Dust shields on Brake disks-yes or no

[Morrie]

I've rebuilt the front brakes and am on to the rear. It looks like I have the dust shields in place on the front brake disks and only one of the rear. I read in my shop manual that its ok to remove these for additional brake cooling. Should I hunt down a replacement for the rear or remove the other 3. I'd like some feedback....THANKS!

[Green 912]

For normal street driving where you use little of the total available brake capacity it matters little. Remove the remaining one in the rear to keep things even. The best thing you can do to “improve” the braking capacity of a street 912 is change (flush) the brake fluid once a year. Brake fluid absorbs water and as it does so its ability to resisting boiling is reduced and it will exacerbate the degradation of the fluid wetted components.

If you track the car and or have a performance improved motor you should remove all 4 and also go to the ventilated rotors if you haven’t done so already. Improving to vented rotors will require changing the calipers as well. “M” calipers with the spacer in between the 2 caliper halves will bolt right on. New vented rotors can be purchased inexpensively and the wide “M” calipers are easy to find.

[Efrain68912]

The dust shields are useful when driving in the rain - other than that I don't think that taking them off will be too much of a problem. On the topic of racing, the stock calipers and rotors are plenty good enough for the lightweight 912; better pads, good fluid, and stainless lines are good additions.

Efrain
68 912 Coupe

[Morrie]

I am replacing the brake lines with stainless steel ones as I go. I also have replaced the master cylinder and will completely flush the system once I finish rebuilding the rears.

Based on the feedback I've gotten, I'm just going to remove the one remaining shield on the rear and leave the front ones in place. I only plan to street the car and not race it so it sounds like I'm ok with the original parts.

BTW- what's with the dual bleeder valves on the rear calipers? Should I bleed these simultaneously or in some special order??

[Efrain68912]

One bleeder valve per piston. Do the outer one first. Bleed the car starting with the caliper furthest from the master cylinder, ending with the closest.

Efrain
68 912 Coupe

[Morrie]

Both Shields are now off in the back. Anyone need a rear right shield, complete with hardware?

[david c.]

you know, I was doing the front brake pads and rotors on my lil' brothers Eclipse last week. The original cheapo steel/tin brake shields were deteriorated, so I removed them. Then I started to think, are they important? Do I need them? I saw this thread, and it made me think: What about small rocks and debris being deflected from the inboard side of the calipers by these shields? The Eclipse isn't back together yet (broke some studs), so I haven't decided. Is it our conclusion that the shields are dispensible?

Thanks

David

[Green 912]

I would guess that it would depend on the car and the type of use it gets. Clean dry roads don't think you need them. Off road or winter grit and salty slush then they might help. I think the reason to sugest that they be removed is for added cooling but if you are not now overheating the brakes then added cooling will not result in any added performance. I run without them on both front and rear as I have overheated them on the track. I need all late braking that I can get as I sure can't out run them. Without the inner covers I sometimes get crud in the brakes such as tire marbles that smell real good when they burn up

[Morrie]

OK, So maybe I should be shopping for a replacement for the missing one after all??????

Morrie