Brake dust shields? Good or bad

[Skunksmash]

I would like to experience not having brake dust on my factory wheels on my 87. That would be a nice change. But it occurs to me, that there might not be a one for a reason. And those rectangular holes in the rims might be there for a reason. If you blocked those off completely with a large brake dust shield, so that no brake dust could ever come through, is there any possibility of a negative side effect?

Maybe something like too much brake dust building up on the braking components, or elsewhere.

[Jake Wade]

Buy some Ceramic pads.

[Skunksmash]

They still make brake dust, just not as fast

[KQQL IT]

The cheapy pads have alot less dust.
The ceramic ones eat rotors on my crewcab

[Skunksmash]

Well either way I'm really looking to skip the pad issues and just get to the dust shields

[Kinze]

The problem is your pads, good pads don't make dust.

Dust shields hold in heat and will cook the brakes.

[Skunksmash]

I've got the best pads, and they make dust. Granted, it does take a good bit longer. The ceramic pads seem to take about another month for me, to start showing any dust. But finally it appears, and if left long enough, looks just like the lower end pads. There is only 1 pad that makes no dust, and its EBC's red stuff. But IIRC they do not make them that fit these trucks.

As for dust shields you've got factory ones, these would just be a lot bigger. As for the heat it wouldn't surprise me to find out that some heat does need to be vented through the wheel.

Something similar to this:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mrg-6905/reviews/

However of course you have to be aware they will sell you things that will harm your vehicle sometimes. That's what spawned the creation of this thread

[rich weyand]

I put dust shields on the front a year or more ago. I didn't do it for dust, just to hide the rotors and black out the wheel openings. I have had no problems whatsoever.