Shims found ??

[love2fly]

Vehicle-1982 FJ45
When we removed both front spring packs to have them Re-arched
to stock high due to one side sagging (driver), we found what looks to be possibly homemade shims sandwiched between the spring and the spring pate. Sorry -no photo.
They are pitted/blistered steel from time/rust, very crude. I found a diagram showing what is called a distance plate which I am presuming is a shim of sort.
First question is do I really need this, can I remove them ? As I understand Shims were for when longer spring shackles are introduced to the spring when adding higher than stock lift springs, and added to correct the caster angles. This is a stock system with stock shackles and springs.
Second if they are to be in place, were can I find steel shims to replace these ageing steel ones we found?
Thanks

 

[platypusREX]

You can get it from the dealer. Or the CCOT leveling block. It goes on the passenger rear though.
I cant say about the front.

 

[Fast Eddy]

The flat shim in the back is to counter cruiser lean. Angled shims would counter caster and pinion angle when installing longer shackles. It would not be too surprising to see a cruiser lean correction block in the front, I suppose.

 

[love2fly]

Shims found

So this being a wedge type block would seem strange for a stock front suspension? I can see a non wedged flat block for sag correction but an angled shim makes me wonder. Nothing under the rear springs pads.
Thanks

 

[LAMBCRUSHER]

angled shims are used to correct caster angle for steering stability...someone must have thought they were needed at one point in time or another. possible a PO had lift springs on at one time, maybe took them off for a sale or whatever and didn't remove the shims as well. are the shackles stock as well? if all is in stock spec, shims shouldn't be needed. maybe check caster before tossing the shims(or before not buying new shims). shims come in different angles to make up for different degrees of steering axis', so measure first.

 

[edwjmcgrath]

Still available from toyota:
48475-60020 - OEM Toyota PLATE, DISTANCE

Here's another thread on this part:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/383940-leaf-spring-distance-plate-required.html

 

[Living in the Past]

So this being a wedge type block would seem strange for a stock front suspension? I can see a non wedged flat block for sag correction but an angled shim makes me wonder. Nothing under the rear springs pads.
Thanks

So which did you find, angle and or flat? Location matters. If it was angled and between the axle and spring it was to correct the caster with longer shackles. If it was like in the Toyota's diagram between the spring and bottom plate it is nothing more than a spacer, angled or flat. Probably to use the same U bolts front and back. Shorter spring pack you will end up bottoming out the thread before getting tight without a spacer. I installed a lift on my FJ62 years ago. The lift was for a 60 not 62. I ended up having to use the small bottom spring off the stock springs since the 60 series springs were thinner.

 

[platypusREX]

That part is for '80 and later cruisers.

Still available from toyota:
48475-60020 - OEM Toyota PLATE, DISTANCE

Here's another thread on this part:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/383940-leaf-spring-distance-plate-required.html

 

[edwjmcgrath]

That part is for '80 and later cruisers.

And??
The vehicle in question is an 82 FJ45 and that's the part number he posted.

 

[platypusREX]

Just clarifying because I forgot about his truck and was thinking of mine.

And??
The vehicle in question is an 82 FJ45 and that's the part number he posted.

 

[Sam Stewart]

Still available. Limited national inventory. $47.18 each MUD price.

 

[platypusREX]

Wow! that is a deal.

Still available. Limited national inventory. $47.18 each MUD price.

 

[love2fly]

Shims or ?

Thanks guys for the replies. This all started out with the re-arching of the two stock front leaf springs. We had a sag on the right front side. We checked the rear springs and all is well with them. Nothing under them. All stock, OME
When we remove the springs the cheesy looking shims/pads were found between the lower spring four bolt mount plates and the bottom of the springs. See photo.
I did fine this distance plate as part of the OME. Not sure if it the original ones installed now.
Now the word distance made me think that maybe it is to move the axle a bit to the left or right looking from a birds eye view. So I did some measuring, not sure if that has anything to do with this but it might tell me why after having the springs re arched that I still have a 1/2" sag on the right. Or maybe the guys who arced the springs were off a bit?
Anyway:
all measurements were taken form the front of the axle just below the weld line.
From there to the center of the shackle pin that has new Polly bushing installed. I don't think the bushing is being pressed back this much in the shackle mount eye.
See the distance. Not sure if I need to remove the spring and re-arc 1/2-3/4 to fix, or remove DISTANCE PLATES, or both. It should be equal in measurements.
I am doing all this as it needs a font end alignment due to new tie rods and seal over haul knuckle kit installed and the front end needs to be without problems.
I hope I did not confuse anyone as I know I am.
Thanks guys.

 

[FJsnoozer]

A shim right there wont do anything at all. The shim needs to be between the spring and the spring perch to affect the angle.

The plates that you have should have gone between the spring and the axle. Doing so would have fixed you lean and is why they should be there. Why dont you try moving them and see what it does to your truck lean. It looks like some goober incorrectly read the instructions at the dealership when It had this TSB done.

 

[platypusREX]

Isnt that a caster shim?

 

[Fast Eddy]

Isnt that a caster shim?

Yes.

A shim right there wont do anything at all. The shim needs to be between the spring and the spring perch to affect the angle.

Yes to this too. If it was driving ok with that shim there, it will be exactly the same with it removed.

If you're keeping those stock shackles, don't worry about shims.

 

[Living in the Past]

A shim right there wont do anything at all. The shim needs to be between the spring and the spring perch to affect the angle.

The plates that you have should have gone between the spring and the axle. Doing so would have fixed you lean and is why they should be there. Why dont you try moving them and see what it does to your truck lean. It looks like some goober incorrectly read the instructions at the dealership when It had this TSB done.

Isnt that a caster shim?

Yes.



Yes to this too. If it was driving ok with that shim there, it will be exactly the same with it removed.

If you're keeping those stock shackles, don't worry about shims.

Look at the Toyota diagram in the frist post. The part is located between spring and bottom plate making nothing more than a spacer. If the front and rear U bolts are same on a 82 LC pickup and if the spring pack is thicker in the back a spacer might be needed in the front with the thinner pack. The picture the OP posted if his it sure looksthat way. I just bought some of the rubber spacer that hold the bezel off the bib. I believe Toyota calls it a radiator distance. But it's just a spacer.

 

[Living in the Past]

Take the spacer out and you will run out if thread before it's tight.

 

[Fast Eddy]

That may be what it's for, but looking at that picture the thickness of the bottom plate should be plenty to make it work.

 

[Living in the Past]

That may be what it's for, but looking at that picture the thickness of the bottom plate should be plenty to make it work.

That's a pretty coarse thread. Looking at the left side of the bolt not so sure there would be plenty of thread left. A washer on the end of the U bolts could do the same thing.

Just curious are the U bolts the same front and rear and is the front spring pack thinner than the back on the 82 LC pickup. Has to be a reason Toyota put a spacer there. The same U bolts front and rear is the best I can come up with.