Disc bracket, go w/without backing plate?

I’m ready to button up my front wagon 44 and would appreciate some thoughts on whether to use a disc backing plate or go without. The Jeep will be used 70 % trail 30 % road.

I have two options I could use a 1/4" thick chevy front backing plate that also acts as a bracket for the caliber. The chevy plates weigh about 8-10 lbs each.

The other option is using a 44 wagon caliber bracket with the thin dust shield cut off (2 tack welds).

The chevy plate would protect the inside surface of the disc from rocks and other debris acting as a skid plate. It could also trap debris between the plate and disc causing scoring of the disc.

Using just the bracket with an exposed disc has its own issues with rock and debris scoring the disc as well.

Thoughts are welcome.

The 1/4 thick chevy backing plate/bracket and the wagon dust shield/bracket.

 

the type with the two factory spot welds broke all the time.....repaired/replaced lots of them in dealer days.

the Chevy ones look better, heavier.
On the other hand, something could get jammed in there while on the trail...
I'd go without, seems to make sense to me.
and I have no experience using either

 

I remove the dust shields from all of mine. They do trap debris between the rotor and shield. Seen it a bunch of times and like Jim said, the sheet metal units break away all the time. The likelihood of hitting the rotor is extremely remote as it is protected by the wheel/tire. If you hit a rotor on a rock you've got a lot bigger problems.

 

Jim, Nick, thanks for the replies