I've recently changed the two rear calipers on my tdi vrs and noticed the stone guard was loose on one bolt only on the passenger side. After a fairly long motorway journey today i noticed it rattling about just generally noisy. So, can it just be removed completely without any issues or is it better to fit a new one?

Advice to me was replace. I guess it wouldn't be there if it didn't have a job to do - though the replacement I got from Skoda was smaller than the original. There was a thread on here a while ago about how to replace.

It's a bit of a PITA.

 

The hub needs to come off to replace the guard. That's why when you read on here about guys with abs probs from the rear reluctor rings I suggest doing the guard at the same time. A bit like doing the waterpump with the cambelt.

 

You can cut them off if you want but be careful not to knock the reluctor ring in the back of the hub.

It's probably of an age it'll be getting fragile.

 

I did that and ended up replacing the hub anyway.

Here is my thread, it is on the MkII Superb but the set-up is the same as the Octavia...

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/351129-brake-disc-guard/

 

When removing the wheels it is easy to catch the stone guard with the full weight of the wheel as it drops off the hub, do this a few times and the guard is stressed around the bolts.

 

Add into the mix a little corrosion and lots of vibration and you get this...

 

 

 

 

More pictures in the linked thread above.

 

I ended up having to cut mine off as it detached mid-week!

 

Thanks for the help guys i havnt read the link or anything but i have cut the old one off just as a get me by as i need the car for work. Just a quick look while cutting it off doesn't seem like the hub needs to be removed as the bolts are right behind the disc and the guard has a slot in it. Easiest way probably would be to remove the caliper and disc. My old one had broken off from all 3 mounting points so the noise was pretty bad.

Old topic i know but I've just had to cut mine off my VRS Rear.

Also just ordered new pads and a new caliper to replace a seized one.

I'm considering just cutting the backing plate to fit it back on, how easy is it to get the hub apart to do it properly?