Section : Car Preparation

Adjusting shims - front suspension 

Posted By : Chris Wilson, 21-Sep-2004, 08:17pm

Can anyone give me a rough indication of how many of these things I should be thinking of putting in on the initial re-attachment of my front suspension/wishbone assemblies to the chassis for my race car project?

The refurbed chassis didn't have the original ones with it and I've rebuilt/replaced both assemblies from another donor car.

I seem to remember Mik had about 8 behind each of the four mounting points?? I know there will have to be an adjustment made at some point but I want to try and be as near the mark as possible (if that's possible!!).

Erm and I've noticed the price at Canley's!! Eek!! Anyone ever made their own??

Regards

• Adjusting shims - front suspension 

  Posted By : Andy Vowell, 22-Sep-2004, 07:07pm

  I fitted as many as I could and still have some threads throung the nut that holds the mount in the chassis. then took shims out either side to get both sides the same camber (with the aid of a set square, flat floor and ruler) If you want more camber you can get longer mounts from Wolfitt Ltd.
  
  I have a few home made shims in at 3-4mm thick.
  
  Andy

  • Adjusting shims - front suspension 

    Posted By : Chris Wilson, 22-Sep-2004, 07:34pm

    Thanks Andy - erm - what material did you make the shims out of??
    
    Regards

    • Adjusting shims - front suspension 

      Posted By : Michael Davis, 22-Sep-2004, 08:24pm

      yes, I have 8 all round currently. That's giving me 2 degrees negative camber which isnt quite enough judjing by the tyre wear pattern. But my chassis is welded on the mounting points so isn't quite the normal shape there anyway. I needed the extra-long bolt mountings to get 8 shims in on one side.

      • Adjusting shims - front suspension 

        Posted By : Chris Wilson, 22-Sep-2004, 09:39pm

        Cheers Mik. It's a starting point for me anyway
        
        Regards

    • Adjusting shims - front suspension 

      Posted By : Andy Vowell, 23-Sep-2004, 08:02pm

      Mine are made out of steel. I did not make them too thick as they can still bend about a little to fit the less than flat chassis.

      • Adjusting shims - front suspension 

        Posted By : Chris Wilson, 23-Sep-2004, 09:16pm

        Cheers Andy, I'll give it a go - nothing ventured nothing gained and all that!!!
        
        Regards

        • Adjusting shims - front suspension 

          Posted By : Raymond Johncock, 23-Sep-2004, 10:43pm

          
          CHRIS
          
          Im sure i have got quite a few of these shims in my store ill dig them out if you want them . Are you going to brands if not what racer lives closest to you and will give them to who ever you name .
          
          CHEERS RAY J

          • Adjusting shims - front suspension 

            Posted By : Chris Wilson, 24-Sep-2004, 06:11am

            Ray, that's a very kind offer, thank you. Unfortunately I can't make Brands and I don't think any of the racers live near me either! If you want, you can package them up and parcel them to me (I'll obviously pay the costs plus whatever you want for them!)
            
            Regards

            • Adjusting shims - front suspension 

              Posted By : Raymond Johncock, 28-Sep-2004, 01:25pm

              
              
              Hi Chris
              
              If you leave your email address ill contact you regarding shims . Ps I dont want anything for them if you can use them your more than welcome to have them .
              
              RAY J

              • Adjusting shims - front suspension 

                Posted By : Chris Wilson, 28-Sep-2004, 08:31pm

                Ray, thats very kind of you but at least let me pay for the postage!!??
                
                Email address is:
                
                chrispaulwilson"at"lineone"dot"net
                
                replace the "at" and the "dot" with the appropriate characters as usual!!
                
                Regards

      • Adjusting shims - front suspension 

        Posted By : James Carruthers, 23-Sep-2004, 11:10pm

        The shims they used when doing my suspension arent the original type - they're these tiny metal things - it looks slightly dangerous to me.
        
        I did have a plan of getting some solid blocks made up - measuring the gap they're set up at the moment - then getting some blocks of metal milled (or I could file them) down to the right thicknesses...
        
        Does anyone have any comments?