Disc brake dust shields - keep them on or leave them off?

[65 Cuda 340]

Putting the front end of my 67 Barracuda back together. Has small bolt pattern disc brakes up front. Just thinking that omitting the dust shields would let the brakes run cooler. I know some aftermarket disc setups omit any dust shields.

So: leave the dust shields off? Or keep them?

 

[Darter6]

Many leave them off. I did on all my disc conversions. Personal preference.

 

[niceolddart]

I second the leaving them off idea.

 

[72bluNblu]

I leave them off. All I've ever seen them do it trap dust and dirt against the rotor. I've even had the occasional piece of gravel get stuck between the rotor and the shield, which makes a terrible racket and will groove the rotor in short order.

Unless you're driving in heavy mud I don't see them doing much good. Water will come in regardless and disks aren't as susceptible to losing braking when wet as drums anyway. Given that not a lot of people use these cars in lousy weather I'd say most folks would be better off leaving the dust shields off.

 

[65 Cuda 340]

Thanks for the replies. Think I'll leave them off.