Bulk Alignment Shims

Nolathane bulk alignment shims supply alignment shim packs in workshop quantities for wheel alignment specialists, tyre shops and suspension workshops. On vehicles that use shims to set camber and caster, an alignment can?t be finished without the right thicknesses on hand. Keeping bulk shim packs on the shelf means every alignment can be completed in one visit, without waiting for parts.

Each shim pack contains shims of a set thickness, so workshops can build up the exact stack needed to bring each wheel into specification.

How Alignment Shims Work

On some suspensions, the position of a control arm is set by the thickness of shims placed between the arm?s pivot shaft or mount and the chassis or subframe. Adding or removing shims moves the arm in or out, which changes the angle of the wheel.

Depending on where the shims are fitted and how they?re split between the front and rear mounting bolts, shims can adjust:

• Camber, the inward or outward tilt of the wheel viewed from the front
• Caster, the backward or forward tilt of the steering axis viewed from the side
• Toe on some rear suspension designs

Adding the same thickness to both bolts moves the whole arm and changes camber. Adding more to one bolt than the other changes the arm?s angle and adjusts caster. Fine adjustments are made by combining different shim thicknesses into a stack.

Why Workshops Buy Shims in Bulk

Shim-adjusted suspensions often need several shims per wheel, in a combination of thicknesses, to reach specification. A single job can use more shims than a small retail pack contains. Bulk shim packs help alignment workshops:

• Complete alignments in a single visit without ordering parts
• Keep a full range of thicknesses available for fine adjustment
• Replace corroded or damaged factory shims as standard practice
• Service common vehicles efficiently, especially where many examples come through the workshop
• Reduce cost per shim compared with buying small packs repeatedly

Alignment Problems Shims Can Correct

Shim adjustment is used to correct a range of common alignment faults on suitable vehicles:

• Inner or outer edge tyre wear caused by camber outside specification
• Pulling to one side caused by uneven camber or caster from side to side
• Light or wandering steering caused by reduced caster
• Slow steering return after a turn
• Changes after suspension work, such as fitting new bushes, springs or arms
• Drift after kerb strikes where the arms are undamaged but settings have moved

If shims can?t bring the wheel into specification within a reasonable stack, the problem usually lies elsewhere, such as a bent arm, a damaged mount or sagging springs. Diagnosing the cause first avoids masking a fault with extra shims.

Replacing Factory Shims

Factory shims often corrode, distort or go missing over time, particularly on older vehicles. Rusted shims can bind, stack unevenly or crack, making accurate adjustment difficult and causing alignment to drift. Fitting fresh shims during an alignment gives clean, flat, accurately sized spacers and makes future adjustments easier.

When replacing shims, note how many were fitted at each bolt and their total thickness before removal. That gives a starting point for the new stack.

Building a Shim Stack

For accurate, lasting results:

1. Clean the mounting faces on the arm and chassis, removing rust, dirt and old sealant.
2. Measure the existing alignment and calculate the change required.
3. Build the stack from the fewest shims possible, using thicker shims for coarse changes and thinner shims for fine tuning.
4. Make sure every shim sits flat and fully engaged on the bolt, with no burrs or distortion.
5. Tighten the mounting bolts to the vehicle manufacturer?s specification.
6. Re-check the alignment after tightening, as clamping can change the final reading slightly.

Avoid excessively tall shim stacks. If a very large stack is needed to reach specification, check for bent arms, worn bushes or damaged mounts.

Shims and Worn Bushes

Shims set the position of the arm?s mount, but the arm still pivots on its bushes. If the bushes are worn, the arm can move under load and the alignment will change while driving, no matter how carefully the shims are set. Check the control arm bushes during every shim alignment and replace them if they show cracking, play or extrusion.

Nolathane has been making polyurethane suspension bushings since 1974, originally developed to replace brass bushes in hillclimb competition. The signature red bushings are made in a range of durometers (hardness grades) for each position, and offer outstanding abrasion resistance, high load-bearing capability and resistance to oil, grease, ozone and weathering. Firm polyurethane bushes help a shim alignment stay where it was set.

Storing Alignment Shims

To keep shim stock in good condition:

• Store shims in a dry place to prevent corrosion
• Keep thicknesses separated and clearly labelled
• Keep packs closed until needed to protect them from dust and moisture
• Discard any shims that are bent, burred or rusted

Organised storage speeds up each job, as the technician can select the right thicknesses quickly. It also makes it easy to see when a thickness is running low and needs to be reordered.

Who Bulk Alignment Shims Suit

• Wheel alignment and tyre workshops
• Suspension specialists and general mechanical workshops
• Fleet maintenance teams servicing shim-adjusted vehicles
• Workshops with a high volume of older or high-kilometre vehicles

Choosing the Right Shim Packs

Shim size, slot shape and thickness vary between vehicles and suspension positions. Confirm the vehicle and position before ordering, and stock a range of thicknesses so both coarse and fine adjustments can be made. Each listing shows the shim thickness, the quantity and the vehicles the shims suit. Our fitment guarantee means the shims you order are confirmed to suit the vehicles listed.

Shop Bulk Alignment Shims

Workshop quantities like these are found in Nolathane's trade packs range.

Order bulk alignment shims online with fast shipping or through a Nolathane reseller. Every product is backed by Nolathane?s warranty, 60-day returns give you time if a product isn?t right, and our local support team can help you choose the right thicknesses and quantities for the vehicles your workshop aligns most often.