I finally started re-installing the rear suspension today and I added GM boxed lower arms (used) and a new GM sway bar. My question is how many of these shims do these sometimes take? I also bought the shim/installation kit which included 4 shims,but it looks like I have 3/8- 1/2 in gap on each side,it would take prolly 6-7 shims per side like that. seems like too many to me,any ideas? I thought about swapping the lca's from side to side to see if that changes anything if nothing else

Well my car didn't require any and i have an extra shim kit. So shoot me an email silky20gumball@yahoo.com if you would like those i will send them to you for what i paid for them.

I have been told some can take quite a few and some don't need any, they just said instead of tightening the bolt to get rid of the gap between the control arms and the bar is to use shims, but if a shim won't fit in their then just tighten the bolt to specs.

Thanks for for the offer,but I made up enough shims already, I just wondered if any else required that many.

my 70 needed 3 on each side

3 on my 68

7/8 bar

My 70 took none

after replacing the control arm bushings in my 70 SS mine required 4 on each side, before bushing change there was 3 on each side, hope this helps, steel

I bolted on a new Hotchkis adjustable control arm kit and sway bar on my 66 last year and it needed 0 shims. I guess I got lucky.

This is a post I made some time ago.
My question was:
The only use I can see for the shims is to align the center of the bar with the center of the Pumpkin.
Answer by:
FO_FDYFO
Team Member
No, it is so that when you tighten the bolts up , you dont draw the control arms in, binding the bushings. when you hold the bar up there if there is space add shimms. It does not need to be centered.