Brake Splash Guards needed or not ?

[RobEvo5]

It's not for a scoob, but does anyone know if its a MOT requirement to have brake splash guards (metal plates/guards behind disks), and whether its OK to remove them.

Googled it, and seems allot of people remove them once they are FUBAR'd with rust as they serve little or no purpose and in some cases cause more problems than solve.

Thanks
Rob

[Steve_PPP]

I'm no MOT'er but all of mine had to be cut off when bigger brakes were fitted (both front and back). Can't seem them being a required item really....

[555_Si]

I have removed them before without mot issues, some cars dont have them. I have had mixed results when performing wet weathe braking once removed, usually get very poor intial bite.

[Scott.T]

None on mine.
I don't really understand their purpose other than stone catchers to score your disks.

[RobEvo5]

Thanks guys and thanks to Scott for the loan of a couple of tools. Removed them yesterday and virtually fell off they were so rotton. Nice new disks and pads on rear now and looks much tidier without them. Will change fronts later in the year.

From what I have read they can cause more problems than solve especially if off roading. As Si sais think there main purpose is wet weather and puddles etc. But within a split second of pad making contact with disk they dry and could only ever help the rear of disk anyhow.