So my calipers didn't come with any shims. Who here has experience with shimless calipers? How did you find any noise issues? - A
You need 'something'..... behind the brake pads to stop the 'singing'. If you don't have shims you can buy a little stick on patch for the back of the pad, but you have to buy new ones EVERY time you change your pads.
Thanks for the quick reply. That sounds like a good idea. Do those things carry a specific name? What exactly is the singing like?
Probably, they're just a sheet of metal most of the time, you can probably make your own pretty easily.
I noticed a big difference with and without shims. I have stock calipers. The noise without was horrible. Fitted shims and the noise went away completely. For any fixed caliper (like ours) I highly recommend they be fitted.
Sounds the go then. I found those stick on pads online, but it would be better to have some metal stuff. Just double layered 1/2mm stainless, cut out the same shape as the pad I'm guessing? P. Mu seem to supply only consumable stick on shims, but Endless may be able to flick some metal ones my way.
I doubt you're going to be changing pads very often, you probably wouldn't regret it if you just got the project mu shims, I'm assuming they'll last the pad's life and handle the same temps as their pads.
Still prefer to make up a reusable set for a couple of bucks and two hours rather than spend $140 on consumables (yeah, that much)
Oh wow, I guess you wouldn't even have to get to a point where they needed replacing to feel silly for buying them then. You can also buy goop in a tube or spray can that's supposed to do the same thing, not sure how effective it is on it's own though.
You can just make them yourself easily enough, just to the pad shape with a couple of 5mm tabs bent over to hold them in place. If you do some research online though I'd be surprised if the PMu pads aren't some common shape, in which case you would be able to buy pre made shims online fairly easily. Get titanium if you think you'll be putting any serious heat (ie track time) though them. Helps to prevent heat soak into the brake fluid.
I have a set, unused, for $60 plus post ($15 ??? envelope) if you want to blow the budget .... think they cost me about $70 when purchased.
One of the guys over here had a set of wilwood calipers fitted to his zed, ended up removing and repalcing with something else becuase he couldnt get rid of the squeal. May have been member "dub" This was years ago (maybe 7 - 8 years ago, back in the autosalon days)
Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm definitely going to make myself up a set after the feedback from this thread.
Not sure if you've already picked up on the same thing but if you make more than one piece per pad it's probably worth while making them different, everyone else seems to. Cut vents in one or use one shim the full size of the pad and one half shim or something, guessing it helps make sure all squeals are dampened.
Those wilwood calipers are exceptionally light, and when you extend it out with dogbone adaptors, they vibrate at low braking pressure and squeal because of it. Unless they're mounted directly on the hub, you'll have to live with it. Bit of a drawback on the wilwoods. Plus I think they are far too light for a car as heavy as the zed, can only imagine them getting pretty toasty on heavy use.
