Thread: Valve Shim Issues.....

If you all don't know I had an issue with my head and had some work done. While working on it and before it went to a machine shop the shims for the valves were pulled so they wouldn't get lost.

I didn't know that they were all different and now I'm stuck with the issue of putting them back in the right place. Apprently there are 17 different thickness rangeing from 2.800 MM (0.1102 in) to 3.200 MM (0.1260 in) which is a huge difference. I found this out from the FSM section EM page 48.

My question is..... is there a better way of doing this? Meaning can I get a kit of shim from the dealer that are already have settings to where they go or do I have to measure all the ones I have and go from there?

And help is appreciate...

TTT for H-E-L-P


btw you need to get back at me RE: my text.

go to the junkyard find a de and take the head stuff is what I would do. this is why you bag things and be organized while working folks.

Here is a solution some other people have come up with to measure the valve heights.

http://forums2.freshalloy.com/showthread.php?t=175360&highlight=shimm

Just measure the required shim height at each valve then measure the thickness of all your shims and place accordingly.

I acutally got all the parts together to make up this device when I had thought I lost a shim. I was able to find the shim in the head and never bothered to measure so I personally can't vouch for how well this works, they seem satisfied though.

Also I'd like to note that new shims are kinda pricey, I think ~$5-7 per shim.

This is really the only way to do it and be correct. They come in different sizes for a good reason, and each head/valve combo is different, so using a junkyard assortment will be wrong guaranteed. Note though that the smooth, non-grooved shims are the only ones that vary. The guide shims are all the same thickness.

First thing I'd do is get a caliper, some paper, and sort out what shims are what thickness, and write it down next to the shim. You might get lucky and have them all the same thickness, in which case it won't matter which goes where. Then, make a diagram of the head and valves, and go through the FSM procedure on measuring shim thicknesses, and write them down. Then it's just a matter of putting them all in the right spot.

So the shims different from head to head?

Meaning if i take the shims out of one head and put them in the exact same place in another head there will be issues?

That's what he said. I haves digital caliper, to measure them.

qft this sounds like the best approach, usually when removing shims , i remove them and label them according to where they were on the head, then install them back in the same spot to avoid this very situation...


But what is done is done. grab a vernier caliper and measure the thickness of the shims then go to the FSM like Wingman suggested...

GL and let us know how it came out

man i'm having the same problem. but i didn mix up the shims, they just blew everywhere in shipping

When you go the replace the shims be very careful you install the rocker guides (u-shaped shims) and shims in the right order. The rocker arms have are slightly machined on one 'leg,' take note of this since this is the side that the u-shaped shim needs to go on.

This is not obvious and it is possible to get the guide and shim mixed up when reinstalling, many others have done it and the previous owner of my NX did it. If they are on backwards things will break, most likely the guide will split and the rocker arm will be tossed.

HELP- Rocker Arm guides and shims... - SR20 Forum