rear axle shim kit obsolete...:-(

[73Manta72gt]

I ordered some parts from OGTS today to rebuild my axle. It looks like the shim kit 7031 is no longer available from Opel..has anyone found an alternate source for shims?...OGTS found enough lose ones for my axle, but the next guy will be out of luck.

H

[jeff denton]

I found that shims out of the junk drawer can be fitted. For the shims under the carrier bearing cone I found that it was best to leave them out and shim the race against the housing like it was a GM ten-bolt. The shims I used there probably were GM ten bolt items, they were in the junk drawer along with lots of shims from God only knows what all... Most major shops have a collection such as mine, I'm sure.
This shimming procedure sure simplifies getting preload and backlash right!
The Opel way is dumb, I think.

[BQS4]

I have a small pile of actual Opel shims, if interested, PM me.
Gene

[73Manta72gt]

Thanks for the offer I should enough for my axle. I just wanted to get the word out that the shims might be hard to get in the future without looking for non-Opel parts.

[GTJIM]

The early Vegas have a 6 1/2" GM diff as do Isuzu Impulses and other rear drive "Opel-Isuzus". Think the Firenza has the same size too. Any Import shop should have diff shims of similar sizes - even front drive cars use them!