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Rear trailing arm shims ?
Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 5:38 pm
by RichardHyde
Hi, the part circled in green is described as a ‘shim’ which implies to me that you can get these in different sizes to ‘shim up’ or ‘shim down’.
Any thoughts on this at all ?

Re: Rear trailing arm shims ?
Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 5:51 pm
by xvivalve
A spacer, to take up manufacturing tolerances. Never seen a car fitted with one.
Re: Rear trailing arm shims ?
Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 7:53 pm
by Mad Mart
xvivalve wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 5:51 pm
A spacer, to take up manufacturing tolerances. Never seen a car fitted with one.
Ditto
Re: Rear trailing arm shims ?
Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2021 10:09 am
by matt of the vivas
Looks like it's inside the trailing arm, so it's not a shim, more of a washer to spread load. Not certain, but it rings a bell - I think I have them on my 1850. I'll have to check.
Also, didn't the early Sprints have a thicker rear bar? Maybe this was added to stop the extra loaf ripping the bolts out of arms, which is why it's not seen on many cars?
Re: Rear trailing arm shims ?
Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2021 12:54 pm
by Magenta Auto Sprint
I noticed this too when I fitted the rear ARB to my 1300, as the trailing arms and bushes are flexible, I doubt it's to do with 'shimming up' but not knowing the thickness doesn't help. My only other thought, is that it may prevent fretting on the trailing arm.
Malcolm
Re: Rear trailing arm shims ?
Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2021 10:24 pm
by Carledo
I've fitted a couple of rear AR bars to cars that could have done with a bit of spacing. But meh! The bar stretches when bolted up tight!
Like the other sages above, i've never actually SEEN one of these shims in service on a car. I do tend to fit a large penny washer inside the trailing arm rather than the standard small one, but that's just me being me! I've never seen a bolt pull through either!
Steve
Re: Rear trailing arm shims ?
Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2021 8:14 am
by bazyerma
Hi
As Steve says, I fitted as large penny washer in the trailing arm to spread the load one my 1975 1500TC. Also I would have struggled to fit a shim as it was tight, but that could be the many layers of Hammerite!
https://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/vie ... =4&t=36918
Regards
Barry
Re: Rear trailing arm shims ?
Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 4:24 pm
by naskeet
There were certainly NO shims or spacers on the Triumph Dolomite Sprint from which I salvaged a rear anti-roll bar in mid-1982 for my 1974 Triumph Toledo 1300.