Brake dust shields - remove them?

[terryjm1]

I am working on a D1 that has had the rear dust shields removed and the front ones are quite rusty. I have a set still installed on a spare set of axles but they got pretty bent up when shipped. I would have to hammer them back into shape to use them.

I have been told a lot of people simply remove them. Is it worth the effort to remove the spare set and pound them back into shape?

As this D1 already is rusty I am going to make it my winter driver and trail runner,

 

[Howski]

Always had rocks getting stuck in them and took them off on my old solid axle Rovers

 

[best4x4]

I have always had small branches, and rocks get stuck between them and the rotors on pretty much all my off road vehicles with disc brakes. The 04 Jeep Grand Cherokee from the factory didn't have front dust shields and I never had an issue. So with my D1 & D2's = I remove them and have yet to have a small branch or rock cause another issue.

 

[German Gruner]

Doing a lot of kilometers in unpaved roads, rocks not only get stuck, they impact cover permanently. Removing it let disc unprotected, and rocks will find other places inside caliper to get stuck and to continue disturbing.

 

[Blue]

I always yanked them.

 

[terryjm1]

What do you think about water, snow, and salt without the dust shields?

 

[Tugela]

What do you think about water, snow, and salt without the dust shields?

I think that those things will find their way into every crack, opening, and imperfection in your vehicle whether the dust shields are installed or not.

For a permanent, comprehensive solution, consider moving to the west coast. It's lovely out here, the access to vast expanses of public land is great, and Rovers don't crumble to dust.

 

[best4x4]

I've never had any debris get up on the calipers without the dust shields in place. Only debris = when they were installed.

Worse thing that went undetected had to be about 150yd of fishing line back when I had my 05 Rubicon.... It still had the dust shields in place and I had no clue it was wrapped completely around the hub in between the rotor, however 25 miles down the road I smelled an unusual burning smell and the fishing line got hot and made a HUGE mess. Then it cooled down and made one solid piece of goo.... I had to remove the caliper/rotor, and chip that junk off. Needless to say I got home, but way later than I should have.

 

[ukoffroad]

I always yank them.

 

[ERover82]

They're great at keeping debris in, not out.