2000 Chevrolet Blazer - Brake Dust Shield

What is a Wheel Dust Shield?

A wheel dust shield, also known as a brake dust shield, serves two purposes. First, the shield keeps debris out of the various parts of your braking system to prevent damage or improper operation. Second, on drum brake systems specifically, the dust shield also serves as a brake backing plate and a mounting point for most of the brake shoe hardware, wheel cylinder, and other drum brake components. Brake backing plates and dust shields can be damaged by debris, corrosion, or other factors over the life of your vehicle, and a bent or rusted dust shield can interfere with braking and lead to unsafe driving conditions. If your brake dust shield becomes damaged or corroded, it can cause brake noise and eventually weaken the structural integrity of your drum brake system. In disc brake systems, it is possible to remove the brake dust shield to fix the noise, but without a dust shield in place, buildup of dirt, salt, sand or other road debris can eventually cause your brakes to fail. This can also allow rocks or other debris to become stuck in your brake caliper, brake rotor, and more, which can cause noise and brake system damage. When you're ready for your next brake repair, shop O'Reilly Auto Parts. We carry new wheel dust shield sets and brake backing plates for most vehicles, along with brake pads and shoes, brake rotors and drums, wheel cylinders, calipers, and more to help you complete your repair.