Long story, but my left front brake shield got destroyed. Anyone got one to spare? It is #2 in the diagram. Would be going to Charleston, SC. Thanks!!

 

You can honestly remove the other one and be 100% okay. The choice is up to you on either replacing it or removing the other side.

 

Well, right now I am running without it. What would the benefit of removing the other side be? Other than to be in balance and not upset the whole "fung shui" thing ...

 

No benefit except making them even lol.

I've honestly removed them from all my D2's F/R. I've had issues with sand/mud, and debris getting packed in solid between them and the rotors. So I removed them all together. Zero issues after that and much easier to clean out after a wheeling trip.

I got the idea back when I had an 04 Jeep Grand Cherokee and from the factory they didn't come with front dust shields. I had issues with my 05 Wranglers eating up calipers & pads and after I removed the dust shields totally I had no more issues.

I understand the use of them to protect the rotors from debris, but I have yet to have something slam into my rotor that caused any kind of serious damage. Not saying it couldn't happen, but that thin little dust shield isn't like it's a 1/4 thick steel either.

 

SOunds like a plan ... almost means I don't have to disassemble it all again.