Steering Arm Shims
#21
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Pacific Northwest USA
Posts: 24,923
Received 10,980 Likes
on
7,212 Posts
FWIW, over the years I've had to remove those backing plate shims a few times, on a variety of cars because I couldn't get the pads to fit any other way.
Based on what you stated the shim should go between the steering arm and the brake caliper ear.
That's where most of us find shims--- lower bolt, between the steering arm and the caliper
The way I have it now the shims are between the brake caliper and the vertical arm, which could be totally wrong.
Not necessarily, as that location would indeed change the position of the caliper for 'centralizing'....if/when needed.
I am going to check whether the caliper is parallel with the rotor by moving the shims around and report thereafter.
INTERESTING!!!!
INTERESTING!!!!
The parallel-ism (if that's a word) would obviously be very important but in a practical sense is hard to check with any degree of precision with everything mounted on the car. It would be a matter of eyeballing, in my experience. The pads would wear unevenly...with one area of the pad being more worn than the other, and becoming slightly wedge-shaped
In practice this doesn't seem to be an issue as we hear few if any reports of that happening. Or it's subtle enough that most people don't catch it
Cheers
DD
#22
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Pacific Northwest USA
Posts: 24,923
Received 10,980 Likes
on
7,212 Posts
What I should've said, of course, is "....between the steering arm and the caliper....."
Sorry
Cheers
DD
#23
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Walnut Creek, California
Posts: 6,796
Received 2,399 Likes
on
1,880 Posts
I've changed front disc pads on about five critters. Two,
the 85 F150 and the 79 IHC Scout II used the same system.
Brutal tools prevailed!! BFH!!!
Other three, including the Jaguar, more sensitive.
The Jaguar needed a bit of massaging. Scraping out the ways on the
caliper to get a nice pad fit and assure smooth travel. Quite grungy.
The pads needed a bit of light grind on he edges to fit. Same for the
tin, "anti-squeak" pads. A bit of high temp grease in the ways and on the pins. Smooth, quiet and effective. SOG, I forgot the "anti-rattle"
springs on the pins. Not there, or is it just that my "limited" ears don't get it.
Two big old "screw drivers" long relegated to "pry" duty pushed the pistons back just fine.
Carl
the 85 F150 and the 79 IHC Scout II used the same system.
Brutal tools prevailed!! BFH!!!
Other three, including the Jaguar, more sensitive.
The Jaguar needed a bit of massaging. Scraping out the ways on the
caliper to get a nice pad fit and assure smooth travel. Quite grungy.
The pads needed a bit of light grind on he edges to fit. Same for the
tin, "anti-squeak" pads. A bit of high temp grease in the ways and on the pins. Smooth, quiet and effective. SOG, I forgot the "anti-rattle"
springs on the pins. Not there, or is it just that my "limited" ears don't get it.
Two big old "screw drivers" long relegated to "pry" duty pushed the pistons back just fine.
Carl
#24
The following users liked this post:
Grant Francis (05-04-2016)
#25
Catching up.
Yes, those "tin shims" that are fitted/supplied with some brands of pads are not always usable on the Jag 4 piston caliper. I never used them on any of my Jags ever.
In fact, I removed them from the EBC for the Black car, so fitment was possible (totalling different system). They were simply too tight (as in too thick) with those "shims" in place. No ill affects.
Yes, those "tin shims" that are fitted/supplied with some brands of pads are not always usable on the Jag 4 piston caliper. I never used them on any of my Jags ever.
In fact, I removed them from the EBC for the Black car, so fitment was possible (totalling different system). They were simply too tight (as in too thick) with those "shims" in place. No ill affects.
#26
#27
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Pacific Northwest USA
Posts: 24,923
Received 10,980 Likes
on
7,212 Posts
Which shims?
The shims for the steering arms won't have any bearing on caliper alignment.
Apparently some cars did have actual caliper alignment shims. The manuals all make mention of them but I've never seen any in use over the years
Cheers
DD
#28
#29
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Pacific Northwest USA
Posts: 24,923
Received 10,980 Likes
on
7,212 Posts
#30
I'm glad they did because when I put mine back in I didn't put any shims back. I don't even think I realized they were there. When I saw this thread I thoguht to myself, you know I don't remember putting any shims on that lower bolt.... hmm. Luckily, I have not put any real miles or load on the car since,
I just finished putting them back in.
I just finished putting them back in.
The following users liked this post:
Grant Francis (05-08-2019)
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)