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front Caster shims
Moderators: theelanman, dapinky, Specky, clemo, Nige, Sy V, Dave Eds, DaveT, Elanlover, muley, Enright, algirdas, nitroman, GeoffSmith
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Re: front Caster shims
by Brit-Car-Nut » Fri 24.01.2014, 21:46
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Re: front Caster shims
by dapinky » Fri 24.01.2014, 22:57
Okay, progress made....
Just waiting for Adams' address....
...the rest are packed up and will go in the post tomorrow.
(except Geoff - I'll store them until we meet)
Just waiting for Adams' address....
...the rest are packed up and will go in the post tomorrow.
(except Geoff - I'll store them until we meet)
Dave
Just the one now, but this one's mine! - and it will be finished eventually..... - but also temporary custodian of a project until it is finished enough for Angie to drive it
...oh, and a 2006 Freelander destined for the jungles of The Gambia - 4500 miles across roads, desert and tracks - what could possibly go wrong?
Just the one now, but this one's mine! - and it will be finished eventually..... - but also temporary custodian of a project until it is finished enough for Angie to drive it
...oh, and a 2006 Freelander destined for the jungles of The Gambia - 4500 miles across roads, desert and tracks - what could possibly go wrong?
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Re: front Caster shims
by WienLot » Fri 24.01.2014, 23:16
hum, I still need to learn some technical words... What are "Front Caster shims" guys ? Any photo anyone ?
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1) “ If it works, don't fix it ”
2) Never give up...!
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Re: front Caster shims
by Brit-Car-Nut » Fri 24.01.2014, 23:45
They are the moveable shims used to set the caster angle for the front suspension:
Last edited by Brit-Car-Nut on Sat 12.07.2014, 23:07, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: front Caster shims
by dapinky » Fri 24.01.2014, 23:46
Hi Franck,
They are the slim pieces of metal (8 each side of the car) which fit between the top balljoint and the top wishbone arms - fitted either in front or behind the balljoint adjusts the caster angle of the suspension.
Item 12 in the picture
EDIT - beaten to it by John!
They are the slim pieces of metal (8 each side of the car) which fit between the top balljoint and the top wishbone arms - fitted either in front or behind the balljoint adjusts the caster angle of the suspension.
Item 12 in the picture
EDIT - beaten to it by John!
Dave
Just the one now, but this one's mine! - and it will be finished eventually..... - but also temporary custodian of a project until it is finished enough for Angie to drive it
...oh, and a 2006 Freelander destined for the jungles of The Gambia - 4500 miles across roads, desert and tracks - what could possibly go wrong?
Just the one now, but this one's mine! - and it will be finished eventually..... - but also temporary custodian of a project until it is finished enough for Angie to drive it
...oh, and a 2006 Freelander destined for the jungles of The Gambia - 4500 miles across roads, desert and tracks - what could possibly go wrong?
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Re: front Caster shims
by adster » Sun 26.01.2014, 19:07
Would 4 on each side be a good place to start?
““A turbo: exhaust gasses go into the turbocharger and spin it, witchcraft happens and you go faster.”” - Jeremy Clarkson
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Re: front Caster shims
by Brit-Car-Nut » Sun 26.01.2014, 19:28
Since these are a bit thin, you put 4 on one side and 5 on the other.
Then, take it to an alignment shop and they will move them forward or backward as required to get the proper alignment.
Then, take it to an alignment shop and they will move them forward or backward as required to get the proper alignment.
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Re: front Caster shims
by dapinky » Sun 26.01.2014, 20:06
I have put 6 to the front, and 3 to the rear (for now) - as that's roughly where it was before.
Once i can get it into the workshop, on the ramps, I'll set it all up properly.
If you are just replacing the shims, then what you have now is as good a starting place as any, but in my case, everything has been replaced, so it all needs setting.
There is a 'correct' order for setting things up - ride height (different for setting up than 'running'), castor, camber and tracking (toe-in) - then re-check them all, then reset ride height to where it needs to be.
Then do the rear toe-in.
None of it is very difficult to do, and as long as you have a flat surface to work on, all you actually need is a piece of string, a spirit level and an accurate ruler (but it is quicker and easier if you use a camber guage).
The trick is to acurately measure what you already have, then work out what needs to go where to get to the measurements as per the manual. (relevant pages are produced below as a composite document).
Once i can get it into the workshop, on the ramps, I'll set it all up properly.
If you are just replacing the shims, then what you have now is as good a starting place as any, but in my case, everything has been replaced, so it all needs setting.
There is a 'correct' order for setting things up - ride height (different for setting up than 'running'), castor, camber and tracking (toe-in) - then re-check them all, then reset ride height to where it needs to be.
Then do the rear toe-in.
None of it is very difficult to do, and as long as you have a flat surface to work on, all you actually need is a piece of string, a spirit level and an accurate ruler (but it is quicker and easier if you use a camber guage).
The trick is to acurately measure what you already have, then work out what needs to go where to get to the measurements as per the manual. (relevant pages are produced below as a composite document).
suspension settings.pdf- (352.29 KiB) Downloaded 459 times
Dave
Just the one now, but this one's mine! - and it will be finished eventually..... - but also temporary custodian of a project until it is finished enough for Angie to drive it
...oh, and a 2006 Freelander destined for the jungles of The Gambia - 4500 miles across roads, desert and tracks - what could possibly go wrong?
