Dust Shield

#1

I just got my lift installed and wired up (ROCK ON!), so I raised my car for no particular reason other than the fact that I could. At my house. In my own garage.B) At 36 with a third kid on the way, it might be better than sex.

Anyway, while wandering underneath the car for no particular reason, I began to wonder how difficult it is to remove the dust shields on back of the front discs. Is it fairly easy to do cleanly (i.e. not with a tin snips or a Dremmel tool)?

Thanks,
Sasha

#2

Dremel and/or tin snips [I believe] is the only way without pulling off the hubs.

#3

TheRedBaron wrote:

[quote]Dremel and/or tin snips [I believe] is the only way without pulling off the hubs.[/quote]bingo…

#4

Your tin snips must be extra heavy duty. Mine wouldn’t even come close to cutting the dust shields. I used a hack saw to get most te way through then bent and twisted and pulled and pushed and cussed until they finally gave up. Sure would be easy if you had to have the hub off anyway.

#5

screwynewy wrote:

What he said :slight_smile: I think that you will have to use cut-off disc. Trick is to cut them off in the right places so that you can pull them off (want to cut at caliper side around hub, and don’t forget to take off three bolts…)
I took mine off while changing front wheel bearings. Piece of cake then :slight_smile:

Igor

#6

I’ve used tin snips. Cheap ones to boot.

#7

plasma cutter B)

#8

Show off. :wink:

#9

155MPH wrote:

I think this thread is full of show-offs. One with super-duper-snips, another one with lift in his own garage :slight_smile: (no, really, I am not jealous )

#10

I used compound tin snips on mine and it cut quite easily

#11

I used a turbo dremel with diamond cutting blade :stuck_out_tongue:

#12

well if you want to be cheep just used garden shears. B)

#13

It seems obvious that you have all removed your front dust shields, and I’m sure that is to allow better brake cooling. The shield almost completely prevents the impingment of fresh air from underneith, on the rotor and caliper.

But it seems that the dust shield also acts as a heat shield between the very hot rotor and 1) wires for ABS, 2) tie rod ends, and 3) hydraulic brake lines.

I’m thinking about removing most of the shield but leaving sections that can act as heat shields for these items. Doesn’t the heat from the rotors harm these items ??

#14

A lot of people have removed them to install backing plates with an adapter for cooling (Bimmerworld sells the kit I have installed). Now you have the best of both worlds - protection from heat as you describe, and an inlet for ducted cool air.