Trailing Arm Shims???
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,097
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From: Olive Branch MS
St. Jude Contributor
Trailing Arm Shims???
How do I know how many and what size shims to put in when I get ready to put my trailing arms back in? :confused: Is a regular shim kit enough?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 922
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From: Maine
Re: Trailing Arm Shims??? (brooksman9)
Oh boy.
You have two choices here. If you know what was in it for shims before pulling the trailing arms, you can put the same back in (get the stainless steel shims) and drive it to a good alignment shop. You can set camber with a level (with small blocks of wood to keep the level away from the wheel so it doesn't hit the tires). Set the top "in" about 1/8" or so and that'll be close enough.
If you do a search on it you'll find that quite a few folks do their own alignments using some special tools (camber/caster gauge) and sometimes a laser level. It's kind of fun and a bit challenging if you want to try it. You can also do your own front alignments with a camber/caster gauge.
good luck!
You have two choices here. If you know what was in it for shims before pulling the trailing arms, you can put the same back in (get the stainless steel shims) and drive it to a good alignment shop. You can set camber with a level (with small blocks of wood to keep the level away from the wheel so it doesn't hit the tires). Set the top "in" about 1/8" or so and that'll be close enough.
If you do a search on it you'll find that quite a few folks do their own alignments using some special tools (camber/caster gauge) and sometimes a laser level. It's kind of fun and a bit challenging if you want to try it. You can also do your own front alignments with a camber/caster gauge.
good luck!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Trailing Arm Shims??? (Frank75)
I do all my own alignments, I have the caster/camber gage, a lazer level for get the rear wheels pointing straight ahead and precision toe gage for setting toe front and rear.
If the trailing arms have been freed up and new shims installed anything will get you to the alignment shop where it can be done properly and cheaply. It is when the trailing arm through bolt is rusted that the price escilates.
If the trailing arms have been freed up and new shims installed anything will get you to the alignment shop where it can be done properly and cheaply. It is when the trailing arm through bolt is rusted that the price escilates.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
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From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
Re: Trailing Arm Shims??? (brooksman9)
Certainly a regular shim kit is more then enough. As others recommended, get the stainless steel ones. I paid my local alignment shop only about 120 bucks to set alignment and shims on all 4 wheels, but everything was new. As Norval mentioned, once they have to start cutting and beating on things to get movement, the price will go up fast. Setting the rear wheel camber with the OEM cam bolt setups can be a PITA as well, might drive the prive up a little. Most shops would rather deal with the aftermarket adjustable struts.
[Modified by Big Fish, 9:54 PM 11/25/2003]
[Modified by Big Fish, 9:54 PM 11/25/2003]
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,097
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From: Olive Branch MS
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Trailing Arm Shims??? (Big Fish)
Thanks for the replies. Arms have been sent for rebuild and should be back next week I hope. I have the shims that came out and know which went where but didn't want to put those nasty, rusty, beatup (by me) things back in there. I read an article somewhere that they would probably be different going back in but it didn't go into any more detail than that. I think I'll get it set close and have it aligned at a shop. there is a local chevy dealer close. Maybe they won't see me coming :lolg: :lolg: :lolg:
