Technical A Question About Spindle/Axle Shims?

So the front end of my coupe is the only thing that I haven't had to do over since purchasing it over 2 years ago...I have been chasing a rattle/banging noise on rough roads that seems to be in the front end over the last couple weeks..Today I decided to do some brake work and properly clean and polish the front axle/backing plates etc...Once everything was removed from the spindles I noticed there is excessive up and down movement in the spindles. It is not side to side but up and down only. There is one thin shim UNDER each bearing. I am ordering a shim kit from speedway this evening. Is it possible to shim it too tight? And also where is proper placement of the shims on the picture A B or C ? .I did use the search function but I was still Un-certain of the proper placement..Thanks Everyone as always

 

Shims go @ A.


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Randy is correct, shims go at “A”. I doubt very seriously if it’s possible to “over shim” and axle-spindle. Here’s how I do it, make sure to pack your thrust bearings with grease. Then wipe a thin film of grease on the axle at A and B. Next slide the kingpin in just far enough to engage the top of the spindle and about 1/2 of the axle. Then slide the thrust bearing in to judge how many shims are needed at A. Remove the thrust bearing and kingpin, install shims at A, then reinstall the kingpin half way again and try to install the thrust bearing. If the bearing slides in to easily, add shims. However, you do not want to “hammer” the bearing in. It should fit snug but not tight or binding. After you install the lock pin, wedge key, whatever you want to call it, into the axle and tightened it down, make sure the spindle steers left and right easily with no binding. If it binds, go back and check your work, they drive very badly with seized or bound up king pins. We see this a lot on big trucks with zero maintenance and no grease in the kingpins. Complaints of hard steering or wanders all over and steering wheels that won’t return after a turn are common.


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Correct, the shim stock is not designed to carry any load.

 

That explains it perfectly. Thanks Again.