Rep Power: 266

What is the purpose of the outer pad shim on the outside brake pad? This seems quite un-necessary and I'm thinking they are adding it just so there's another part you have to buy. It seems that if you remove the shim then the caliper has a gap, thus it wont be a good idea to take it out. BUT, it should have been designed without the shim in the first place. No?

 
Rep Power: 310

the shim cant cost more than a dollar, just throw a freakin dollar down and get them, otherwise you can re-use the old ones if you really want.

 
Rep Power: 424

Its there to keep the pad backing straight and to keep the pad centered in the clips (hence the tangs on the shim), not to mention its another heat barrier between the caliper and the pad backing.
They can't be more than a couple bucks each and theres no reason not to reuse them.

 
Rep Power: 328

Shims are there to help reduce brake noise by isolating the vibrations

 
Rep Power: 282

he's got it right. the shims are used to eliminate noise and vibration (altho at work i dont put them in cause it takes extra time to stick em to the brake pads, and they get annoying) by the way, dont take your cars to pep boys