Missing shims on brake pads?

[joweaver88]

So I am back to work on my 98 GS500E, I am reassembling the front end today and replacing the brakes pads as part of that. On the wiki guide I see it mentions and shows shims on the front brake pads. But the "old" brake pads I took off, which I believe were the stock pads (bike only has 2400 miles), didn't have shims on them. My new ebc brake pads didn't come with any shims either, and on bike bandit the parts fiche for the front caliper assembly doesn't show any shims. So whats up, do I need shims or not? Im confused.

[twocool]

Short answer:  no shims

Parts Fische show no shims on front...(does show shims for rear brake pads)  Later models have shims on front too...

You missed big discussion on brake shims recently......consensus is shims are unnecessary in most cases...shim may possibly stop brake squeal...if you have no squeal...no shim needed...

Cookie

So I am back to work on my 98 GS500E, I am reassembling the front end today and replacing the brakes pads as part of that. On the wiki guide I see it mentions and shows shims on the front brake pads. But the "old" brake pads I took off, which I believe were the stock pads (bike only has 2400 miles), didn't have shims on them. My new ebc brake pads didn't come with any shims either, and on bike bandit the parts fiche for the front caliper assembly doesn't show any shims. So whats up, do I need shims or not? Im confused.

[gsJack]

The shims are between the pistons and pads.  My 02 had a single shim on the front and a replacement 07 caliper I put on recently was the same.  My 97 (97-00 same) didn't have a shim on the front.  Both the 97 and 02 had/have 2 shims on the rear and I believe all years are the same on the rear, the rears have opposing pistons.

I've always left shims in where they had them but never added them where they didn't.  I agree with above, the shims are for noise control and I don't believe they affect brake function one way or the other.

[joweaver88]

Ok cool thanks guys. And yea the rears have the shims so I reinstalled them. But I wont worry about the front. Btw just a heads up for those looking to buy the HEL braided brake lines... they are very nice quality but the pressure fittings they send with them are the wrong thread pitch and dont screw in :/ I was able to clean and re-use the stock ones though... however, very lame the HEL ones looked purrty.

[fetor56]

Ok cool thanks guys. And yea the rears have the shims so I reinstalled them. But I wont worry about the front. Btw just a heads up for those looking to buy the HEL braided brake lines... they are very nice quality but the pressure fittings they send with them are the wrong thread pitch and dont screw in :/ I was able to clean and re-use the stock ones though... however, very lame the HEL ones looked purrty.

From memory the banjo thread pitch's are different(1.0 & 1.25)
Tell HEL & they will send u the correct one(atleast one they sent must fit)

[Toner]

I just found out today that I also have not shims on my back break pads. I took them out to lube the back with copper grease because I was told that would stop the squealing. Now I see that this shims while not completely necessary might do that too so I am trying to buy some. Are these what I need:

An outer and inner shim?

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Genuine-OEM-Suzuki-GS500-GSF1200-GSX-R1100-Rear-Caliper-Outer-Shim-59381-20C00-/151121673661
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Genuine-OEM-Suzuki-GS500-GSF1200-GSX-R1100-GSX1300-GSX750-Inner-Shim-59371-20C00-/151099271427

Also does anyone know offhand where you might get these shims in UK/Ireland/Europe? I can only see them for sale from the US on ebay.