Trailing arm shims with new trailing arms
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,680
Likes: 199
From: Waterford Mi
Trailing arm shims with new trailing arms
I am replacing my trailing arms with new assemblies from Van Steel.
I have the RH am removed but while removing it the shims got mixed up a little. I could not get the shims out until I wiggled the arm enough to get it out of the frame. In doing so I tried to hold the shims together on the outer side but that didn’t work to good and some of the shims fell.
My question is how can I know if the shims are close enough until I get it to the alignment shop?
Is the purpose of the shims to adjust the toe-in?
That would be my guess
I have the RH am removed but while removing it the shims got mixed up a little. I could not get the shims out until I wiggled the arm enough to get it out of the frame. In doing so I tried to hold the shims together on the outer side but that didn’t work to good and some of the shims fell.
My question is how can I know if the shims are close enough until I get it to the alignment shop?
Is the purpose of the shims to adjust the toe-in?
That would be my guess
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,493
Likes: 1,929
From: Temple Terrace Florida
One last tip, when ready to install the shims, install the thinnest shims first. Next install the thickest shims. If you can't get them in, you can softly hammer them in. Jerry
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,680
Likes: 199
From: Waterford Mi
Looks like the shims were equal on both sides. Thick, medium, and a skinny.
i can’t say that 30 years ago i had a shop replace the trailing arms but I can’t say that the shop did the work had a shop check the alignment and adjust the shims.
That is why I am doing it myself this time.
It has been 30 years without any issues so I am not complaining. I have had the alignment check s few times through the years but I don’t see any changes when I rebuilt the front control arms several times. Last summer I change the arms to the Van Steel tubular arms with delrin bushings.
all the shims I removed looked to be original rusty ones.
i can’t say that 30 years ago i had a shop replace the trailing arms but I can’t say that the shop did the work had a shop check the alignment and adjust the shims.
That is why I am doing it myself this time.
It has been 30 years without any issues so I am not complaining. I have had the alignment check s few times through the years but I don’t see any changes when I rebuilt the front control arms several times. Last summer I change the arms to the Van Steel tubular arms with delrin bushings.
all the shims I removed looked to be original rusty ones.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 21,334
Likes: 979
From: Various places in Southern California.
Given manufacturing tolerances and wear patterns, I would be surprised if the shim stacks were exactly the same when the car was properly aligned. It's a good start to have them the same for getting the car to the alignment shop, but I wouldn't expect that to be the end result.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,423
Likes: 1,458
From: Little Rock AR
They are not likely the same after a trailing arm rebuild. The bushing sleeves are pressed together and the shims are there to make up for the production tolerance. They were all different when they were first built and they will be different after a rebuild. Keeping the old stack is only just going to be sort of "close" on a really good day.
