Brake Splash Guards

One more question about the '88 Civic. I've now got the front end taken apart, and I notice that the brake splash guards are totally rusted away - only the mounting screws remain, and they appear to be rusted in place. Should I be worried about replacing these (which involves removing the press-fitted wheel bearing), or could I just grind off the rusty screw heads and forget about it? I could also make and weld on some homemade splash guards from sheet metal.......

Reply to
Chris F.
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Sometimes they only serve as dust shields, sometimes they are also used to channel air to cool the brakes. Also in some cases they might protect a component like an ABS sensor but that's not going to be an issue on an '88.

If you can get the mounting bolts free that would be best. Your best bet at fabing replacements would be to find something close on a car in a junk yard and modify them to fit.

Reply to
Brent

"Chris F." wrote in news:49b3f809$0$5465$ snipped-for-privacy@news.aliant.net:

I'd replace them with new ones if I were you. Without splash shields, you may encounter the odd hairy moment where your brakes partially disappear when passing through deep puddles. New shields are not that expensive ($30- $40?).

Grind off the heads of the old screws, but leave the stubs slightly proud of the surface. You'll use those to locate the new shields. Scrape/chisel off the remains of the old shields, so the steering knuckle mating surface is clean and smooth.

You'll notice the new shields have a sort of "strap" that's left behind where the brake caliper aperture is cut out of it. Grind that strap off, but only cut off enough of it to allow the new shield to be worked over the hub. The shield can flex quite a bit and still snap back to its original shape again.

Notice how the hub has a couple of large holes in it? Use those to stick your drill bit through, so as to make new holes for the new screws in the steering knuckle. The new screws don't have to be very long; 3/8" is fine. Locate the new screws near the old ones.

Install new screws. Done.

Reply to
Tegger

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