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Thank you! Brilliant info! Exactly what I was hoping to find out. I've been wondering if those thinner shims used on XJS's and XJ6's could possibly work on an X100. I have no reservations about stacking them on my factory spacers to achieve correct camber, as long as I can ensure full surface contact. They are certainly more reasonably priced, which is good, because I want to get a small quantity to have on hand at alignment time.
You're welcome, Canuck Pump Engineer.
Regarding lowering my XK, I researched many a thread finding many owners don't follow through with re-aligning the rear-end due to the effort required. The 'reply' I focussed on was the fellow who did the research and posted it here on the forum. I followed it to the 'T', having the local hop-up shop install the shims and spacers in an hour. The two spacers and six shims brought the rear camber to +/-.0 degrees and -.5 respectively, or within specifications, leaving one shim left over.
If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing right! Glad to hear your car's alignment worked out well using this approach. Now, I'm about to do the same. Thanks again!
Here are links to the websites where I found P/N#C16621 shims. Are they the ones that also fit an XK8? I ask, only because they don't look like the one in your photo on your desk next to your keyboard. I'm ready to order - just want to make sure they're the correct ones. Thanks!
Here are links to the websites where I found P/N#C16621 shims. Are they the ones that also fit an XK8? I ask, only because they don't look like the one in your photo on your desk next to your keyboard. I'm ready to order - just want to make sure they're the correct ones. Thanks!
Yikes. I did indeed post the incorrect photo of the shim. I do have a spare shim just like the 4 holer you posted. Upon further research in my receipts the correct shim is as you posted. P# C16621 for the .46mm shims and P#CBC480635 for the 3.5mm and P#CBC480675 for the 7.5mm. I just checked Jagbits for the parts and they seem to be out of the 3.5s and/or 7.5s 'spacers'. On Jagbits the .46mm were listed for earlier XJs and not for later XKs. However by reading the link to the thread I posted on page 1 led me to believe they fit XKs and they do as his research is quite detailed.
The 4 hole shim is pictured. The detailed information is in the link I posted and may help you determine the number of shims you may need. And I do mean 'shims'. The 7.5 and 3.5 is what I would call 'spacers'.
Sorry about the mistake and did not mean to send you into orbit.
I just saw my photo of the incorrect shim on Google Images while cruising for shims. I should delete it from the thread so not to lead some hapless bloke astray.
Jip... Thanks for taking the time to review and reply to me again. Much appreciated! I prefer to use a few thin shims stacked on my spacers to "dial in" my camber settings rather than change the spacers. If shims worked on earlier cars, I see no technical reason why they won't function the same to set an XK8's suspension geometry.
To be on the safe side, I ordered two 3.5 mm shims and 12 0.46 mm shims (these things are only available in 7.5 mm, 3.5 mm, and 0.46 mm thicknesses). The 3.5 mm shim was $39, while the 0.46 mm shims were $1.00 each (that’s why I didn’t mind getting a few extra). Please note: I could not find anywhere that said the 0.46 mm shims would even work on an XK8. Because both the 3.5 mm and the 0.46 mm were listing as working on a late XJS, I thought I would give it a shot.
Well, after some trial and error (installing both 3.5 mm shims and adding / removing the 0.46 mm shims as needed) the rear camber measurement is -0.6 degrees left and -0.3 degrees right. When viewed from the rear, the car looks as it should with the wheels / tires filling out the wheel wells nicely.
Below are the parts numbers and vendors for the shims. Jagbits had the best pictures and descriptions, Jaguar Parts Cheap had better prices (you have to search using the part numbers).
Part #: C16621 .46 MM Shim
Part #: CBC480635 3.5 MM Shim
Part #: CBC480675 7.5 MM Shim
Jip here. You won't need the expensive $39.00 3.5mm spacer, just the outlandish $1.00 shims at Jagbits. Come-on, you've got a buck or 6.
The correct shims are in the XJS or XJ6 page. I called Jagbits as to why the XK shims are only on the XJ page and not the XK page. He said an outside company set up their web page and goofed, slightly. They'll correct that, someday.
This would be the shim you'll need.
Attention! Attention! All Hands!(sea talk)
Please disregard the incorrect shim posted in the above photograph. That, I think is a starter shim for my $200.00 '88 Oldsmobile 'Musclecar'. Soon to be worth millions. Or a head gasket for my former Ducati 860GT.
The correct shim is posted below. The part numbers are correct as quoted by 'Hubbster' and installed on my '05 XK8.
Also, Canuck Pump Engineer. I wouldn't hesitate for a minute the stacking of the .46mm shims as I've done that myself using shim stock when engineering my own pumps. The shims are stainless steel and probably hard as Hell while the 3.5mm spacers are aluminium. Kid Turbo at Stillbuilt http://stillbuilt.com did exactly that along with the 3.5mm spacers to bring the lowered XK back to specs. I printed out Hubbsters link and Kid Turbo followed it as a test and damned if it wasn't right on the money. 0.0 degrees camber on the right rear and -0.5 degrees on the left. One more shim and she'd be way into the positive camber zone.
Also also. I see you have a couple 'piles of chrome' in your stash. I still have my new '79 Shovel from way back when.
Holy Crap! I almost had a heart attack, Canuck Pump Engineer. I was just reading the C&P of Hubbsters' post and 'spaced' for a moment and thought you installed 3.5mm spacers in your not lowered car. Eye's thinkin' Geez, you need a whole new rear-end.
I'm happy you found a good source for a penny less. How can you thank me enough? Just kidding.
By the way, the shims may not be stainless as I just checked it for magnetism and is quite. May be a hard alloy. Of course you know all of this stuff.
Also, according to my $7.00 Harbor Freight micrometer it measures .51mm, or .016'' for you S.A.E. fans. Of course you all knew that too.
If [Alternative BS] this were a Mercedes-Benz the spacers would be engineered to a measured Coefficient of Expansion as to not very the Caster/Camber more then .010''(.254mm) or 0.0005 degree between summer and winter temperatures of ~0 F. to 200F.(differential temp.) or about 93.3C. My $7.00 Harbor Freight micrometer says so.
Good on ya',Ungn. What a score. I love junkyards. Better grab a handful of 46'ers for when the time comes. Only 10 for 99cents. Why pay more! On Sale Now!
01-02-2017, 05:52 PM
I just saw my photo of the incorrect shim on Google Images while cruising for shims. I should delete it from the thread so not to lead some hapless bloke astray.
Attention! Attention! All Hands!(sea talk)
Holy Crap! I almost had a heart attack, Canuck Pump Engineer. I was just reading the C&P of Hubbsters' post and 'spaced' for a moment and thought you installed 3.5mm spacers in your not lowered car. Eye's thinkin' Geez, you need a whole new rear-end.