Just the one now, but this one's mine! - and it will be finished eventually..... - but also temporary custodian of a project until it is finished enough for Angie to drive it
...oh, and a 2006 Freelander destined for the jungles of The Gambia - 4500 miles across roads, desert and tracks - what could possibly go wrong?
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Re: front Caster shims
by rip » Mon 27.01.2014, 19:24
Package received today.
Many thanks for your efforts on this, Dave.
Many thanks for your efforts on this, Dave.
1990 SE
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Re: front Caster shims
by Nobby » Mon 27.01.2014, 20:47
rip wrote:Package received today.
Many thanks for your efforts on this, Dave.
dittoThank you Dave
Rob
S2 #070 BRG
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Re: front Caster shims
by woody » Tue 28.01.2014, 08:13
Received mine yesterday, many thanks Dave.
Cheers,
Woody
Cheers,
Woody
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Re: front Caster shims
by hodge » Tue 28.01.2014, 13:53
pack of shims on the mat when I got back today 
Thanks for sorting this out Dave.
Thanks for sorting this out Dave.
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Re: front Caster shims
by adster » Thu 30.01.2014, 07:30
Got my shims yesterday, thanks very much.
Will be fitting them today.
Will be fitting them today.
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Re: front Caster shims
by Elanlover » Fri 31.01.2014, 00:02
Received today. Thanks Dave!
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Re: front Caster shims
by Beaufighter » Tue 25.03.2014, 15:09
Hello
Have all the shims now gone, if yo had a set left over I would be interested, but I suspect I've just missed the boat?
Regards
Richard H
Have all the shims now gone, if yo had a set left over I would be interested, but I suspect I've just missed the boat?
Regards
Richard H
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Re: front Caster shims
by Brit-Car-Nut » Wed 26.03.2014, 17:30
Send a direct PM to Dave (dapinky) He sometimes orders more than were requested.
There are normally 8 shims per side and they are juggled front to back to front to get the caster correct. If you have the original 8, you should be able to get the car aligned. If you have less, then you should restore the standard. If they are baddly rusted or damaged, post that and someone might offer a different solution.
You might want to put your location details into your profile so people know where you are. Sometimes someone near you will have exactly what you need but doesn't offer because they don't want to hassle with shipping. If you are in the US, I can help, but it often isn't worth the cost and time to ship some things to the UK. Small packages are only affordable at First Class rates but 2 to 3 weeks to wait is usually not helpful.
There are normally 8 shims per side and they are juggled front to back to front to get the caster correct. If you have the original 8, you should be able to get the car aligned. If you have less, then you should restore the standard. If they are baddly rusted or damaged, post that and someone might offer a different solution.
You might want to put your location details into your profile so people know where you are. Sometimes someone near you will have exactly what you need but doesn't offer because they don't want to hassle with shipping. If you are in the US, I can help, but it often isn't worth the cost and time to ship some things to the UK. Small packages are only affordable at First Class rates but 2 to 3 weeks to wait is usually not helpful.
Please contact me via eMail, not by PM
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Re: front Caster shims
by par » Tue 19.07.2016, 18:56
Are there any other alternatives of where to get the caster shims?
I have sent Dave a PM but if he has none are SJ's the only option at nearly £4 a shim?
I have sent Dave a PM but if he has none are SJ's the only option at nearly £4 a shim?
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Re: front Caster shims
by Giniw » Tue 19.07.2016, 20:20
Well it's easy to make them yourself. The important measurement is their thickness, which is of course directly obtained when you buy the correct sheet of metal.
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Re: front Caster shims
by dapinky » Tue 19.07.2016, 21:22
Steven,
I have replied to your PM (unfortunately there were none left over from the group buy), but as Gini says, a small quantity are easy enough to make by hand, and I have the CAD drawing if anyone wanted to order some to be made locally (or do a group buy if there is enough interest).
I have replied to your PM (unfortunately there were none left over from the group buy), but as Gini says, a small quantity are easy enough to make by hand, and I have the CAD drawing if anyone wanted to order some to be made locally (or do a group buy if there is enough interest).
- camber shim.zip
- (12.04 KiB) Downloaded 401 times
Dave
Just the one now, but this one's mine! - and it will be finished eventually..... - but also temporary custodian of a project until it is finished enough for Angie to drive it
...oh, and a 2006 Freelander destined for the jungles of The Gambia - 4500 miles across roads, desert and tracks - what could possibly go wrong?
Just the one now, but this one's mine! - and it will be finished eventually..... - but also temporary custodian of a project until it is finished enough for Angie to drive it
...oh, and a 2006 Freelander destined for the jungles of The Gambia - 4500 miles across roads, desert and tracks - what could possibly go wrong?
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dapinky - LEC Administrator
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Re: front Caster shims
by simonbuk » Sun 14.09.2025, 07:50
These are now 4 quid each (excl VAT and delivery) !!
Anybody have any left over ?! Seem to have misplaced 6 .....
Anybody have any left over ?! Seem to have misplaced 6 .....
Black S2 No.357
Aqua Blue S2 No.385
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Aqua Blue S2 No.385
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