Should I run without these heat shields or backing plates or whatever it is? They're pretty rotted and may have been broken by me . I can't seem to find anybody that supplies new ones and I imagine any from the junkyard will look about the same. What do they even do? I hope I don't need them for proper spindle spacing.

 

Brake dust shields. You don't need them.

 

Oh look I found them for 60 bucks a piece, yea if I can run without them hopefully without snow packing up in the brakes then I'll save my 120 for tie rod ends.

 

The wheels on the outside and the dust shields on the inside keep debris from interfering with your front brakes. I have built a solid axle for my truck and left them out. Many guys leave them off on their builds and so far I haven't read of anyone having a problem. My choice is to run without them. Since they are safety related, its up to you. It can go back together without them if that's which way you decide.

 

If you want then you can always patch them with some thin pieces of tin.

 

They also direct air to better cool the brakes. I'd use them. As a matter of fact, I need one. Where did you find them?

 

I google searched ford parts and that brought me to the official ford parts website which had them for 60 and change a piece I think I'm going to leave them off for now maybe I'll run across them cheaper somewhere.

 

I don't use any shields and I can brake just fine. That and I also have ceramic brake pads so they need to heat up a tiny bit to work at their best.

 

It may not kill you to run without but it keeps debris out of your pads and helps with cooling. There is obviously a reason every production car built spends the time and money to include these parts. I personally believe in never taking shortcuts with breaks.