Shim Material - Great Lakes XJ

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Date: Jun 8, 2009

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Before I go out and do an ixquick search I thought I'd ask which is a better shim material.... as the steel shims are on backorder. alumanum is lighter in weight, but a softer metal than steel... My XJ will be used mostly for towing, camping, Jeeping, and occasional commuting. Assuming I get my mitts on a winterbeater with a functional heater, it won't see winter duties, but that's still up in the air. I'm thinking it will hold up well enough, without deforming or anything. I, as usual prefer heavy duty stuff, but is it THAT important in choosing a shim material? -Matt __________________ My Fleet 1996 XJ "Snowball"- 3.5" lift, bunch of little mods. I hate pegleg rear axles! 1974 AMC Javelin "Jade Grenade"- 360v8, 4sp, green inside and out. Underfunded Project. 2009 Kawsaki Vulan 900 "Rocket III"- Summer DD

firehawk

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Date: Jun 8, 2009

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I have aluminum shims under my rear leaf springs. They've been there for almost 3 years now with no problems. I even have a couple of horseshoe shims under them at the rear to get the angle I want. I wrapped them with some of that gritty tape that is used on stair steps to help hole them in place. The grit actually bit into the aluminum, and it is all "locked" together.

I'm with you on the HD stuff, and try to go that way when it is necessary. Unless you are simply beating the crap out of your Jeep constantly day after day, aluminum shims are fine.

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threeEs99

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The aluminium shims will fail some just luck out. All aluminium shims are cast, leaving fissures & air pockets. The steel shims are machined. I have used aluminium blocks and shims on other vehicels. Some failed, some didn't, but I have never had a set of steel ones fail. Also aluminium will corrode with road salt. It also expands and contracts at different rates the steel therefore constant retorques are or may be needed. Not saying everyones have done this just some of my experiance.

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ChevelleSSLS6

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Date: Jun 9, 2009

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Ok... I'll go with steel... just seems to be less risk; I'd rather spend more time wheeling than working on the XJ... this year so far I've been working on it a lot more than I've been wheeling it.

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My Fleet
1996 XJ "Snowball"- 3.5" lift, bunch of little mods. I hate pegleg rear axles!
1974 AMC Javelin "Jade Grenade"- 360v8, 4sp, green inside and out. Underfunded Project.
2009 Kawsaki Vulan 900 "Rocket III"- Summer DD

tjhawk

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Date: Jun 13, 2009

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My aluminum shims have an alignment hole in the center and it keeps them just where they need to be. I like aluminum. It doesn't rust. I doubt they will fail even with the hardest wheling because they are sandwhiched in there so tight they cannot move and thus cannot wear. __________________

LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW

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Date: Jun 13, 2009

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I've had nothing but problems with alum. They don't rust but they do CORRODE! They are also weaker and will crack from the center hole out. Just wait on the steel one's... __________________ '93 XJ Cherokee Sport - build thread '89 XJ Cherokee Laredo - build thread '88 MJ Comanche Pioneer SWB - build thread '87 MJ Comanche LWB '94 YJ Wrangler - build thread

Chris99XJ

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Date: Jun 14, 2009

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Make's sence to me __________________ 1999 XJ SPORT, 4.5'' LIFT, 32'' X 11.50'' TIRE'S " IF IT AINT RUFF IT AINT ME ! "

ChevelleSSLS6

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Date: Jun 16, 2009

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I sent an email to the friendly folks at MOR and they know :) Also stick some GLXJ business cards in with them. There's some nice XJs around, and one's at a road construction site.

From another site I've heard machined aluminum ones tend to last longer, but this might apply in Arizona or someplace like that, not the salt belt.

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My Fleet
1996 XJ "Snowball"- 3.5" lift, bunch of little mods. I hate pegleg rear axles!
1974 AMC Javelin "Jade Grenade"- 360v8, 4sp, green inside and out. Underfunded Project.
2009 Kawsaki Vulan 900 "Rocket III"- Summer DD

Topic: Shim Material