Disc brake stone shields- keep or remove?

[Toxic_Avenger]

For a vehicle that is used offroad in most conditions, is it advisable to keep the stone guards on, or remove?

From a bit of googling, the UK guys are in the 'take 'em off' camp. Reasoning being stones and mud can get in there and cause screeching and grinding, and be difficult to get out. They are also easily damaged.
Source 1 (https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/brake-disc-shields.222242/)
Source 2 (http://forum.landrovernet.com/showthread.php/36444-Brake-Disc-Guards)
Source 3 (http://forums.lr4x4.com/topic/87857-defender-brake-mud-guardsshields/)

I've got a stiffie set, but not sure which way to go.
I understand the concept of a stone 'shield' but is it a huge concern?
(I think the name can give people romantic or false ideas about their purpose, but I digress)

Pros (reasons to keep stone shields):
Prevent swivel seal / axle oil leaks getting onto the rotors
Prevents rocks hitting calipers

Cons (reasons to remove)
Reduce brake cooling
Trap mud
Potential to trap stones in
Often damaged offroad

Discuss!

[Tombie]

Improved brake cooling is a Pro (leave on)
Prevent mud, sand etc flying up into pad/rotor increasing wear. (Pro)
Rarely damaged offroad by impact (except for those running excessively reduced or - offsets.
Keeps water spray off inside (helps brakes work during rain)

Rarely catch rocks - think I've had 2 in 25 years (you could hear them, so quickly removed) NOTE: slotted rotors tend to flick them out..

[Bearman]

I am a firm believer in keeping them. They are there for a purpose and that is to stop water, mud etc getting onto your rotors. If you do extreme offroading through deep mud and loose gravel I can understand if you decide to remove them but I have to say that at times I have done this through necessity not choice and haven't had any problems with buildup between the shield and rotor. I have had the odd stone get caught in between on gravel roads but you hear it pretty quick and a lot of the time all you have to do is reverse for a meter or two and it frees itself. Only once have I had to use a screwdriver to get one out. I think it boils down to personal choice really.

[jimr1]

I'm in the leave them on camp . I've never had a problem with them , I even took some off once a gave them a coat of paint !!.. Jim

[nugge t]

Guess I am a bit biased but I have always retained mine and strengthened them with some of that Nugget Stuff's blokes gear:)


A friends came off on the CSR and they ended up having to replace the rotors when they got back as they were so badly marked from stones.

[roverrescue]

Just to **** stir a little
Although I haven't travelled the CSR yet in ~300kkm in a D1 , tdi 130 travelling all the western & central deserts western qld and PDR more times than I can remember with nearly all sans brake shields (due to cracking and breaking off) I have no intentions of repairing or replacing my current tdci 130 shields when they crack.

The best way to protect rear axle punishment from stones on fast dirt is good front mud flaps

YMMV

steve

[Toxic_Avenger]

So full disclosure- I have nuggets stiffies, and was pondering whether it was worth installing or just removing the shields all together.
I ended up installing them- what's the worst that could happen, right?

I did a bit of a biopsy on my intact, and fully operational stone shields before I painted, stiffened, and reinstalled them.

There is a bit of a write up here:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/2639575-post482.html
It will also serve as a bit of a removal guide, if anyone wants a better understanding of the job before tackling it.

[cuppabillytea]

Once you've fitted your Stiffies you have to stay with what you fitted them to. That's what my Dad told me. Yes there are pros and cons.but personally I'm not into either, so I suggest you stay with them until they drive you nuts, then give them the flick. What harm can it do? Then you can do a comparison on Disk life and condition, fitted or unfitted.

[460cixy]

Rear ones fell off years ago fronts are still there

[nugge t]

The fronts are not a problem but the rears certainly are. They went on my 110 and the 130, hence the stiffies.
Whilst I would agree good front mud flaps are essential, I don't see any benefit in leaving the shields off. You only have to look at the extra wear and tear on rear tyres from the flying stones to appreciate what is happening there. I have gone away with 4 new tyres and even with front mud flaps, the fronts will look great but the backs look like they have been through a mincer. All that extra rock activity is happening around the discs as well as the tyres.


Personally I haven't had stones stuck between the shield and the disc but have seen the damage done to discs with out them. The 90 which did the CSR had front mud flaps.


I am not sure what they do in the UK is all that relevant as they probably spend more time in mud that on unsealed roads. If they were to do a couple of 1,000 kms, their main problem would be salt water rust from being in the drink. With mud clogging I can understand them removing them but stones and corrugations are really the problem here.

[alien]

I fitted stiffies to mine and wouldn't run with out stone shields for the reasons Tombie mentioned.
There have been reports of the inside disc pad wearing excessively on D2's with stone shields removed when on sand and high speed dirt.