Alignment shims vs. washers
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 10,628
Likes: 132
From: Duvall, WA
Alignment shims vs. washers
I have a friend who is always giving me advice for my '71. The problem is, his '69 is a high dollar, track-only vintage racer with a big block L88 clone, so his advice often doesn't translate to my street car. He noticed a pair of offset trailing arms in my office the other day and recommended using washers in place of the shiny new shims from Van Steel. He said that shims tend to fall out, and that when I take it to have it aligned, I should request they use washers instead of shims.
Has anyone else heard of a problem with alignment shims popping out? I'm always skeptical when someone recommends a non-factory solution. The most serious racing my roadster might see is autocross.
Has anyone else heard of a problem with alignment shims popping out? I'm always skeptical when someone recommends a non-factory solution. The most serious racing my roadster might see is autocross.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 675
From: FL
The shims are held in place by a pin so they can't fall out unless the pin is removed. Also, the shop would have to remove the bolt every time they add and subtract washers to make the alignment work.
My $0.02, bad advice.
My $0.02, bad advice.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
Agreed.... I'd stick with shims. No one wants to take that bolt out more than they have to, which would be required every time you wanted to add/subtract a washer.
Use the pin with the shims, and you shouldn't have to worry about them falling out.
Use the pin with the shims, and you shouldn't have to worry about them falling out.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
BAD ADVICE!! The shims on the red/white car below are safety wired in and have NEVER come loose, you probably have some unused holes in your frame (at the bottom of the t-arm pocket) for some loooong cotter pins, now you know what they are there for.
...redvetracr
PS: how do they do an alignment on the "high dollar clone" with washers instead of shims? It must take ALL DAY...or the car is misaligned and NOT very fast.
...redvetracr
PS: how do they do an alignment on the "high dollar clone" with washers instead of shims? It must take ALL DAY...or the car is misaligned and NOT very fast.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 10,628
Likes: 132
From: Duvall, WA
Originally Posted by redvetracr
BAD ADVICE!! The shims on the red/white car below are safety wired in and have NEVER come loose, you probably have some unused holes in your frame (at the bottom of the t-arm pocket) for some loooong cotter pins, now you know what they are there for.
...redvetracr
PS: how do they do an alignment on the "high dollar clone" with washers instead of shims? It must take ALL DAY...or the car is misaligned and NOT very fast.
...redvetracr
PS: how do they do an alignment on the "high dollar clone" with washers instead of shims? It must take ALL DAY...or the car is misaligned and NOT very fast.
He hasn't raced the car in a while (he's gotten into racing his Porsche GT3) but typically finishes in the top three in historic events.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Originally Posted by Easy Mike
Stick with the shims.
Stick with shims. You are to pack the shims in snugly. How do you do this with washers. NO way to jam the last washer in snuggly and then try aligning a bolt.
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