Purpose of that metal screen behind brake discs ?

[Superflan]

Hi,

when replacing a CV shaft, I think I bent the metal screen behind the brake disc. Now it make noises... light rotating noise, annoying enough. I tried to unbent it without removing the wheel, thought it was okay, but the sound is still here. I'll have to jack up the car and remove the wheel to get to it properly.

But what is this screen for ?

 

[CharBaby]

It's a backing plate and you can bend it back into shape or move it so it stops making noise.

 

[RooflessVW]

The backing plate keeps road debris off of your rotor/caliper.

 

[Superflan]

OK I hope the noise comes from there. Keep you posted

 

[FCD]

It's called a dust cover or plate or backing cover or plate, whatever you call it it's to protect the brakes from road grit and dust.

 

[Rick in PA]

It could be a heat shield too. Depends on what's behind it, wiring, rubber brake hose, ,CV boot, etc.

 

[Astro14]

Some are even shaped to direct cooling airflow into the center of a ventilated rotor to improve brake cooling. Cost money to add those things...the OEMs put them on there for a reason...

 

[SHOZ]

Originally Posted By: Rick in PA
It could be a heat shield too. Depends on what's behind it, wiring, rubber brake hose, ,CV boot, etc.
This is what I call it. I've seen rubber boots melt from lack of them on the track. Debris and dust it would have to be on both sides.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

Might be there to protect the LBJ from heat. My Liberty has them for sure, bent one once and replaced it.

 

[Red91]

It's the heat sink power relay deflector for your turbo encabulator. Trust me, I'm a trained and certified turbo encabulator specialist, and if you bend it a certain degree on the first Sunday in June, in the middle of a snowstorm, you can ad fifty horsepower to your vehicle.

Like they said, debris shield/heat deflector.

 

[mk378]

And it helps when driving in the rain. Water on the brake rotor will decrease stopping ability until it dries off.

 

[SHOZ]

Originally Posted By: mk378
And it helps when driving in the rain. Water on the brake rotor will decrease stopping ability until it dries off.
What about the outside of the wheel and open spokes?

 

[andyd]

Check to see if there isn't a pebble jammed against the back of the rotor.

 

[Gimpy1]

Yea the dust/heat shield is there for a purpose..... to cut your hand when doing brake work. All kidding aside if it's badly bent you can just replace it, the aren't expensive at all, but may be a PITA to R&R

 

[Number_35]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby
It's a backing plate and you can bend it back into shape or move it so it stops making noise.
Our '09 Kia Sedona was making a terrible noise - it turned out that the dust shields were rusted and had distorted and were rubbing against the rotors. I bought new ones (dealer only) and plan to install them in the Spring.

 

[Superflan]

Thanks everyone. I managed to bend it back into the original shape by jacking up the car, removing the wheel and using a lever to do the thing. It was licking the disc, see picture of the shield bent (as I was pulling the pivot to remove the cv axle) :

 

[meep]

they are touchy on both volvos in our stable. If the inside top of the wheel even slightly almost barely but not quite nearly touches the heat shield during wheel removal or replacement, it will scrape. I've learned to bend them around through the wheel spokes if they rub.

m

 

[SHOZ]

On my Hyundai Accent they are terrible. Part of the hub and you need to pull the hub out of the bearing to get the shields off.

This made front wheel stud replacement a messy job. I finally bent the shield 90* and you could then get the studs in on one spot. Bend it back and hammer it as flat as I could. But then they start rusting.

On my Tauruses I just use to take them off and throw them away. They easily bolted onto the back of the hub.