Question About Brake Pad Shims (Page 1/2)
IMSA GT APR 16, 07:46 PM
I needed to replace one of the shims on my wife's car due to it breaking. I ordered from Rockauto and received a set of 4 shims, 2 are silver and 2 are black. They are all identical. Does anyone have any idea if there is a specific order for these? In other words black on bottom, silver on top etc?

cartercarbaficionado APR 16, 07:54 PM

quote
Originally posted by IMSA GT:

I needed to replace one of the shims on my wife's car due to it breaking. I ordered from Rockauto and received a set of 4 shims, 2 are silver and 2 are black. They are all identical. Does anyone have any idea if there is a specific order for these? In other words black on bottom, silver on top etc?


if they are identical probably not. the difference is probably paint/plated but for everything i deal with its usually plated for all of it, her current ones are probably all plated right?
IMSA GT APR 16, 09:31 PM

quote
Originally posted by cartercarbaficionado:

if they are identical probably not. the difference is probably paint/plated but for everything i deal with its usually plated for all of it, her current ones are probably all plated right?



They're plated but the little tension tabs somehow broke off which allows the shim to move side to side with the brake pads and contact the rotor so I'm changing all 4. It's strange because even on Ebay, if you look up any brake shims, most of them come like this with 2 black ones and 2 plated ones.

[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 04-16-2025).]

cartercarbaficionado APR 16, 10:46 PM

quote
Originally posted by IMSA GT:


They're plated but the little tension tabs somehow broke off which allows the shim to move side to side with the brake pads and contact the rotor so I'm changing all 4. It's strange because even on Ebay, if you look up any brake shims, most of them come like this with 2 black ones and 2 plated ones.




i would say position probably doesn't matter then, as for it breaking the pad probably got caught/too much friction and moved it but if the hardware moves completely with the pads thats super weird. then again im not familiar with alot of models yet. i know all our fieros, 90s ford trucks and s10s use a stationary pad shim/ brake hardware

[This message has been edited by cartercarbaficionado (edited 04-16-2025).]

IMSA GT APR 19, 09:00 PM
So to make myself look REALLY stupid, here's the outcome. I ordered 3 bags of shims. Looking through the clear plastic bag, they all had 2 black and 2 silver shims in a bubble pack. I decided to open one pack to do the job and realized that they were silver on one side and had a black coating on the other. I guess I should have taken them out of the package BEFORE creating this thread.

So......if you order shims and 2 look black and 2 look silver, open the damn package and flip 2 of them over. Then they'll all match

[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 04-19-2025).]

Patrick APR 19, 10:14 PM

quote
Originally posted by IMSA GT:

I decided to open one pack to do the job and realized that they were silver on one side and had a black coating on the other. I guess I should have taken them out of the package BEFORE creating this thread.



...
IMSA GT APR 19, 11:37 PM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

...



I'm telling you, that short yellow bus must be headed to my house
cartercarbaficionado APR 19, 11:48 PM
i thought the pic looked a little funny with one eye lol
glad we solved the mystery
cliffw APR 21, 07:05 AM

quote
Originally posted by IMSA GT:
So to make myself look REALLY stupid,




quote
Originally posted by IMSA GT:
I'm telling you, that short yellow bus must be headed to my house



I know I must have a seat on that bus.

What reason would one need a shim ? When a brake pad wears over time, do I need a bigger shim ?
Sage APR 21, 09:55 AM

quote
Originally posted by IMSA GT:


I'm telling you, that short yellow bus must be headed to my house



It stopped by my house to pick me up 4 days ago, but by the time I found my shoes to go out and get on....it had left for CA!


HAGO!