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  3. Advanced Materials
  4. Friction Shims

3M Friction Shimsfor OEM & Tier

Person holding a 3M™ Friction Shim
Secure critical joints in your chassis and powertrain designs

Boost performance, reliability and design freedom in one package. 3M™ Friction Shims make it possible.

Message a 3M Expert

A simple, powerful solution for automotive design

3M™ Friction Shims feature nickel-coated steel substrates with partially embedded diamond particles. When placed between two mating surfaces and applied with pressure, the diamonds “bite” into each surface to create a microform fit. 3M™ Friction Shims can enhance the coefficient of static friction by up to a factor of 5 for improved performance and reliability at peak loads. That means stronger joints – and expanded possibilities in automotive design.

  • 3M Friction Shims in automotive brochure
    Download the brochure: 3M Friction Shims in automotive (PDF, 621 KB)

    3M™ Friction Shims are available in various sizes and grades. Our expert engineers will help you determine the ideal specifications for your automotive applications.

  • Person applying a 3M™ Friction Shim
    300M 3M Friction Shims made and sold: read about the major milestone

    300 million 3M™ Friction Shims have been produced and sold worldwide without a single known field failure.

Benefits at a glance.

3M Friction Shims can help you:

< PREVIOUS VIDEO NEXT VIDEO >

  • Secure critical joints icon of a shield with a checkmark in the middle
    Secure critical joints

    Maximize the coefficient of static friction in bolted connections. Preserve and strengthen joints in e-coated chassis, battery mounts, suspensions and other areas. Manage shear forces from large and heavy EV batteries. Boost torque transfer to help powertrains handle the high torque of powerful electrified engines.

  • Optimize design icon of line manipulation
    Optimize design

    Handle higher force loads without changing parts or component sizes. Strengthen connections with dissimilar mating surfaces such as aluminum, e-coated (cathodic-dip-coated), painted and composite-material surfaces. Standardize designs across different model types. Unlock new designs such as skateboard platforms (in EV chassis) and pancake motors (in eMotor applications).

  • Manage weight icon of a feather
    Manage weight

    Downsize components by using smaller bolts and fasteners to achieve the same or better results. Increase power density in small engines and make optimal use of small packaging spaces. Reduce weight and extend battery range in electric and hybrid vehicles.

  • Manage NVH icon of a sound wave
    Manage NVH

    Secure and stabilize the chassis by dampening micromovements in bolted joints. Enhance passenger comfort and experience.

3M Friction Shims for automotive applications

Ultra-thin, compact, reproducible, extensively tested in house, 3M Friction Shims are highly customizable to your precise design requirements.

< PREVIOUS VIDEO NEXT VIDEO >

  • Unsupported raw type - [.srt]

    Chassis and axels video
    Chassis and Axles

    Control movement in bolted connections and manage high force loads. Various grades of 3M™ Friction Shims help strengthen joints and bear the weight of large and sophisticated components even when designs use dissimilar mating surfaces.

  • 3M Friction Shims ShearForce Overviewl.6126057960001 Upbeat music plays as an image shows a sedan cruising down a desert highway. Text appears on a banner running along the bottom of the screen. ON SCREEN TEXT: 3M� Friction Shims Shear Force in Chassis Applications A businessman unplugs the charging cord connected to his car. MAN: With the movement toward electrification and hybrids, vehicles' bolted joints have to endure higher stress loads. Electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles inherently have increased vehicle weights, leading to high shear loads on bolted connections. An animated shim takes its place between two pieces of wood, which is then secured together by a nut and screw. Arrows stretching outward read �shear force� as they run across the edge of the wood. The metal frame of the underside of a car appears beside text. ON SCREEN TEXT: 3M friction shims protect against shear force in chassis mounting applications. MAN: 3M Friction Shims protect against shear force in chassis mounting applications. They prevent bolts from loosening and reduce the risk of bolted joint failure, while mitigating micromovements that cause noise issues. Cars ride down streets as text fades in. ON SCREEN TEXT: Reduce the risk of bolted joint failure ON SCREEN TEXT: Helps mitigate micro-movements and noise issues The bolted shim frees itself, taking its place beside text. ON SCREEN TEXT: Rely on 3M� Friction Shims for shear force protection. MAN: Rely on 3M Friction Shims for shear force protection. A logo slowly takes shape over a black background. ON SCREEN TEXT: 3M Science. Applied to Life.�

    EV chassis
    EV Chassis

    EV batteries are heavy. Battery fixation systems must handle higher shear forces. 3M™ Friction Shims can enhance the coefficient of static friction by up to 5× for each bolted joint. Engineers can stabilize battery affixation without redesigns, use fewer, smaller and lighter fasteners and even downsize components.

  • eMotor
    eMotor

    Maximize torque transfer in ePowertrain applications. Harness the full power of your eMotor. 3M™ Friction Shims can enhance friction coefficients in torsional joints by up to 5×, helping ePowertrains handle the high torque of powerful electrified engines. Moreover, engineers may reduce the size of emotors while maintaining or increasing power density.

  • 3M Friction Shims Torque-Force Overview.6126056808001 Upbeat music plays as a sleek, silver sedan zips through a tunnel. Text appears on a banner running across the bottom of the screen. ON SCREEN TEXT: 3M� Friction Shims Torque Increase An animated gear with a blue shim spins on a white background. Text appears alongside it. ON SCREEN TEXT: Modern engines endure increasing forces and torques in their components and bolted connections. MAN: Because of a trend towards engine downsizing, modern engines endure increasing forces and torques in their components and bolted connections. A bolted joint secures rotating components in the power train. With the addition of a friction shim, that joint can transmit up to three to five times higher torque loads, leading to improved power density. The gear rotates, and joins another gear and shim on a turning, mechanical joint. Text appears inside a blue circle. ON SCREEN TEXT: 3-5X Higher torque loads A glowing tachometer�s reading rises as text fades in. ON SCREEN TEXT: Torque Increase Increase coefficient of static friction to transmit higher torque. MAN: 3M Friction Shims increase the engine's power and torque but not the component's weight or size. When designed into the component, the overall weight and size may even be reduced without a negative effect on performance. A red car speeds down a freeway. Text appears on its smooth surface. ON SCREEN TEXT: Performance Overall weight and size may even be reduced without a negative effect on performance. A logo slowly takes shape over a black background. ON SCREEN TEXT: 3M Science. Applied to life.�

    Internal combustion engine
    Internal combustion engine

    Boost power in ICE and hybrid vehicles. 3M™ Friction Shims offer up to a 5× increase in torque transfer, helping engineers design more powerful and efficient ICE engines. They can also reduce the number and size of certain components such as gearboxes or incorporate new components such a pancake motors.

Resources

< PREVIOUS VIDEO NEXT VIDEO >

  • 3M™ Friction Shims for EV Battery Fixation whitepaper
    3M™ Friction Shims for EV Battery Fixation white paper (PDF, 496 KB)

    This study demonstrates how 3M™ Friction Shims can enhance overall fixation performance and may allow OEMs to use fewer and possibly standardized fasteners.

  • Boost grip capacity and downsize bolts with 3M™ Friction Shims whitepaper
    Boost grip capacity and downsize bolts with 3M™ Friction Shims white paper (PDF, 1,483 KB)

    This study illustrates modeled force (kN) at slippage for various bolts in an automotive chassis. Slippage point is defined as displacement of 0.02 mm or greater.

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