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TR2/3/3A Caliper “dog bone” shims

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mrv8q

mrv8q

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2C28FB8F-C583-4B84-9A09-9B03E24A6F16.jpgHello, all, I’m returning the front disc calipers to the car, after having them rebuilt.

When I first pulled them off, I didn’t notice there were 2 pairs of 4 1/2 inch “dog bone” -shaped shims on each wheel. I guess the accumulated grease held them to the caliper bracket; I noticed them on the ground after pulling off each caliper.

Looking at the Haynes TR 2 3 4 manual, there is no mention of them in the 11.10 diagram.
I figure they go on either side of the caliper, between the dust shield and the caliper bracket.

How necessary are these? It is a PITA to keep everything aligned as above; so far I haven’t been able to keep all the pieces together to assemble. Right now I loosely have the caliper back on without the shims. The disc/ rotor spins freely, no brake pads in yet.

What I really can’t figure out is that this is my second time addressing the calipers; the first was back in 2005, and I have no memory of dealing with these little buggers.

So, leave them off, or figure a way of aligning all the parts? Thx.
 
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I believe you use them to mount the caliper so the disc is centered in the caliper opening -- in other words 'as needed'. I had some shims but also made a couple more the last time I did this.

...so far I haven’t been able to keep all the pieces together to assemble.
Click to expand...

I tied the shims in place using dental floss. Strong stuff but very thin and so slippery that once everything is bolted up the floss can be cut and pulled out.
 
Geo Hahn said:
I tied the shims in place using dental floss. Strong stuff but very thin and so slippery that once everything is bolted up the floss can be cut and pulled out.
Click to expand...

Geo, that is brilliant! Thx for making my night!
 
Following up on Geo’s brilliant suggestion. His idea worked just great; what was a fiddly PITA, turned into an uneventful 2 minute mechanical presentation to the car, as Haynes says.

Each of my “dog bone” shims were a pair. I did wind up taping each of the pair of shims together, which I think helped in the final assembly. My wife is the floss assembler, and within a minute, the caliper is mounted to the car.

Geo, again my thanks!
 
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