I am in the process of replacing the entire front end of my truck, thats everything from bushings to sheet metal, anyways the brake dust shield are thinner than a sheet of paper so I guess I need them too.

What are my options, dealer said they dont have them and neither does the autoparts store. How bad is it to just leave them off, other than dirt getting at the rear seals for the bearings?

 

When I redid mine, I got some from Ebay lsted as a heavy duty replacement for a Chevy Dana 60. They were about twice as thick as stock and fit the same.

 

personally, I always ditch them. I like to see that disc!!

 

Ant they hinder cooling of the discs too. I have NEVER reinstalled them on any of my mopars.
Now, I dont live on a gravel road, But when I visit my propery in Nevada, I have to travel about 20 miles of gravel. I have never had a stone cause any problems.

I am sure somebody out there has a horror story about it though!

 

About a year ago I bought a pair from my local Chevy dealer. Told him I needed them for a 1986, single rear wheel, K30. Che Chevy style is slightly different, however: it wraps around the edge of the disc and is flat along the side of the disc, instead of stamped alngside the disc the way the dodge ones are.

I have noticed a difference in the rain without the shields -- if the disc gets wet, sometimes it is hard to get it to dry off & actually work, not to mention that the brake balance is all fubar at that point.

 

I had a piece of gravel get stuck in between the brake disc and dust shield a few weeks ago and man did it make a horrible sound! like nails on a chalkboard! ooh it was irritating til i finally figured out what it was, i could barely see the rock in there. I was about to rip them off but didn't, just got the rock out instead.

 

Thanks for the replies, I guess I will just leave them off. It costs too much now without having to buy them too.

 

Did you get my pm?