Brakes Wheels 2nd Gen Tires Stock rotor backing plate - Yay or Nay?

I've ditched them on most of my cars...

I haven't seen any data. Some claim that they help keep rocks from getting jammed between the caliper/pad and the rotor, but I've never had issues. Some also claim that they keep heat from cooking ball joints and the like, but I've never seen data on that. The best cooling kits use backing plates to channel the cooling air into the center of the rotor. but the stockers look like they keep air out more than air in....

But then, eventually I run out of brake and upgrade so they go away anyway.

Matt

 

Or sadder that I came up with this...

What do the backing plates do?

Are they protection from road debris, but if so there is no fronting plate. They must have some needed purpose unless the entire auto industry has been hypnotized by a vast Backing Plate Mafia conspiracy.

 

Ever since...

I've been worrying about Umlauts, I just haven't been able to get motivated!

I'll try to do better.

Matt

 

Are we talking about part #3...?

 

I always assumed it was to aid in cooling, kinda like the front wheel "spats" on the F1 cars now.

 

Interesting question. I always figured the plates were more to keep debris away. I would think that more air would get to the rotors without the plates. I do not think that the vehicle manufactures are too worried about heat but instead more worried about debris. It would be an interesting test. But mine are already removed due to larger rotors.

 

I say lose 'em. I think they're supposed to keep rocks out of the calipers, but then again I used to think DSC would keep me on the track. =) There is some shape to the backing plates, like they should channelize airflow to and from the rotors, but everything's not really lined up. And btw, you get to use your tiny torx sockets for this one.

I have this [entirely unsupported] theory that stock brakes are designed to hold heat, because stock pads rarely get up to temperature with the average driver behind the wheel. I mean, most people think the ABS sound is the car breaking (not braking). Those cast iron calipers are heavy, cheap, and hold heat like it's their job. It would make sense for the brakes to hold heat and maintain maximum stopping power in a panic stop, which most people do about once a year. If you're threshold braking on purpose, you're probably in the 95th percentile of drivers.

 

Besides debris, the backing plates also help keep the rotor dry when driving in the rain or through puddles. the first time I drove through a puddle w/o them on another car gave me a surprise. )

 

My lowly 75 Fiat 124 Spider

backing plates had a lip angled to bring more air in. And more water, I guess.

Matt

 

My backing plates help cool the brakes, but only because I chopped them down and added an air duct. The backing plates do help to keep rocks from getting between the rotor and the caliper on stock brakes.

 

We have found on every car we have ever tracked, the backing plates cause the brakes to over heat. They are there to keep rocks, mud and water from hitting the brake rotor and causing problems. Unless your offroad rallying lose 'em.

 

Would you get the best of both worlds if you were to incorporate a ducting system like your duct brackets, with the OEM backing plates? This way you get maximum cooling from the duct, the backing plates keeps the ducted air corralled around the rotor, and you also get debris protection.

Maybe this is what was referred to above by Dr. Mike?

Just a thought!