Need trailing arm shim help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
From: Southern Md
Need trailing arm shim help
Hi. I need a picture or good illustration of how the trailing arm shims are installed.I have about 6 pictures from parts catalogues but no help.I understand the slotted part of the shims go around the bolt,thats makes sense,but if I do that the hole in the frame that the cotter pin goes through is no where near the hole in the shim.If have checked the new shims with the old ,hole spacing is the same.What am I missing?.
This is holding up the work.Can someone please post some close up shots or supply a GOOD illustration
of this installation.
Thanks for any help guys.
This is holding up the work.Can someone please post some close up shots or supply a GOOD illustration
of this installation.Thanks for any help guys.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 758
Likes: 14
From: Ville de la Baie Quebec. A winner is just a loser who tried again.
I don't have a pic but if you push the shim all untill it bottoms out on the bolt ,,yes it will not line up to the cotter pin holes. Just push them in and down and back up until they are against the frame. They should line up just fine. 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
From: Southern Md
Is the pin supposed to go through the frame and arm?.If I put the shim in and drop it down 90 degrees and up on the bolt there is no cotter pin hole near there.I know this all sounds so stupid.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
It doesn't make any sense! When the shim is installed is hole too far up, too far down, etc in relationship to the frame hole/cotter pin? It's been a year or so since I did this, but I believe the hole in the shim is quite large (3/8" to 1/2"). This part is not a precise fit. The cotter pin is there in case something weird would happen keeping the shims from falling out.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
From: Southern Md
It seems like the slot in the shim is not millrout deep enough but they are dimensionally the same as the oe shims.I could always drill new holes in the frame but shouldnt have to.Hole is too far up.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
Originally Posted by bonehead2
It seems like the slot in the shim is not millrout deep enough but they are dimensionally the same as the oe shims.I could always drill new holes in the frame but shouldnt have to.Hole is too far up.
You said the new shims and old shims are essentially they same. Instead of packing the pocket full of shims, how about just putting one shim in and see how it lines up.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
From: Southern Md
Yes too far up. I have been using only one shim to test fit.Bolt is installed,slotted end of shim bottomed out on bolt,hold pressure on shim,rotate shim in arc to try to find cotter hole match,no dice.Even if i slide shim in and out while on bolt it will not locate anywhere for cotter alignment.I quit drinking in June so it's not that.It's been 2 years since disassembly so I no longer have a mental image.Thanks so far.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
Originally Posted by bonehead2
Yes too far up. I have been using only one shim to test fit.Bolt is installed,slotted end of shim bottomed out on bolt,hold pressure on shim,rotate shim in arc to try to find cotter hole match,no dice.Even if i slide shim in and out while on bolt it will not locate anywhere for cotter alignment.I quit drinking in June so it's not that.It's been 2 years since disassembly so I no longer have a mental image.Thanks so far.
I quit drinking in June
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
From: Southern Md
Problem solved,i think.After looking at the original shims,there is no slot in them,just two holes.One hole the trailing arm bolt went through,you can see the impression,the bolt obviously held the shims in place so no cotter pin or holes for it were used.My 75 had a cotter pin and this 69 did not use them explains no hole for cotter pin.Cotter pin not needed if shims have a bolt to hold them. This is my theory so I'll have to drill holes in frame to use slotted shims a whole lot easier than removing the bolt to add shims like the factory had this set up.Thanks again for pondering this with me.I hope i'm right.