Brake disc dust shield: common defects and their signs

1. Corrosion
   • Vibration is felt during braking.
   • Rattling sound from the wheel is heard during driving.
   • If areas around fasteners underwent corrosion, then the brake disc dust cover is poorly secured in the seat. Sometimes the component can get lost during driving.
2. Mechanical damages
   • Cracks, scratches and shears are noticeable at component inspection.
   • Soiling and quick wear-out of the inner brake disc surface.
   • Knocking, whistling and screeching are heard from the wheel during driving.
   • Car vibrations are noticeable, especially at braking.

How to repair or replace brake disc dust shield?

Repair of the brake disc backing plate can include cleaning from rust in case its spots are insignificant. Usually a sandblaster is used for this purpose. If you want to repair the brake disc dust shield, contact a service station because a specialist only can perform qualified diagnostics and determine if it is possible to restore component functions in a certain case.

It is better to replace the broken brake disc dust shield. This is a laborious process, so replacement should be entrusted to service station specialists. During replacement process the car is set onto a lifting platform, then the wheel being worked on is demounted, the brake hose is disconnected from the brake caliper and brake fluid is drained. Then the brake caliper and pads are demounted, the brake disc and wheel hub are removed, after that the defective brake disc dust shield is disconnected from the steering knuckle and then demounted. After new component installation and assembling everything in reverse order the brake system is necessarily bleeded.