Sometimes it helps to take off the brushes to see what is going on with the needles. This can be useful, for example, when a yarn is not being caught properly, or a transferring operation is not successful.
The main task of the brushes is to open the latches of the needles as they come out. An open latch is essential for the hook of the needle to catch the yarns or transfer a stitch. If you want to knit with the brushes removed, do a visual inspection to ensure all the latches are open before knitting. If they are not, you can use the removed brush manually to gently brush the tip of the needle and open the latch. Having said this, don't use the machine without the brushes for more than a few passes. Latches sometimes bounce and get closed, which would lead to issues in your knitting.
Loosen these four screws marked below and slide the brush to the side to take off the brushes. Do not remove the screws; loosening them just a bit is enough for you to release the brush.
A bind off seen with more detail without the brushes.