caramall2 Posted August 19, 2007 Share Posted August 19, 2007 I've seen a few comments but wanted to start a thread (couldn't find one). Pros? 1) Help keep dust off? Really? 2) Help shield bearings against heat? 3) Help keep water off? Cons? 1) Retain heat, making pads & rotors heat up worse? 2) In the way of cooling air from after-market cooling ducts, etc? General 1) Comments from those who have removed it? Honestly, I don't see where it does that much good, but hard to tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bun707 Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 How about the con that it makes getting to the lower strut bolt harder? I trimmed a 1 inch notch in mine to make reaching that bolt easier with a socket extension. I figure leaving them on is a good idea though. Usually they are there for a reason otherwise Subaru would have saved the $2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Instead of all or nothing, I took an incremental step. I removed the piece of metal between the two ventilation slots to make a larger opening to allow more of the air directed by the Prova blades I installed to reach my front rotors. http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/TRS60586/Misc%20Legacy/DSCN0185.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caramall2 Posted August 21, 2007 Author Share Posted August 21, 2007 That was it...the Prova blades (was trying to think of that). How do you like them and can you tell a difference? Seems like they would work just fine. Definitely a reason to remove some of the shield. I wanted to try and craft a set of my own. (If you have time, can you post a couple more pics showing how they're mounted, etc? I'll check the web too.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS Posted August 21, 2007 Share Posted August 21, 2007 Here's a figure from the installation instructions... http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/TRS60586/Misc%20Legacy/Prova.jpg The full shield blocks too much of the airflow. Yesterday's track day was going to be a test of the enlarged vents but it was rainy all day so the brakes didn't get near as hot as they did last time, which was dry and I was much more aggressive with the braking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caramall2 Posted August 21, 2007 Author Share Posted August 21, 2007 Thanks. That's perfect (instructions showing mounting). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caramall2 Posted October 4, 2007 Author Share Posted October 4, 2007 TRS -- Was just looking at past thread. Any updates on how you like the Provas or have you not had a chance to test them fully? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 My test was to be a track day back in August but it rained pretty much all day, heavy at times, so the brakes didn't get nearly the workout they did the previous track day I went to. I'm going to a HPDE track day this Saturday and it's going to be dry and quite warm, though my tires are pretty much used up so I don't think I'll be driving as hard as typical in the dry. The stock full dust shields only have a pair of small slits to allow air in so most of the air deflected toward to the rotor by the Prova blades was blocked. Since this is my DD I don't want to totally remove the shields so I enlarged the openings a bit to allow more air in. They may need to be enlarged some more to allow additional cooling airflow. Monsoon conditions: http://www.photodump.org/stored16/PIC-0039.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleBlueGT Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 My test was to be a track day back in August but it rained pretty much all day, heavy at times, so the brakes didn't get nearly the workout they did the previous track day I went to. I'm going to a HPDE track day this Saturday and it's going to be dry and quite warm, though my tires are pretty much used up so I don't think I'll be driving as hard as typical in the dry. The stock full dust shields only have a pair of small slits to allow air in so most of the air deflected toward to the rotor by the Prova blades was blocked. Since this is my DD I don't want to totally remove the shields so I enlarged the openings a bit to allow more air in. They may need to be enlarged some more to allow additional cooling airflow. Monsoon conditions: Pic of the enlarged openings? Full tune of 68HTA, KSTech 73 MAF, Racer X FMIC and ID1000s................by the DataLog Mafia!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 Pic of the enlarged openings? See post #3 above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleBlueGT Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 See post #3 above. Oops, my bad. Full tune of 68HTA, KSTech 73 MAF, Racer X FMIC and ID1000s................by the DataLog Mafia!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 Stock vent slots for comparison... http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/TRS60586/Misc%20Legacy/DSCN0204.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleBlueGT Posted October 4, 2007 Share Posted October 4, 2007 Stock vent slots for comparison... http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/TRS60586/Misc%20Legacy/DSCN0204.jpg I see, thanks! Full tune of 68HTA, KSTech 73 MAF, Racer X FMIC and ID1000s................by the DataLog Mafia!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 In an effort to provide additional brake cooling during high speed track driving and repeated heavy breaking conditions while still retaining some of the protection offered by the dust shields I first added Prova carbon fiber brake ducts, which are more like fins that redirect airflow toward the brake rotor. However, with the brake shields in an unmodified state most of this airflow is prevented from reaching the rotors due to there only being a couple small ventilation slits in them: http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/TRS60586/Misc%20Legacy/DSCN0204.jpg I decided to open these up a bit in an attempt to allow more of this diverted air to get to the rotors... http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/TRS60586/Misc%20Legacy/DSCN0185.jpg This still did not allow sufficient ventilation and one of my front dba4000 rotors finally cracked from the repeated extreme heat cycling from track driving days... http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/TRS60586/Misc%20Legacy/thDSCN0205-1.jpg So, I enlarged the shield openings significantly... http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/TRS60586/Misc%20Legacy/DSCN0208-1.jpg and bent the dust shields back inboard in front of the ball joints... http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/TRS60586/Misc%20Legacy/DSCN0218-1.jpg to help feed the diverted to the back side of the rotors... http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/TRS60586/Misc%20Legacy/DSCN0223-1.jpg I have not had the opportunity to test out this latest modification to see if it will help in dissipating heat from the rotors. I'm back to the stock front rotors for now. Note: My front suspension geometry looks "different" because I have a ball joint relocation and tie rod extender kit installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caramall2 Posted November 9, 2007 Author Share Posted November 9, 2007 I still don't fully get the dust shield thing...I could see it protecting bearings or something from heat, but really, the "outboard" side of the rotors are closer to dust, etc, than the inboard ones are (they're "tucked up" in the rim more). Why don't they have some special shield? Makes me again wonder if it's more of a heat shield than dust shield. If I make deflectors like you have (or buy the Prova), I'm definitiely going to just cut away a big chunk of the dust shield like you've done in your final mod. P.S. Great photos and thanks for the update! Have excellent brakes on the track is critical. Autocross is one thing (not much heat build up), 130 mph 20 or 30 minute track sessions are another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRS Posted November 9, 2007 Share Posted November 9, 2007 The Subaru parts list has them as "shield, splash" so I guess their main purpose is to keep the rotors dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caramall2 Posted February 24, 2008 Author Share Posted February 24, 2008 I like this answer from a reputable aftermarket parts source: "As for the heat shield its very much common knowledge that you remove them for a car if you are concerned with getting more AIR to the rotors. The factory puts them there for yes, keeping rain, rocks, etc out, but for performance driving, they HOLD heat close to the rotor." I'm going to remove most of the front ones I think. May try to make my own make-shift Prova for the track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buru Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 Any updates? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caramall2 Posted November 19, 2008 Author Share Posted November 19, 2008 Negative...have been tied up with work and and engine replacement :-0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buru Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 I think i am going to make some custom ones for myself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caramall2 Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 I hope to do the same if I get time....we'll see. Shout if you have success and I'll do the same if I get around to making some. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suds2250 Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Bump for any info on how to remove the front shields. Are they welded on, or are they just sitting there? 335HP/360Tq VF-22/1820 clone with Meth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwhillVT Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 um, yeah, not a simple task. The Shields are sandwiched between the hubs (wheel bearing cartridges) and the knuckle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suds2250 Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Thats what it looks like, but wanted to make sure. Thanks for the help CwhillVT! 335HP/360Tq VF-22/1820 clone with Meth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Just take the caliper and rotor off and then you can rip them out with a chisel, piece of cake. Or you can drill out the spot welds if you want to bother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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