Member Since: 05 Dec 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 30
Disc Brake Backing Plate/Dust Covers: Safe to delete them?
Hello Gents,
I'm doing a pretty extensive overhaul of my LR3 including all new brake components. Although the fronts are OK, the rears are quite rusty. Even a good descaling and a thick coat of paint is only going to be good for a short time.
Looking at both the fronts and rears, the fronts are a no brainer to remove and rear knuckle has a heavier inner backing plate to anchor the e-brake. So in essence the rear also has no mechanical consequence either.
I keep reading about how they assist with cooling and keep mud and junk away from the rotors, but i'm wondering how important this really is.
Thoughts?
9th Jul 2014 11:28 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Well they are there for a reason and if you could do without I am sure the designer would have deleted them as they are unsprung weight, even if they do try to make them as flimsy as possible.
I've never bought into the idea that they impact cooling on regular cars but some performance cars do use them as part of the brake ducting. Someone on here may have run without them to offer a comparison.
The biggest effect they have is protecting the brakes from the crud/water/snow/icy slush thrown from the opposite wheel. Given Canadian winters I would think this would be a very good reason to keep them.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Agree with Robbie they are there to keep the crud and out..
Flack
10th Jul 2014 8:03 am
spb
Member Since: 07 May 2010
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 201
Mine were so badly corroded that when my LR dealer tried to get them off they had to send 1 of the driveshaft/hubs to a specialist firm to press them apart, they distorted the other side using heat
For 2 parts that cost 40 quid each, it was almost 1000 quid of main dealer work and parts to fix.
So the moral is.... change them before they get TOO bad
I also believe that in the UK it would be an MOT failure to present the vehicle without them.TD4 Freelader ES
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10th Jul 2014 9:07 am
armybuck041
Member Since: 05 Dec 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 30
Based on this, I've decided to clean them up and reinstall them. Thanks for the tips.
Scotty
11th Jul 2014 1:59 am
John P
Member Since: 12 Aug 2011
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1282
I'm looking to replace mine now that I've pressed the wheel bearing apart.
Does anybody know the part numbers for these? All I can find are SMF500022 (LH) and SMF500032 (RH) but they appear to have been super-ceded?
Thanks
John
21st Jul 2014 10:19 am
John P
Member Since: 12 Aug 2011
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1282
I think I found them, so for future reference:-
SMF500022 (LH) is now LR048812
SMF500032 (RH) is now LR048810
Cheers
John
21st Jul 2014 10:34 am
L319
Member Since: 14 Dec 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 2083
I know that early Range Rover had bigger shields for Iceland as the volcanic ash would wear the pads away all too quickly. The rears are more susceptible to rubbish coming off both front wheels and the opposite rear. They really are there for a reason.
21st Jul 2014 12:12 pm
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20836
spb wrote:
I also believe that in the UK it would be an MOT failure to present the vehicle without them.
Only if they are loose/insecure (fouling the disc) I believe. Mine passed with no front shields, and 1 rear missingMy D3 Build Thread
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