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Camber/caster shims.. how many?

Started by smeer , Jul 21 2009 06:42 PM

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33 replies to this topic

#1 smeer

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 06:42 PM

Just rebuilding my front end.. for some reason there are an odd number of shims left-to-right. Would this be for any reason? I would have thought they should be balanced?
How many of the thick ones where would you recommend I use for a road cruiser?

cheers

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#2 rodomo

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 06:44 PM

Put them back where they came from and get it wheel aligned when it's finished.

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#3 _Squarepants_

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 07:26 PM

There's no guarantee the chassis or front end is perfectly symetrical. And no one can say how many shims you need for your car.
It's not uncommon, just get the pro's to allign it. They'll sort it out.
Just tell them beforehand if you have any prefered alignment specs, but by the sounds of your original question... you don't.

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#4 _rorym_

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 08:03 PM

Drill out the bolt holding knurles so you can slide the bolts in and out and fit washers instead of shims...they can't fall out then.
R

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#5 _Squarepants_

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 08:12 PM

Drill out the bolt holding knurles so you can slide the bolts in and out and fit washers instead of shims...they can't fall out then.
R

This has been suggested many times before...
My question is where do you get washers in the assorted required thickness' for doing this?
Or do you make them from shim material/turn them up to the required thickness?
That would require an extremely patient wheel aligner!

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#6 rodomo

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 08:15 PM

That would require an extremely patient wheel aligner!

Maybe set them up with the slide in shims, measure the shims, then fit an equal amount of washers would be the go?

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#7 wot179

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 08:18 PM

If you measure the total thickness of the shims,you could machine up a single spacer.

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#8 smeer

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 08:18 PM

No drills!

So if they were fine before as-is.. I should leave them be?

Edited by smeer, 21 July 2009 - 08:18 PM.

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#9 wot179

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 08:19 PM

yep.

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#10 _Squarepants_

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 08:28 PM

If you measure the total thickness of the shims,you could machine up a single spacer.

Yep, Ok, what about after you hit a couple potholes and it needs readjusting? Do it all again?
I see what you're saying but it seems like an aweful lot of hassle for a temporary measure.
In saying that, it's prolly what I'll be doing, I'm just keen to find an easier solution (while not having to worry about shims falling out).

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#11 _Squarepants_

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 08:29 PM

No drills!

Turn the knurls off the bolts???

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#12 _rorym_

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 08:45 PM

Listen Boofheads...you cant get the washers on if you dont take the knurling off the bolts...because you cant get the bolts out to slide the washers over the ends....too hard to explain without pics...I will do it on No2 and show you..you need the bolts to be able to slide in and out of the holes...std they are captive...dont move.
R

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#13 _Squarepants_

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 09:11 PM

Listen Boofheads...you cant get the washers on if you dont take the knurling off the bolts...because you cant get the bolts out to slide the washers over the ends....too hard to explain without pics...I will do it on No2 and show you..you need the bolts to be able to slide in and out of the holes...std they are captive...dont move.
R

You can knock the bolts out, Boofhead! :tease:

So tell us, o wise one, what do you do about different thickness washers?

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#14 _Yella SLuR_

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 09:49 PM

I dare say that the mechanics off it all that a single washer would give negligble adjustment. Keen to see the pics, I don't want shims falling out. Post pics Rodomo.

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#15 76lxhatch

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 09:52 PM

Would be worth the hassle in some cases, I put double nuts on mine because they were working their way loose after coming home from wheel alignment... and I live less than a km away on the same road!

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#16 _rorym_

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 10:32 PM

You can knock the bolts out, Boofhead!
So tell us, o wise one, what do you do about different thickness washers?

Go to the hardware shop like I did and get different thickness washers..the galvanised ones are thick...like some......the plated ones are thinner...you use what you need to get the camber you want..alternatively for a small fortune I will come and do it for you if you cant work it out but my 12 yo could so I am sure some of you will.
R

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#17 _rorym_

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 10:33 PM

I dare say that the mechanics off it all that a single washer would give negligble adjustment. Keen to see the pics, I don't want shims falling out. Post pics Rodomo.

I will try to do it on the weekend Pat to give you the drift.
R

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#18 Ice

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Posted 21 July 2009 - 11:21 PM

Love your way with words rory o wise one you know by now you cant tell them. :clap:

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#19 _rorym_

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Posted 22 July 2009 - 07:38 AM

The pics will explain all.........
R

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#20 _Yella SLuR_

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Posted 22 July 2009 - 07:56 AM

Thanks Rory, have my front end just sitting there, and yup, don't like the looks of those wedge shaped shims just sitting there. Maybe I should pull my finger out of my date and pull it apart and have a look myself.

Oh, anybody got a spare $8k, found a beaut car trailer!!!! Willing to swap one teenage daughter that comes with plenty of cheek and back chat.

Edited by Yella SLuR, 22 July 2009 - 07:58 AM.

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#21 _Squarepants_

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Posted 22 July 2009 - 04:37 PM

Go to the hardware shop like I did and get different thickness washers..the galvanised ones are thick...like some......the plated ones are thinner...you use what you need to get the camber you want..alternatively for a small fortune I will come and do it for you if you cant work it out but my 12 yo could so I am sure some of you will.
R

Furry muff. I was expecting something more... umm... just something more I guess. Doesn't give you fine adjustment which is what I was asking for.
Prolly ok on a race car, but I wouldn't do that dodgy looking sh*t on a nice car.
I think I'll just machine up some stainless spacers when I know how thick they have to be.
Thanks anyway Ronald.

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#22 76lxhatch

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Posted 22 July 2009 - 05:41 PM

A thin washer would be about the same thickness as the thinnest standard shims available, surely? I don't think you'd need anything more

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#23 _rorym_

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Posted 22 July 2009 - 06:36 PM

The washers are available in varying thickness...take some verniers with you to check.
Unless it is of Litre8 show quality,no one is going to see them anyway...but if thats what you want to do.
The reason to remove the captive bolt feature is....you need to be able to slide the bolt out enough to get the washer over the end...
If they are captive...with the engine in...you cant get them on...
Thats why they use open ended shims...that have a BIG tendency to fall out....hence I use washers..that never fall out.
R

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#24 _rorym_

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Posted 22 July 2009 - 06:38 PM

Willing to swap one teenage daughter that comes with plenty of cheek and back chat.

Shit! Havsn't everyone got one of those?...I have been dudded too!
R

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#25 _Squarepants_

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Posted 22 July 2009 - 07:03 PM

It doesn't matter what anyone else see's, it's the things you can't see that make a lot of the difference.
If I know it's rough, I'm not happy with it, and it's my car, so I'm the only one that matters as far as I'm concerned.
BTW more than 1 person out there have show cars. Mine may not be as good as some, but I still take pride in it.

I see your logic with the washers, but the thinnest (plated, suitable diameter) washer I have in my collection is 1.5mm (60 thou) which is way too thick for fine adjustment IMO. I don't have a good range of shims here but I'm sure they come as thin as 20 thou, if not thinner.