I'm replacing all of the brake pads on my FD, and I've noticed that the inner shims are somewhat corroded. The pads I'm using were included with my car when I bought it in March, and they did not include new shims. I called around and it seems that the shims are not available without buying all new pads. Mazda wants almost $200 for the pads & shims for all 4 wheels. Napa is a lot cheaper but I am wary of using cheap Napa brake pads.

Is there a place where I can get the shims seperatly? Also, what pads should I be using for a car that sees mostly street duty with the occasional trip to the dragstrip and autoX? Thanks!

 

get the hawk street pads, the HPS. they actually have shims built in so you don't really need the seperate ones. i think they're like $90 for a set of HPS pads, from the 7 store.

 

tirerack sells the HPS for $40 per axle. Pegasusautoracing.com has them for $38.

Some dealers sell the shims separately I think. It's expensive though. HPS has the shims built in but you can still slide in 1 of the 2 original shims into the caliper.

 

On my rear pads I took my shims off. Couldn't get 'em in there with them on. No ill-effects thus far.
~Tom
PS- used Hawk HPS from pegasus

 

Keep the shims. They act as a thermal barrier between the pad and the caliper piston. Too much heat in the pad without the use of shims and you will boil your brake fluid and experience brake fade when the brakes are used hard. "No-ill effects thus far".... you haven't used you brakes hard enough. Trust me, there is a reason for the shims.
Regards,
Crispy

 

The FRONT shims are included in the Front Brake HARDWARE kit - Available from MAZDAFORMANCE, the REAR shims are not avaliable seperatly from MAZDA but Hawk HPS & HP+ rear Pads come w/ shims pre attached, if all else fails go get some SS shim stock and cut a set of you own - but DO NOT run without them!
PS on the rear it is most critical thet you use the sims between the pad & the PISTON on the outside pad it is not as critical so if you only have two usable sims put them on the inside.

 

Yeah, that's what I did. Took the ones off the outside rear pads. Once they wear down a bit i'll slip the shim back in there, but I couldn't get it in there for the life of me with both pads shimmed.
~Tom

 

The shims are there to supress noise, its basically there so theres no metal to metal contact which can cause brake noise. It doenst seem to affect fc and fds if you take the shims off, some cars make horrible noise without them. If you dont use the shims make sure you use some synthetic brake lube, we use the grey looking stuff at work. You should use it even if you use the shims. Dont use the brush on or spray on sticky stuff, they suck. By the way theres no problem with reusing the shim. Just clean it up a little. If the rear piston on the caliper is full retracted, it should clear the pads with the shim, by the way you guys know the the rear piston is suppose to be lined up with the little think on the back of the brake pad. You will know what i'm talking about if you look at the rear pad and the rear piston. I didn'g know this the first time i did a rear disc brake job and the pad wore out at a big angle and it make weird noises sometimes.

 

Look on Mazdaformance.com. The front shims are available separately for $20. The rears look like they only come with the pads. CarParts.com has the rear shims separately for less than $20: http://www.carparts.com/parts/sample...rtnum=NONE&dc=