Hello all, I am one of those wallflowers who tunes in daily to learn from all of you (especially professor Nate) but I post about once a year - My question is the leveling shims between the axle and the bottom of the leaf springs of my '51 3/4 ton. My old springs, which I just pulled because they were sagging, had 'em, but the replacement springs (purchased from a fellow who pulled them off a '54 3/4 ton) doesn't seem to have them- Should I cut the center bolt and take them off my old springs, and bolt them to the top of the new (used) springs - or am I O.K. without them - and what are their purpose anyway? Thanks for your help - Ed
Shim or not to Shim that is the question If you are talking about the front suspension you are dealing with the caster shims which set the caster angle for the front end. You will need them to set up the correct caster angle. If you are talking about the rear suspension -I don't have a clue Wait for Nate to chime in and you will have the correct information but until then don't throw those shims away!!!
Thanks Craig - yeah they are on my front springs - I'll hang onto them - my wife wants them gone but now I have a reason to keep them in the living room for a bit longer-
Caster Shim Bookends Hummm If they are large enough for book ends you may be talking helper springs and not caster shims mine are about 4 to 5 inches long and 1 3/4 wide. Maybe SWMBO would like em better if you paint em to match the carpet or couch
Not sure what you're talking about here ~ it sounds like some sort of helper springs as the caster shims go underneath the axle and are not riveted in place... In either case , caster shim or helper I'd say yes you need them . How about a picture of the parts in question ? .
