Hey guys, Just a couple of questions, didn't find the answer I was looking for when doing a search. I am fitting bigger rotors on the front of my VS but they wont clear the backing plate. Are the backing plates a roadworthy thing, or is it ok to remove them? Has anyone removed the backing plates before? If so, how do you do it? It looks like they are riveted on but not sure whether the wheel hub is also holding them on. I don't want to remove the wheel hubs unless I really have too. I guess the only other option is to bend the part that curls over up? Thanks is advance.
I have mine removed.. Not exactly sure what they are for. Mine were removed and still got roadworthy so dont think you will have a RWC issue.. Maybe its some sort of dust cover from brake dust or something??
Did you remove them or someone else? If you did, how do they come off? Yeah didn't think you would need them for a roadworthy because BA/BF Falcon wagons don't have front or rear backing plates.
Leave them on, it's a dust/debris cover. Just trim the cover to suit the calipers if ur upgrading them also, or bend them back enough so they clear the rotors. I have upgraded to the 215i big brakes and that's all I needed to do. U could always trim the lip on the outer edge.
They're actually there to prevent water splash from lubricating the disc-pad interface. Very early VN's (and earlier Commodores) didn't have them but were retrofitted at dealer level if there was a reported problem with wet weather braking. Later models have them factory fitted. There's no rego. requirement for them specifically. (You're not worried about the legality of the larger discs?) If the reshaping doesn't suit you, you do have to remove the hub and drill the heads off the rivets to remove them.
yeah pulled them off myself. Cant remember how exactly but i know it wasnt rivets. It was either a couple of screws or bolts.. Not 100%
Everyone that is doing the VS - VE Brake Upgrade. The backing plates DO NOT need to be removed or bent out of the way, they don't even come close to the new brake rotors. I am currently fitting mine and thought I would just mention this in case anyone else was wondering. EDIT: If you get the VE V8 kit then you will need to trim a little off the backing plate so the caliper can bolt on without any interference. Other then that, all good.
