176 replies to this topic

[gaffer1986]

 

Damn, why did I have to see this topic. Does that mean I need to worry about my rear subframe falling off?

Ha ha made me smile 👍

 

 

 

Does that mean I'm worrying about nothing?

[haggi961]

I'd guess the shims are around 0.8mm.  Nowhere near 2Kg.   I also was concerned about alignment, but one of the bolts screws into a captive nut and I recall my conclusion was that failing to align correctly was not possible.  On the other hand, with the weight and awkwardness of the subframe, it's not possible to adjust the position either.

n I think he was talking about the shims that space the clam from the subframe as there over 2kg in weight as I've measuerd with a set of hanging scales. The thickness depends on how many shims there is to space the clam, so each car is different.

[The Batman]

Yeah the shims from chassis to subframe are really light! Will be fitting new shims to fabs car at the weekend

Edited by The Batman, 07 October 2015 - 12:24 PM.

[Aerodynamic]

 

I'd guess the shims are around 0.8mm.  Nowhere near 2Kg.   I also was concerned about alignment, but one of the bolts screws into a captive nut and I recall my conclusion was that failing to align correctly was not possible.  On the other hand, with the weight and awkwardness of the subframe, it's not possible to adjust the position either.

n I think he was talking about the shims that space the clam from the subframe as there over 2kg in weight as I've measuerd with a set of hanging scales. The thickness depends on how many shims there is to space the clam, so each car is different.

 

 

 

Ahhh,, that explains a lot.  :-)

[cookster501]

I'm going to make a gasket out of 0.5mm nylon sheet to go inbetween the two surfaces.

[Gedi]

You have to wonder why some sort of plastic or polymer wasn't used in the first place, as you would assume it'd be a much better barrier.

Perhaps they just aren't strong enough?

[FLD]

Any compression of the plastic would result in a loss of torque on the bolt.  Plastics tend to creep or squash out so this would be rather catastrophic.  Imagine 6 months after launch all the cars start breaking subframe bolts and snapping in half.

[cookster501]

this is one of them things you can keep a eye on when trying something new. on my car where going to pick up a new mounting on the rear cross for the roll cage to try and eliminate any flex

[Tibbles Stryker]

Wonder if nylon shims would work?

[FLD]

I doubt it, nylon creeps pretty badly.  You'd want a nice rigid, crosslinked polymer that won't move but then you risk breaking it as they tend to be brittle.

[The Batman]

Or just buy the same as what is fitted and has been fitted for years

[cookster501]

Powder coat the steel shim??

[fezzasus]

Powder coat the steel shim??

It's already zinc coated. The powder coating will crack as soon as you tension the bolts.

 

Leave it as it is. The original shims were good for ten years. That's not a bad time frame given the typical lifespan of a car. You'll be worrying about the condition of the bonding epoxy before the next time you need to change them.

[haggi961]

New shims and bolts along with a good covering of durac should be fine for years to come.

[vocky]

As above, I fitted new shims coated with Duralac

 

Hopefully the Duralac will stop any of the corrosion some seem to suffer with

[GeorgeBC]

Or just buy the same as what is fitted and has been fitted for years

Shims from Vauxhall or Lotus? Ill be doing mine in the next week or two.

[vocky]

I don't recall ever seeing rear clam shims, I even bought another subframe just to get the shims

 

You can get the Lotus europa 'chassis - subframe' shims, quite cheap too

[Exmantaa]

 

Or just buy the same as what is fitted and has been fitted for years

Shims from Vauxhall or Lotus? Ill be doing mine in the next week or two.

 

 

^^ While we're at it; what's the best source and part nr. for 2 shims?

[vocky]

part number 11 - http://www.deroure.c...&SMO=0&ST=&SC=0

 

or

 

the direct link - http://www.deroure.c...SC=0&PBID=48545

[The Batman]

Shims





Look at the size thickness of corrosion!