Front wheel bearing shims

[GenevaDirt]

I believe that Jim stated before that the shim is for the hub....the bearings are made to exact specs and the hub is the issue so it needs the shim.

[jglutz]

Question:

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

Yes....from previous post....many of us have used the original factory shim without incident. The shim (spacer is to compensate for the machining of the knuckle. The bearing bores are done from differnt sides of a casting...not the most percise way. The intention of the sevice manual is that if the knuckle is changed...the shim length must be re-determined

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.

Try MSC
http://www.mscdirect.com
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/N2DRVS...00000077169168

[rcottle]

[ATTACH]698[/ATTACH]

[25Horseplay]

I have some shims laying around. Aong with the inch pound torque wrench there is a tool to preload the bearings for checking the drag with the torque wrench.

[Levitan]

I have some shims laying around. Aong with the inch pound torque wrench there is a tool to preload the bearings for checking the drag with the torque wrench.

Hey Brian,

Any chance of a pic of the tool?

[freshtiva]

Yes....from previous post....many of us have used the original factory shim without incident. The shim (spacer is to compensate for the machining of the knuckle. The bearing bores are done from differnt sides of a casting...not the most percise way. The intention of the sevice manual is that if the knuckle is changed...the shim length must be re-determined



Try MSC
http://www.mscdirect.com
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/N2DRVS...00000077169168

Thanks Joe, thats what I was thinking. No need for other shims if you keep the original shims with the original knuckles. Another question. Are the shims sizes usually different from left to right side on the same car ?

[25Horseplay]

Hey Brian,

Any chance of a pic of the tool?

I'll take one for you.

[jglutz]

Thanks Joe, thats what I was thinking. No need for other shims if you keep the original shims with the original knuckles. Another question. Are the shims sizes usually different from left to right side on the same car ?

Good Qustion....I don't know. When I did my front bearings I kept the knuckle and shim together.

[gdawgs]

When I replaced my first set of front bearings, I used the same hub and spacer, but when I put it back together there was so much preload on the wheel I could barely turn it. I couldn't find spacers anywhere, so I just made my own shim. I don't remember how thick it was, but I'd guess 4 or 5 mils. Actually, I may have stacked two or three together, so it was probably more like 10 to 15 mils. It was a long time ago. Anyway, it worked fine with the added shim. My dad replaced a set of fronts a year or two ago, and didn't have any issues with preload.

[elcamino1]

I've replaced the bearings on four different cars useing the shims that came out without any problems!

[Gforcefd]

They must of not pressed out the spacer on mine when they did it I guess, just looked like all one piece. Well good to know to hang on to the spacers :-P

[25Horseplay]

Are the shims sizes usually different from left to right side on the same car ?

Yes they are different from side to side. If you look close there is a number on the shim, I think they are numbered 1-21 if I remember correct. I'd have to go look at one to be sure.