Front wheel bearing shims

[freshtiva]

Anyone know where to get these ?

[GenevaDirt]

Fresh...I think Jim recently posted that Kia still sells them...for like the Rio or something

[Gforcefd]

I need to find these also, so silly you need to buy a bag of 21 for each side just to get the right one.

[Levitan]

I just found the post. He said early Rio's.

The expensive part is going to be the torque wrench that does inch pounds instead of foot pounds. I went looking here in Des Moines and found one at a "cheap" tool store and it was still $150. Plus there are 21 different shims. More than likely you'd need 2 of each to make sure you had enough shims to do a complete job.

I know that there is a formula for adding and subtracting thickness of shims in the factory manual. I suppose you could then get "lucky", if you had to tear it apart for the second time, and order the proper thickness(hoping it was right) then taking the "old" shim and starting a collection for a new "new" shim kit.

I will be watching this thread Fresh, for what you come up with.

[freshtiva]

Question:

Will the shim size that came originally on the knuckle be the size you will aways need with that particular knuckle ?

[Levitan]

From what I have researched and heard from ppl like milehighbear and sam.1956, they have been using the original shim with new bearings and have gotten good results. IMO though, the shim is actually mated with the bearing and race.

I talked to a professional alignment guy and he said to re-use the shim. He, also, said that to look at the new bearing and race, from the side, and make sure that it is approximately the same thickness as the old bearing and race. He said that if there is a 1/4 inch thickness difference, then you would go find a different set of bearings and race.....I'm assuming he meant another brand of bearings and race.

[Gforcefd]

I don't think I have ever seen a shim in picture, anyone have it? I was thinking it was the washer between the axle nut and the hub, but I don't think thats right.

Logan

[Levitan]

Logan, I don't know for sure what they look like either, but they probably look like a washer and are in between the inner and outer bearing races.

[Gforcefd]

On the aspire hub I had rebuilt, there was nothing between the bearings, just a raised lip on the inside wall of the hub that kept the bearing races apart. Maybe that raised lip was the spacer, but it looked like it was part of the hubs machining.

[Levitan]

Supposedly Aspire and Festivas have the same style shim, so I'm not sure why yours wouldn't have had one.

[Gforcefd]

I know it suppose to have a shim, thats what made me wonder. but there is no way the races could get passed that lip, so i am not sure.

[Hot_Wheels]

From what u leaqrned is the shims where just used to get the clerance right on the knuckles, I guess the casthing for the knuckles is pretty sloppy so the shims put them in spec. so depending on how out of wach the shim is depends on the shims, if you had a pefect knuckle i guess you wouldnt have shims ( i dont know if theres such a scenerio) i want to run a set of later set of kia rio hubs (which are studed) with my aspire knuckles. When i got my stuff pressed apart the shop that pressed them lost a shim and and mixed up which side went where so i need to get them both remeasured

[Festy46]

I don't think I have ever seen a shim in picture, anyone have it? I was thinking it was the washer between the axle nut and the hub, but I don't think thats right.
Logan

Visualize a piece of pipe about 1-1/2" in diameter. Now cut off a piece of the pipe about 5/16" long. That little piece of the pipe that you cut off is about what the shim looks like.

[Gforcefd]

That is a good description, thanks Festy46!

[milehighbear]

Very good description. Frestiva i sent you a pm. I used the same one and it is working great. I did both of mine about 200 miles ago and all is good.