Sliding Dropouts Slipping?

Update: Jeff L. at 3M got back to me, and they offered to send some M8 samples! As an engineer, I get unreasonably excited over these small things.

Some notable info:

  • Shims are a .1mm thick carbon steel sheet with a ceramic coating process, bringing the thickness to .13-.23mm
  • Available in 25, 35, 55 grade, which refers to the surface roughness. It is suggested that the surface roughness of the shim and the part match
  • Shims are reusable
  • Shims can handle salty/wet environments
  • Shims maintain performance after getting oily



I’m purposefully keeping the cost off the public record. All I will say is that the cost is on the same order of magnitude as the existing components.

Data Sheet:
15343 3M Friction Shims Technical Data Sheet 9800421 Rev G.pdf (2.3 MB)