I was looking here

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...eRebuild.shtml

on the shim thickness to use. I know that it may be different on mine, but It seems the FSM has a tool that you need to use in order to actually calculate the thickness you would need (it is one of the measurements they take). My question is, it says that the the shim thickness should be about .040", but is that total shim thickness for the top and bottom combined, or just the shim thickness on the top bearing cap and then another .040" thick shim on the bottom cap as well? It seems it could be interpreted either way.

 

When i rebuilt my front axle i just reused the factory shims and put them back in the same place they came from when i put it back together, and i havn`t had any problems.

 

i was wondering the same myself, about the .40, the top shims are only for adjusting the preload so adjust those as necessary until the preload is in spec and keep the shim on the bottom that it came with, i just put mine back together and used all stock shims and everything was in spec.

 

I went .040" shims on the top and bottom. I'm torquing the nuts that hold the bearing caps on right now. I tested it after tightening the top and it seems in spec so far. I measured the stock and it was .040"

 

Either put back on what was on there already or typically use about 0.040 regardless.

Just think how much you have learned by doing this yourself. I still remember my first axle tear down.

 

Just torqued it all and it is good to go with .040" shims on the top and bottom. It was about 8-9lbs until the break free point.

 

Yes, I have learned a TON!!!! Definitely glad that I've done it myself. I will never take anything to a shop unless there was a time constraint that was impossible. Thanks for all the help.

 

If I recall correctly, the bottom shim centers the steering knuckle and the top shim sets the bearing preload. In my opinion, you should always either reuse (in the exact same location) what came out, reinstall new shims that are exactly the same thickness as what came out, or start from scratch using the SST to ensure that you have the steering knuckle centered. If not, then I believe you will have uneven tension (perhaps there's a better term?) between the axle shaft and the oil seal. Will a few thousanths make a difference? That I can't answer.

What did you do with the shims that came out? They aren't a wear part so unless they are corroded for some strange reason there's no reason not to reuse them.

 

I could only locate one. My parts cleaning room is an absolute disaster and I'm sure it's there, but didn't have time to find it. I measured the bottom one and it was .040. I had a pack of shims and used two .040 (one bottom, one top)