Axle shim question

So I have the axle shims from Toytec that have a hole for the leaf pin to go through and is countersunk so that the head of that bolt is partially in the shim and partially in the axle pad/mount to keep things in place. The shop that installed them put the shims between the leaf and a 1/2" block spacer (Icon 3 leaf AAL + 1/2" block to get a little rake). Seems to me they should be on the very bottom, between the block spacer and the axle pad/mount. I think with the small 1/2" block it may not matter much but it seems to me that the optimal position would be below the leaf and spacer. Seems like the current set up may stress the rear part of the ubolt more than necessary. I have emailed Toytec about it but haven't gotten a reply yet. Anyone have any experience with this? Am I explaining it clearly?

 

Yes they should have put the shim on the bottom. I totally understood what you were saying.

 

Thank you. Do you have any idea if that is "in writing" somewhere? I would like to have something to bring in with me (other than my opinion) when I ask them to re-do it.

 

It’s just general knowledge. I’d take it back and have them install correctly, otherwise your shims are not at the correct angle.

 

Copy that. That's the plan, just wondering if it is "written" somewhere so I can show them something "official".

 

It’s shown on their instructions for installing an AAL

 

That's helpful- thanks very much!

 

It makes me nervous when a shop messes up something so basic. I'd probably have them fix their mistake then take it to another shop to double check their work. All of it.

 

I trust them on most things but they are not very experienced in suspension stuff- no real 4x4 shops around here either. I try to learn as much as I can so it gets done correctly. I know they will fix it for me.

 

So you have Leaf springs then shim then 1/2" block?

if you have these and I would have the angle shims on the bottom but I bet if you measure the pinion angle as it is now and afterwards I doubt it will change enough to be measurable. If it isn't a bolt in 1/2" spacer then the way they have them installed is probably the correct way.

 

Agree that the angle would change little to nothing at all and I really think that with a narrow 1/2” spacer it probably makes no difference. But it is a bolt in spacer and shim so that angle introduced into the “middle” just bugs me and definitely would not be good with a larger spacer “after” the shim. Seems like it would force a bend in the u bolts at the point where the shim “turns” toward the front.

 

I doubt adding any degree angle shim is going to cause a u-bolt to bend. The u-bolt pivots at the top and will pull inline with the lower bracket I’ve seen u-bolts like \ | and | / before but I’ve never seen one bend unless something else broke and it was the only thing keeping everything together.

 

Geez,all they had too do take 5 minutes too research the correct install on a computer,amazing so many shops dont know what they are doing.

 

Agree, the u bolts also have some play at the bottom with the holes in the bracket being oversized. I guess it just bugs me....

Thanks for all the replies!