Do I Need Brake Shims?
 

Changing out my brake pads today. Just finished the fronts with Ferodo pads and the pads come with the shims just like the ones I am swapping out. Go to the rears and removed the old pads and they come with the shims just like the fronts. The problem is when I opened the box of the Mintex pads, they don't come with the shimss Just a naked set of pads. :confused: I can't reuse the old shims because they appear tightly glued. What would happen if I don't use the shims? Is it going to make noise or whatever?

You can remove the stuck on shims - I think one of mine was stuck and I used some fishing line (or maybe dental floss) in a sawing motion behind the shim to seperate it. After cleaning up, I used some silicon to re-attache the plates onto the new pads

Don't need them. Base model don't even come with them from the factory.

Alright. Just got back from having new shoes mounted and balanced. It's hassle with a 2 seater to have take the tires and wheels with me in another car. I am going to try them wihout the shims. Thanks fellows!

You don't need them

Thanks again to all! Installed then without the shims and they work fine. A lot better braking now and much smoother ride with new Potenza 760 Sport.

Ya my parts guy said they don't even bother now. Funny thing happened to me though, I put in my new Mintex pads and used some so called 'quality' brake anti-squeal from AdvanceAutoParts that drys to like a rubbery base and they squeaked like all you know what! I was going to just clean the stuff off and use the grease I always use but decide I didn't want to have to do this again. Figuring more surface area was probably better then just the small area from the pistons I took the old shims off the original pads put them in the pistons, loaded it up with anti-squeal grease and they work great...probably over kill and probably poorly used logic but I figured it would work and there were other projects I wanted to work on :). Of course too the shims aren't bounded to the pads either but what the heck.
Combining the new pads with Balo rotors the car stops so well and I just love the feel porsche uses on their brakes...I always hit my MB brakes too hard when switching cars.
Side note though, I got the Mintex cause I figure they are TMD brakes like all the others, but man they put off some nasty dust...I should have not been so cheap and just put Okebono on like I did on the MB and lived the dust free life.