Yep I don't see a use in them, they trap mud, stones, grime that works it's way through seals don't bother with them
 
They are handy if your swivels start to leak as they stop it from dripping on to the disc. I have kept mine on for that reason.
 
waldershelf said:
I read a comment on one of the excellent rebuild threads that it's a good idea to get rid of the mud shields from disc brakes. So is it a good idea? are they just muck traps or do they offer some protection for the brakes? What do you think?
Click to expand...

off allways ,f you do enough brakes or axle rebuilds youll find often disc on shield side is in worse condition
 
Don't bother fitting britpart shields if your are buggered cos they fall apart after approx 10 miles of ROAD driving.:eek::eek::eek:
 
I got an advisory from the MOT man last year, 'Brake backplates corroded', after wondering WTF he was on about i looked and realised he meant the mudshields, which were all rusty and holed. Removed them, problem solved.
 
The only thing I've noticed is the brakes are crap after you go through puddles or when it's raining heavily..
 
They do serve a purpose in keeping water off the brakes as Marmaduke mentioned above, reducing the effect of spray on braking ability on that first press. When driving in wet conditions on unsurfaced roads they also help reduce brake pad wear on the rear wheels by reducing the amount of spray-borne grit getting to the discs.

However on balance these are minor issues and removing them is unlikely to cause you any bother with the advantage of easier access and not getting stones in there. Certainly if you do any sort of deep mud work with the car they can be a pain in the backside for trapping mud etc.
 
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