Rear Disc Guards

I had an annoying squeak, found the cause of it today, and then found this thread - no prizes for guessing what my problem is.... i observed fractures around all three attachment holes in each of the disc guards !!

So I took my rear disc guards off today to inspect them and now after seeing the kilos of accumulated crap inside the wheel rims I'm inclined not to repair or replace them. Having said said that also I'm mindful of what others have said and can see that they might be a help in sand but in soggy climes i reckon they're mud catchers and just as detrimental to disc wear - it all depends on the terrain you spend most of your time in. What do others think??

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...012/03/316.jpg

onebob

Hey those guards in the photo look almost like mine! the cracking and fracture point is almost identical. Having reviewed all the info below (Thanks everyone for your thoughts and experience) I reckon the best bet is to shell out for a new pair and put some large washers around the the mounting bolts. I do a lot of travelling in sand and also the occasional trip in the high country that involves frequent river crossings. I have already shelled out for 1 set of ABS sensors and they are damned expensive. Disc guards seem cheap at the price.

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Originally Posted by justinc

Leave them on, I too have experienced excessive inner brake pad wear by removing them, and why weld them??? They are cheap enough to buy new, less than $30 each IIRC. Not worth removing and welding them only to have them crack again.

JC

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Thanks for the advice re buying new guards.. just a further question what does IIRC mean?

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Originally Posted by ken_shannon

Thanks for the advice re buying new guards.. just a further question what does IIRC mean?

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If I Recall Correctly:)

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Originally Posted by ken_shannon

Thanks for the advice re buying new guards.. just a further question what does IIRC mean?

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If I recall correctly.

[ame="http://www.google.com.au/search?q=IIRC&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a"]IIRC - Google Search[/ame]

Great website called Google, you go to Google , you type or copy and paste terms in there, hit search and it finds relevant information for you.
A benefit of it is that you get almost instant answers instead of having to wait for someone to come along and answer it...

Ha Ha, I thought it was some retail code. Thanks so much

I have broken 3 of mine on my last trip. The only one not to break was the one I welded that was broken from our last trip.

From a motor sport prospective, the go is to remove them as they reflect heat back against the rotor but the Disco 2 is no race car.

I'm just interested if anyone has had negative effects from running with no backing plates on the front?

I'll be welding and reinstalling the rears for sure.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...015/07/395.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...015/07/396.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...015/07/397.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...015/07/398.jpg

Happy Days

To repair/reinforce mine I brazed 20mm diameter "mudguard" washers onto each mounting point. No cracking since then but I do have a few good spares in case they crack again.

First thing I did when I had to replace pads. Been off for years, what rear negative effects could it have? Also pulled them from the RRC and multiple other vehicles (usually when broken) and left off.

6 mths into ownship of the d2 and the guards were squeaking and shivering like mice in a cat refuge! Off they came and stayed off, the only downside is you will get more sand and muddy bits in the caliper, but given you can not, and I mean its impossible to keep them on in 1 piece they have to go.
I tried everthing with the defender, washers, bigger washers, welding, brazing,etc and had to admit defeat. It is the corrugations that kill them. The D2 had 212230 kms when I got it, and the guards were perfect, 15000 kms later they were toast! A good indication the d2 had never seen dirt in its life b4 me :)
Cheers Scott