Are there any downsides to getting rid of the brake dust shields on the front axle?

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I run without them. If there is a downside, I haven't found it.

 

The get quite a bit dirtier off road and thus need more maintenance and supposedly it reduces cooling capacity as they're kinda designed to scoop air in.

Why would you want to remove them?

 

I'm trying to strip unnecessary weight. Just as a personal fun goal.

 

I've run without them for 5 years with zero issues.

 

Even my huge tundra sized ones weight only 200g my guess. I think you're better off looking elsewhere for weight savings personally.

 

I'm not obsessing over it. I won't be disassembling things just to get them off. But, removing them are on my to do list when I get to things like axle bearings change.

 

They take up less space that way. I keep spare spindles in my 4Runner behind the drivers seat. That was my initial reason for removing them. Then I needed the spares while I swapped bearings so they went on and haven't come off. lol

 

Easiest place to cut weight would be wheels/tires....and a diet.

 

Ha Your 4x4`s never even see rain let alone winter.

Myself anything that even helps some what to keep the winter slop away from the calipers is good.

No winter I don`t see any issue.

 

You could easily argue that having them on keeps slush and snow on the caliper more then having them off.

 

When you've had to change those bearings multiple times, you'll understand how much of an unnecessary pain in the ass they are.

They may be "designed to scoop air" they don't. If you want better cooling, run 1.25 spacers and throw the backers in the trash. If they "scoop" anything, it's pebbles that they then don't allow to fall back out. They often get bent in to the rotor and make a God awful screeching noise.

 

I can agree with that as well .

 

Lol... the brake backers don't cover the calipers.

 

But the keep liquid brine away.

 

Away from the rotor maybe... but the entire inner side of the caliper is exposed, the backer doesn't cover it.

 

I'm cutting weight from the tacoma so I can eat more without dropping the mpg.

 

Maybe when I do my tundra brake upgrade, I should remove the dust shields to offset the weight increase?