Is it ok to put my calipers back together minus the brake shims? They were a bit bent when I took the calipers apart to service them? Or should I really put them back in? Maybe make some new ones from stainless steel sheet metal?

All i can say is given the opportunity i'll try to improve the original (but NOT sacrificing safety or functionality)........do what u like as long as u do it properly. 

What brake shims?

If the calipers are all farkled, buy nearly new ones from Pinwall cycles on ebay for 14.95 to 19.95. That's what I do instead of replacing the pads on old calipers.

Perhaps they mean the metal pad spring? Sometimes called a shim in some parts.

No....Yes....no....!


Cookie

Quote from: LMT GS500 on July 28, 2013, 06:06:02 PM
Is it ok to put my calipers back together minus the brake shims? They were a bit bent when I took the calipers apart to service them? Or should I really put them back in? Maybe make some new ones from stainless steel sheet metal?

Succinct! 

Quote from: LMT GS500 on July 28, 2013, 06:06:02 PM
Is it ok to put my calipers back together minus the brake shims? They were a bit bent when I took the calipers apart to service them? Or should I really put them back in? Maybe make some new ones from stainless steel sheet metal?

yes, no, no

Shims are for brake squeal problem, help reduce it, brakes will function without them but I wouldn't go without.  GS rear brake squeal can drive you nuts.  Coating back of pads with that anti squeal stuff would probably help more than shims anyway.

Quote from: adidasguy on July 28, 2013, 09:40:05 PM
What brake shims?

If the calipers are all farkled, buy nearly new ones from Pinwall cycles on ebay for 14.95 to 19.95. That's what I do instead of replacing the pads on old calipers.

Excellent suggestion, after reworking my own calipers for years they finally got worn and corroded so badly they were functioning marginally so I did the Pinwall like new caliper thing.  On the verge of turning the clock over on my 02, 99k+ miles now.  Cost $15 plus #13 shipping each, new rear one is $150-200 from online discount dealer.  The ones from Pinwall were from a 09 GSF with about 2600 miles on them and were like brand new.  Tokico HH front pads and SBS FF rear ones, I had forgotten how really good the GS500 brakes were when bike was new.   

Quote from: tomgus on July 29, 2013, 12:35:30 AM
Perhaps they mean the metal pad spring? Sometimes called a shim in some parts.

Suzuki calls them shims on the parts fiches.

Gee...there's seven more combinations of yes and no for this answer!

I just gotta say, I'm not a big believer in do- it- yourself, armchair re-engineering.........

Brakes are usually considered fairly "important" !

I figure those Suzuki guys are pretty smart, and they decided that a shim was necessary....if it wasn't necessary, they would have saved the $.50 and not put them.

But hey, that's just me...

Cookie

Quote from: gsJack on July 29, 2013, 07:00:44 AM

Quote from: LMT GS500 on July 28, 2013, 06:06:02 PM
Is it ok to put my calipers back together minus the brake shims? They were a bit bent when I took the calipers apart to service them? Or should I really put them back in? Maybe make some new ones from stainless steel sheet metal?

yes, no, no

Shims are for brake squeal problem, help reduce it, brakes will function without them but I wouldn't go without.  GS rear brake squeal can drive you nuts.  Coating back of pads with that anti squeal stuff would probably help more than shims anyway.

Quote from: adidasguy on July 28, 2013, 09:40:05 PM
What brake shims?

If the calipers are all farkled, buy nearly new ones from Pinwall cycles on ebay for 14.95 to 19.95. That's what I do instead of replacing the pads on old calipers.

Excellent suggestion, after reworking my own calipers for years they finally got worn and corroded so badly they were functioning marginally so I did the Pinwall like new caliper thing.  On the verge of turning the clock over on my 02, 99k+ miles now.  Cost $15 plus #13 shipping each, new rear one is $150-200 from online discount dealer.  The ones from Pinwall were from a 09 GSF with about 2600 miles on them and were like brand new.  Tokico HH front pads and SBC FF rear ones, I had forgotten how really good the GS500 brakes were when bike was new.   

Quote from: tomgus on July 29, 2013, 12:35:30 AM
Perhaps they mean the metal pad spring? Sometimes called a shim in some parts.

Suzuki calls them shims on the parts fiches.

Thanks for the replies guys. Will try reuse the original shims plus some copper grease. If buying 'like new' calipers were an option for me I'd definitely do it. But being so far from civilisation (the Falkland Islands) its cheaper to repair than replace moneywise