Shims In Calipers

[66yostagea]

What are the shims for?

Are they important?

The R33 GTST calipers I bought do not have shims like shown on page EN 32 of the R33 manual.There is only one outer shim A and half outer shim B. On the inners there is only half a shim B. The half shims appear to be die cut, ie manufactured that way, not cut with snips.

Any help please.

Edited September 28, 2011 by 66yostagea

[scotty nm35]

They are heat shield/anti squeal shims, not really required especially if you have anti squeal paste behind the pads.

[ironpaw]

They are heat shield/anti squeal shims, not really required especially if you have anti squeal paste behind the pads.

I never put mine back on the new HPX pads...don't notice any squealing...

[SKITTLES]

lol i have mine in and the suckers squeal

[Daleo]

I used the shims in my last GTR brake upgrade; no squeal, but that could easily be pad related.

As has been mentioned; you can paint on a compound and most decent performance pads now have an anti-squeal compound on the backing plate.

I've heard people rabbit on about how they reduce heat transfer to the pistons; but thats bollocks.

[66yostagea]

That is all great info. To shim or not to shim, that is the question.

On the shims I have there is a sort of "goldish" grease. Is this the anti squeal compound?

So the mechanic is due at 7.30am, tomorrow so I will replace the shims as they were

Thanks for all your speedy input. This is what the forum is for.

[Daleo]

That is all great info. To shim or not to shim, that is the question.

On the shims I have there is a sort of "goldish" grease. Is this the anti squeal compound?

So the mechanic is due at 7.30am, tomorrow so I will replace the shims as they were

Thanks for all your speedy input. This is what the forum is for.

Yep, sounds like Coppercoat or similar. Any nickel or copper based high temp anti seize compound works quite well.

Sets of replacement shims; http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/190431872363?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

The critical ones to have are the corner shims (centre of pic); these are the ones that stop the pads knocking around in the caliper. They go on the thrust edge of the pad.