I have previously tried but found the calliper bolts were very stiff! I might try again and use an impact gun. What’s the chance that something bad might happen and are there any side effects of removing them? I'm after a cheap way to improve cooling.

I have just done this job for the purpose of trying to remove a broken strut (or two). On one side the bolts came undone fine but on the other I had to get a garage to remove a couple of the bolts from the strut base with an airtool and one was knackered as a result, but now I have a spare or two. The brake back plates (I think that is what you are referring to) were too rusty to replace so I had the opposite problem to yours i.e. I had to get spares but that is now sorted too.

Those things are heat shields...I'm not sure exactly what they're there to protect, but you might want to consider that. I'm sure I've read somewhere about cutting slots in them to allow more air in.

cheers

James

Maybe not a good idea then

Well I'm not sure...I'm pretty sure there's something in Haynes about it, try having a read of that. I'm not saying don't....just tread carefully

cheers

James

I was hoping they were just there so that when you stop small kids/retards/antelopes etc didn't poke the glowing red circle thingy, they must hold a lot of heat close to the disc. Glad I havn't taken them off if not

I want to try to reduce brake overheating. Starting to smoke them fairly often

Erm, you could try a more relaxed driving style

Relaxed? Here is the result of some driving... http://dcsolomons.fotopic.net/p21363443.html

SoLaMaNdA wrote:I want to try to reduce brake overheating. Starting to smoke them fairly often

How on EARTH can you do that if you live in a built up area!! My black car has drilled holes in them guards to aid brake cooling - I obviously don't drive hard enough, because I've never cooked 'em

Woo-hoo!

Steve, I rarely drive in town. Smoke them on country roads.

Cornholio wrote:Erm, you could try a more relaxed driving style

have you ever tried teaching a youngster to slow down on the approach to a bend , roundabout or junction rather than hit the brakes when your right on top of it , they never listen .

thames valley police used to do a great advance driving course and proved that you could drive faster and smoother by simply reading the road ahead of you

Normal driving is fine, but even remotely aggressive driving causes them to overheat after more than a few miles of twisty roads.

Might they just be knackered? I remember you were suitably shocked at the efficiency of my brakes at the meet. I've only ever cooked mine when the fluid was ooooold (ie: nearly as old as Rupert), although I am supposedly kind to my brakes (said the garageman).

cheers

James