I have a 1999 Honda Civic EX manual SOHC.

I need to reduce the air gap on the a/c compressor clutch so I took the clutch off and there was only one shim.

Evidently I need to buy another thinner shim but can't find a source for multiple sized shims.

The Honda Dealer only sells them as a single item but I don't know how thick my shim is so I can't tell which one to buy.

I tried removing the shim but then there was no air gap.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Take the clutch plate off and carefully grind some off of the back of it's hub (the part that touches the shim). That should make it work with your single thick shim in place. "No air gap" is OK as long as it doesn't drag when disengaged.

 

Thank you.

Doesn't the air gap provide cooling to the compressor?

 

Also I would hate to grind off too much since the shim I have is really thin. The recommended gap is 0.014-0.026 inches.

I think I will buy the smallest shim available from the Honda dealer and go from there.