1963 Trailing arm shim height differences?

[Richard G.]

Everyone;
I just arrived at the point I have to deal with re-installation the 1963 Trailing arm shims.
I found three different shim width differences? All seem to have the same design just different widths.
Not to be confused with thickness which we all expect to be different.
I had not noticed this before or have I read about any differences in width, only thickness.
Logically it might be a method for GM to identify shim thickness. However the shims are very rusty.
Because of the rust it might be difficult to determine if there is a difference.
I have owned the car since 1978 and I have never taken this apart before.
If it had been aligned is possible the shop used shims identical except for width?
Shims are pictured below. In the top picture one side of the shims have been lined up so the width difference is obvious.





Thanks
Rick

[Edward J.]

Re: 1963 Trailing arm shim height differences?

Rick, logic tells me these are likely original, since this style was a one year only, and then there were replaced sometime during the 63 production year, would not seem that anyone would make these as replacements from GM or after market, they would likely be the double hole style or the slide in type.