I wasn't sure what to expect when I ordered these. So many words in the listing, words like 'shim' and 'Caliper'...some numbers too. As if to whet the appetite further, all this topped-off with a cryptic picture of something that looks like the Olympics gone bad. What was I ordering? What would it be like to own 'washers'?
I didn't have to wait long, the much anticipated envelope arriving at my office within what felt like weeks, but was in fact just a couple of days. Upon opening the carefully sealed packaging, my first thought was it was not to be. It's bloody empty! I calmed myself. "Too hasty - look properly". There down at the bottom of the jiffy bag, just withing fingers reach, were the things!
A moment later they were out, shifting in my palm, leaving me mesmerised. What I was I to do with them? Might bike Gods, send me a sign! I turned slowly, a glint of light reflected from my trusty rig, iluminating the brake calipers, teasing the corner of my vision. THE CALIPERS!!! That was it! I reached quickly for an allen key. Almost dizzy with excitement I whipped of the caliper. Now what ...come on, come on, think man! Holes! The 'washers' had holes! A slid one deftly into the gap between the caliper and the bike, my mind racing as recall flowed fast now. This was a shim, I was 'shimming' the caliper!
Thanks to these fine washer things, I now have the correct spacing on my brakes. My bike doesn't squeal like a teenager at One Direction concert when I brake and by God I have 'shimmed'.