Shim Kit

[Diago]

What is this shim kit that I keep hearing about. I have a 2001 LW200 with 52,000 miles and I am ready for my fourth set of tires. So far Saturn has replaced the tires for free but this is the last time they will do it. They have never said anything to me about the suspension being the problem. They always do an allignment when the tires are changed. It is the rears that seem to go first. I don't rotate them as often as I should but they should still last more than 15,000 miles. I know it isn't the way I drive since with my other car (SW2) I can get about 70,000 out of a set. If I cannot fix this problem I may just have to become a Honda fan.

[Xanatos]

I haven't had the shims installed. However, the Crapfinities that they place on aren't the best of tires.

The most you could ever get out of those things is MAYBE 20K. so the 15K you are getting out of them isn't bad. Once they replace them again, I highly suggest getting some good tires and that will prevent a lot of the tread wear.

I was lucky that the Rack problem didn't mess up my tires. SO far I've driven my current tires about 24K miles and they are still going strong. Have about 3/4 tred left. And I even got some cheap Big-O-Tires.

[socketz]

I have 10k on my Affinity HPs and they only look about 1/6 worn ?

I do the rotation every other ol change. They are a bit noisy, but they seem to wear well. Actually, they seem hard as a rock, which is what probably makes them so noisy.

[cary]

The shim kit was installed on both of our L300/01s.

It has improved handling and greatly reduced road noise. The tires appeared “cupped” before they were replaced.

[Diago]

Is the ship kit something that stiffens the suspension? If so, would it be better to just replace the rear shocks with something better?

As you can see, I don't know what the shim kit is or what it does.

[s3nfo]

The "shim kit" is a set of bolts with an off center cam on the sholder of the bolt which allows the camber of the rear wheels to be adjusted more than the stock adjustments. I've had the bolts put in my LW300 when I replaced the Affinities (at 35K). Bolt kit is less than $20 and if you get it done with the alignment the labor is usually free as part of the alignment so total cost is less than $20.
Made no difference in the ride or noise level of the car but does allow the rears to be adjusted so the alignment is "right", so if your getting noise or bad handling from the rears cause they're grossly out of alignment, the bolts could conceivably fix the problem.

[Diago]

Thanks. Now it makes sence.

I have noticed that one rear tire wears a lot faster than the other on my LW200. Quite possibly this could fix that problem.

[somedude]

Xanatos,

What is the Rack problem that you mention?

[spork]

I had a shim kit installed on my 2000 LS. Handling is much improved, and affinity HPs have gone 24k miles with normal(low) wear.

Prior to that, ate thorough a set of tires in 18k miles.