If your brakes need to be repaired, and you were thinking of removing the brake dust cover—or you've already gotten rid of that particular piece of equipment—then you should quickly rethink that decision. The brake dust cover may seem like a nuisance to deal with, but that nuisance actually provides you with quite a few benefits. Here are just four of the reasons why you need to keep the brake dust cover on your car.

Extend the Life of Your Brakes

If you're tired of dealing with the brake dust cover each time you repair your brakes, you should know that the cover actually extends the life of your brakes. You might not realize this, but your brake dust cover protects your brakes from the buildup of debris and dust that can reduce the life of your brakes. Excess dust and debris on your brake pads and rotors can cause increased amounts of friction. Unfortunately, friction leads to the premature wear and tear of your brakes. Because the dust cover keeps dirt and debris away from your pads and rotors, they reduce friction and extend the life of your brakes.

Keep Your Brake Pads and Rotors Clean

If you've ever used your garden hose to remove brake dust from your wheels, you probably think that you don't need your brake dust covers. However, that's not actually the case. Using a hose may remove the brake dust, but it won't remove the other debris that can coat your pads and rotors. This is particularly true where road grime and oils are concerned. That type of debris can't be removed with a simple garden hose, which is why you need the brake dust cover. Those covers don't just keep the dust off your brakes, they also keep the road grime and oils away. As a result, your pads and rotors stay cleaner.

Reduce the Risk of Brake Failure

If you're driving without brake dust covers on your car, you could be increasing your risk of brake failure. That's because all the dirt, debris, and road grime that's collecting on your pads and rotors, could be preventing your brakes from working properly. If that's the case, you may not have the maximum stopping capacity you need, especially in an emergency situation.

Keep Your Rotors and Pads Cool

If you've removed the brake dust shields from your car, your brakes may be at risk for overheating. This is caused by a couple of issues. First, once your pads and rotors are coated in dust and grime, friction will lead to overheating. Second, without the dust covers, air doesn't get properly directed to the pads and rotors, which causes your brakes to overheat, especially during extended drive time, such as road trips.

If you don't have brake dust covers on your brakes, schedule an appointment with local brake services.