What are these rubber brake-dust blockers?

[isobars]

Evening All,
Sat down for lunch this afternoon and one of my pals said that he’d never seen anything like it on a car before, and how clever the English were.
Unable to hide my utterly blank look, I asked for a clue.
They’re on both sides of the car, with the wheels, replied mon ami.
Ah, you mean the mud-flaps?! Yes, we’re years ahead in Blighty; I believe it’s only a matter of time before you’re all driving on the left – can’t think why it’s taken you so long to make your mind’s up!
Cut to outside scene, wife swapping large glass of grog for even larger one of fizzy water with small amount of red colourant – didn’t fool me for a minute, I can assure you!
Anyway, on closer scrutiny, there appears to be an old fashioned rubber dustbin lid type thing preventing any brake dust escaping covering all the rear of the inner wheel and discs.
I must say, I did think the wheels were keeping themselves in very sporting order.
Why haven’t I seen this phenomenon before? It can’t all be down to alcohol in moderation.

Cheers,

Paul

 

[markjay]

Not very good for cooling down the brakes, so best avoided.

Also visually seeing the callipers through the wheel is bling these days, so constantly cleaning the wheels is a small price to pay

 

[isobars]

Thanks!

Hadn't thought of your first point - or second, come to that

I'm not sure if I'll see many old git's looking at my calipers unless they've dropped their Werthers Originals nearby!

I'm in favour of reduced wheel cleaning.

Any idea who makes these things, what are they called?

Does any one else sport them on the forum?

Come on, own-up!

Cheers,

Paul

 

[markjay]

Not to be confused with smaller metal heat shields which are standard factory fit on some cars.

 

[isobars]

Ah, these must be brake dust covers!!!

I'll go to the foot of our stairs. What things.

 

[GP801]

I think they are called Kleenwheel discs. I have used this sort of thing in the past and they work really well. The ones I had were German TUV approved and brake cooling was not a problem

 

[carat 3.6]

These were fitted to my w124 when I bought it, they were the first things to get thrown in the skip.

 

[Dieselman]

I think they are called Kleenwheel discs. I have used this sort of thing in the past and they work really well. The ones I had were German TUV approved and brake cooling was not a problem

Some cars have full closed wheel covers, but the cooling requirement has been catered for.

I would be wary of using dust blockers, especially in a hot climate, the likely outcome is overheated brakes and warped disks.

What does TUV have to do with anything?

 

[DrNick]

"Cut to outside scene, wife swapping large glass of grog...."

Had to read this a couple of times. Never thought Mercedes owners would get up to such things. Now realise they don't!

 

[kth286]

Some cars have full closed wheel covers, but the cooling requirement has been catered for.

I would be wary of using dust blockers, especially in a hot climate, the likely outcome is overheated brakes and warped disks.

What does TUV have to do with anything?

aftermarket parts approval ? & authorisation in Germany - has to be logged
on the car paperwork or else at MOT time non standard/non approved parts will fail test.

 

[isobars]

"Cut to outside scene, wife swapping large glass of grog...."

Had to read this a couple of times. Never thought Mercedes owners would get up to such things. Now realise they don't!

Ahhh, see what you mean!

A careless comma could have caused me some bother!

 

[Ted]

Inboard discs should sort out that problem

istr that Jaguar had that idea some time ago.

 

[Dieselman]

aftermarket parts approval ? & authorisation in Germany - has to be logged
on the car paperwork or else at MOT time non standard/non approved parts will fail test.

TUV is just a quality program similar to ISO9000, but not as stringent. It has nothing to do with the actual quality of the final product.

 

[markjay]

TUV is just a quality program similar to ISO9000, but not as stringent. It has nothing to do with the actual quality of the final product.

...or with whether it is actually fit for purpose.