Do I **need** these?

[Bo]

Maybe a stupid question, but nonetheless I want to ask it, so I don't do something foolish...

I've had all of my rear suspension apart - do I need to have these plates in place? Mine are really crappy (not the one's in the pic..), and unless they fill a proper function, I'd like to leave them out alltogether. Doesn't brake cooling improve if they are not there?





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1972 911S Targa
************************
My project!

[Thomas Owen]

Do a search here for Clark Griswold's ongoing brake upgrade thread 'Project Little Reds'. He talks about these plates and shows some mods he is doing.
I do not believe you want to leave these off.

[campbellcj]

A lot of racers remove the dust shields. Most say that cooling is improved without them (unless you've got a ducting system set up like Chuck or Jack.)

Chris

[island911]

Why would anyone think they don'tfill a proper function?
Oh I forgot; it's because those things "just happen." Like when Max VonBeancounter killed the cool-collar back in the 50's.

Seriously, they do fill proper functions. . .and it's not "dust" sheilding.

[Clark Griswald]

Well, what exactly IS their intended function?

I would agree that Porsche put them on there for some reason, but I can't for the life of me figure out what it is.

Shield the CV boots from brake dust or rotor heat? Protect the rotor from pebbles?

Provide Clark Griswald a good place to weld cooling shrouds? That must have been their purpose.

[dtw]

Well count me in as wanting to know WTF they do. I salvaged the fronts on my project car but tossed the rear as they were f'ing ugly. Yah yah they're dust shields but is my car going to explode if I leave 'em off...

-d

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Dave
'72 911T to '73 RSR Replica Project

[gslater]

The owner's manual for my '80 SC says to take them off if you're going to be doing any hard driving, or something to that effect.

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Greg Slater
1980 SC
gslater@qwest.net

[retnug]

I believe they are there to shield the rotors and brakes from getting a big splash of water when running through puddles. If they are not there you could have a momentary loss of braking when doused with water. This would also help to minimize the chances of the rotors getting warped when getting splashed also.

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Gunter
'82 SC Targa

[911pcars]

They are dust shields to deflect water splash and road debris. You can take them off for additional brake-cooling air.

Out here on the west coast it's mostly dry so there are few minuses in removing them (you should drag brakes after rolling through a deep puddle anyway). If your regular routes take you on roads with fine sand, keep the shields as excessive grit between the pads and rotor will accelerate rotor wear.

Sherwood Lee
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

[island911]

Yes, yes, water splash and road debris all good. But to hear “You can take them off for additional brake-cooling air.” Sheesh. . . and again on cooling, people are saying those P-engineers didn’t know what they were doing.
Well there was this Italian guy named Bernoulli. And he noticed lots of things about air flow. And being the nice guy that he was, he documented his findings, so that one day engineers everywhere could design “simple” sheetmetal parts that help airflow past spinning disks. (among other things)

Notice the shield has a flat section close to the rotor. If splash and road debris were the only concerns the design would indeed be different.
Seemingly simple things are not always simple things.

Per:
http://www.autozone.com/Library/Glossary/body_216.html
QUOTE: splash shield: A stamped sheet-metal deflector plate located behind the disc-brake rotor providing component protection from dirt and water and improving the flow of air over the rotor.


Cheers

---

'81 Platinum Metalic SC COUPE

[911pcars]

QUOTE: "splash shield: A stamped sheet-metal deflector plate located behind the disc-brake rotor providing component protection from dirt and water and improving the flow of air over the rotor.'

If you believe all dust shields perform this generic definition, be my guest and reinstall them.

Sherwood Lee
http://member.rennlist.org/911pcars

[island911]

I believe the ones of this thread (Porsche designed) do indeed help provide cooling.
Besides, there is no arguing they provide Clark Griswald a good place to weld cooling shrouds.

---

'81 Platinum Metalic SC COUPE

[JMPRO]

island 911 ,why do all your posts have to be so sarcastic . We will get your opinion without it
Jerry

[Mrdi]

I don't detect sarcasm, perhaps a slight disdain and propensity towards impatience for the neophytic.

[rdvnac]

The real purpose of these things is so when at a track event some guy picks up a rock between a splash guard and a rotor, and a horrific squealing/grinding/screeching sound ensues, and he limps off-track in a panic, his friends gathered around the car in concern, you can coolly allay all fears with a curt "calm down, it's just a rock stuck in his splash shield." ;-)

[Bo]

Okeeeeeeeeeeeeeey, so if I interpret the above discussion the answer to my quesution is really NO - I don't **need** them.
I'm not concerned with the problem with water, since my car never sees water (except for when I wash it ).


------------------
1972 911S Targa
************************
My project!

[911pcars]

I don't detect too much sarcasm in Island911's comments; difference of opinion, yes, but that's what this bb is about. Granted, any attempts at levity should be cleverly and overtly described, lest others take it the wrong way. It's a tight balancing act, but I guess safer to play it straight.

This is not directed at anyone on this particular thread:
What get's me ranting (mostly to myself) are minds that are closed, open only to whatever bible (small b) or pseudo-theory they happen to have stumbled upon (usually on the net) :-) , and then it becomes part of their belief system.

Does the above comment automatically teleport us all to OT?

Sherwood Lee