Member
The brake/rotor shield attached to the front left wheel of my 2005 BMW 325xi is completely broken away from all three bolts that hold it. It just pulled through the sheet metal. I'm concerned I'll bust the bolts trying to take them off to put a new replacement shield on. Is there any harm in leaving this off other than perhaps reducing the life of the caliper and/or rotor?
Its old with a lot of miles and I literally had to bust the rotor off probably unnecessarily in hindsight while replacing the front left CV axle. I'll now need to replace it with a new one so don't want to make more work or added cost getting these bolts out to attach the shield to if I don't have to.
Thanks in advance for any help/insights.
Wagon meister :)
BMW Tech Expert
You can leave them off, the job of the backing plate is to keep road debre out of the pad and rotor area.
Just be expected that you will have to replace the pads and rotors more often as rocks or such will get stuck in the pads and start cutting gooves into the rotors.
Not sure if you can pass Inspection in your state, so would be worth talking to an inspector about it too.
Darin
Current:
16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
Past:
95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
M-Flight Member
Diesel Fitter
Unless the bolts really are seized in there, you can add a washer to the bolts and reinstall the shields without having to replace them.
Originally Posted by B4SH
Member
Good point about the inspection and excellent tip on the washers - hadn't thought of that. I'll do some quick checks on the bolts to see how bad they seem they just look REALLY bad. If I think I can get them off I'll try some washers.
Appreciate the help!
Wagon meister :)
BMW Tech Expert
Alot of times those bolts will look way worse than they really are. Just be sure to use a wire brush and clean them off before attempting to remove the bolts. Also you may have to use the next small size if you remove enough of the material on the bolt.
Darin
Current:
16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
Past:
95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
M-Flight Member
Diesel Fitter
lol ... I'm on my second (and larger than the first) set of washers holding on my brake rotor shields.
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