Axxis Metal Master pads- no shims needed?

[doug]

I ordered some new brake pads the other day-- Axxis Metal Masters. The guy at the shop told me that when I install them, I don't need to use the little metal shims on side that the brake piston pushes into. What's the deal with that? Is that true?

 

[Defiant]

That deal is parts-man auto-rectal cranial inversion. Common ailment, you'll be fine if you remove your hearing aid while his lips are moving, it's transmitted through the air to the aural canal.
Your brakes will work fine without the shims, and if you have a good enough stereo and like lots of guitar noises like in the _real_ version of Layla (not the little wispy h*m* version) turned up reeeeeely loud (as Eric and God intended), you won't know the difference. However, first time you turn down the racket, you might think you have a polecat wrapped around a halfshaft for the godawful shrieking you may hear.
For street driving in the manner of a h0mo sapien who no longer dwells in the trees, re-install _all_ clips, shims, ballast and goos. They're in there to keep the pads quiet. If you can, it's good to get new ones, but no one ever does. Ever. Look at the layer of dust on the packages of new ones for proof.