changed my 4wd u joint drivers side and upon removing everything, my brake shields are rusted the freak out. No one carries them and I am wondering how important they are to use. I prefer to have them to help keep crap out, but I am looking for some advice. Do I really need them?

 

Go to car-part.com and do a search for them. Also have you tried Rock Auto? They may also carry them. Yes you need them to keep the junk from getting into your brakes. Yes you can run without them but I would only do so until I got some new ones in.

 

The dealer should still have them available. I had to purchase a pair when I rebuilt my entire front suspension a few years back. If I recall correctly, I picked mine up from these folks - http://www.dodgetruckparts.net/

 

i simply left the drivers side off - completely rotted. Well see - so far so good

 

i actually took both sides off - be forewarned, the shields help keep the abs electrical line from hitting the rotor and grinding in half. I had to repair mine

 

shields are still off over a year later with no issues