Ill affects of removing brake dust shields?

[indiana dave]

I ran our open track last weekend, and opnce I got comfortable, and started picking up speed, and really started pushing the car, my front brakes overheated... They are stock, with no cooling ducts.
I fully intend to make ducts, but wondered if i should remove the inner shields, or cut holes in them the same diameter as the hose & connect it to them.
What have you racers done?
I fo intend to upgrade my brakes... when the job security is better. Just doing the inexpensive stuff now, and researching the rest of the wish list.

Also, what was Ford thinking with those wheels? They don't allow any heat to escape! nor allow any air to flow thru them!
I can't believe they'd stand up to rigorous racing abuse. I remember reading about the SVO story, and that they went thru brake pads... no wonder!

[bigwingsaleen]

This front brake problem is due more to the plastic material the caliper piston are made of more than the lack of opening in the wheels. If the pistons were made of a better material the problem probably wouldn't happen even with a closed style wheel.

I believe that Paul at SVP Unlimited ( svpu@svpu.com ) has the Stillen stainless steel pistons that replace the problem OEM pieces. Along with some fabricated brake cooling ducts the problem will be cured and no more LOST track time !!!!

[drewkeen]

this is just my wild guess here but the shield is to keep the wheels pretty longer and taking it off should in theory help..i dont think it would hurt...

[vrinner]

I have front and rear brake cooling ducts on my 86 track car. There are custom plates made to mount where the stock brake shields mounted. Then hose goes from the fog lamps to the plates directly venting cool air into the middle of the rotors. However aerodynamically I'm not sure they really do anything. I know some guys who put electric fans in the ducts to help with cooling.

I also have the SS pistons. However I still have brake cooling problems because it seems that my rear brakes aren't working too well. There is another thread on this forum in regards to that problem.

Good luck!