Front Brake Dust Shields?

Good Day,
The dust shields on my front brakes were pretty rusted (upstate NY truck) and ended up falling off after driving over a heavily washboarded road (Hole in the Rock, Utah), and I'm trying to decide, whether to replace them.
Do y'all find them useful, or are they just an overbuilt and unnecessary item that can be left off?

 

I know if I bend them while doing anything with the tires off, it makes a noise that makes you think the tires are going to fall off when I put the tires on and drive.

 

Unnecessary, and if you off-road hard enough can be dangerous. Can fold up and get all messed up in your brake caliper/CV joint.
I wouldn't replace them and just make sure to take a little extra time to wash them out when you go to wash your truck

 

the real question is how is the frame

 

Yeah, I definitely became familiar with that noise as they were falling off!
The frame is good. PO had it replaced under warranty in 2016, was Ziebarted in 2016-2018 when I bought it and started the drive from NY to Cali. The rusty parts are the things that weren't replaced back then.

 

Some guys don’t run, especially if you bend them up while doing hub assemblies.
Or in your case, they are rusted off.

To replace them the hub has to come off.
“Ain’t nobody got time for that” - LOL

I’m 50/50. I put them back on of they are in good shape.
If mine fell off at some point, I’d probably just leave them off.

 

I have my OEM ones somewhere in the garage, but they have holes - I drilled holes to replace studs with longer studs; otherwise they should be in good shape. If you find yourself down in SoCal, look me up. Bring a six-pack.