CB Performance wide 5 rear disc brake kit, extra shim

[joeherb53]

I have one of the first CB Perf. wide 5 rear brake kits that came out. I've had some leaking issues around the axle.
if you look at the first image at step 6 it references a "spacer shim". it looks like that shim is in the second image. These two images are the only places I've seen that shim.
I've watched many videos on youtube, seen other images on here, and haven't seen this shim anywhere.
I'm just wondering if this shim isn't needed for the swingaxle style and this is keeping the cap from making contact with the large oring.

Only other thing causing the leak would be the caliper bracket mounting area is thicker than the mounting area of the drum backing plate.

[smitty24]

I’m not sure if this will help. I’ve ran into a similar issue in the past with the AC Industries 5x130 kits. My issue is that due to sloppy machining and fit between the heavy duty steel mounting brackets and the bearing housing, my bearing wouldn’t ever fully torque up. No matter which bearing caps I tried, it would sit slightly loose and leak. In spite of what SoCal Imports tech said, my own solution came from measuring the thicknesses and determining how much slack I had. I ended up using a different year of bearing cap, and FLYWHEEL shims to take up the slight amount of play. No issue since.

Sounds dumb but I got the idea from looking at one of CB’s older disc conversions. They used a shim the same OD as flywheel shims to go in the same place and it is seen in their older directions under their tech section. It is NOT an oil slinger like what the drum brakes used. Your o ring may be seating incorrectly as well. I had absolute hell troubleshooting my kit and finding solutions to every issue. I would think the CB would be better but I think most manufacturers now use the same 2 companies for caliper,bracket, and rotor design. I hope some of this helps.

Bottom line is I myself had to use those metal shims or I had too much wheel play at the bearing. There simply isn’t enough adjustment to get the axle nuts torqued enough to tighten that bearing.

[Teeroy]

You need the shim to take place of the backing plates. I got a set late 1999 early 2000 for my 61 swing axle car and had a slight weap, seem to remember I having to put the capped style bearing caps on it to stop the weaping.
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[smitty24]

the heavy duty brackets in my kit took the place of the backing plates. I recall measuring the 2 parts against one another. The new brackets were actually thicker, which is why I had to use shims and different end caps. Another solution would have been to machine the brackets and caps. My stock backing plates compared to the new brackets were similar. I have the measurements written somewhere. This required shims of only about .020” or so. Not the thickness of a backing plate.

I would take the assembly apart and verify the shim/spacer is seated against the bearing as it is in CBs instructions. If when the cap is assembled correctly in order of parts for your year of car, and torqued...it shouldn’t have play or leak. Mine was obvious it was going to have issues as it did not seat tight against the bearing. I also sanded my end caps seating surface dead flat, then used some gasket sealant very thin.