EMPI Pulley Shims for Billet Alternator / Generator Pulleys | Air-Cooled VW | Set of 5 (16-9709-0)

EMPI Pulley Shims for Billet Alternator / Generator Pulleys — Set of 5 (16-9709-0)

A set of five replacement shims for EMPI billet aluminum alternator and generator pulleys. On an air-cooled VW, these small spacers are what actually sets your fan belt tension — and they are the part that gets lost on the shop floor, left in the old pulley, or worn thin after years of belt changes. Keep a set in the toolbox.

The VW alternator/generator pulley is a two-piece design: the belt runs in the V between an inner and outer half, and the shims stack between those halves. Add shims and the halves sit farther apart, so the belt rides deeper in the groove and slackens. Remove shims and the halves close up, the belt rides higher, and tension increases. That is the entire adjustment — there is no tensioner on these engines. Leftover shims go on outside the outer half, under the nut, so they stay with the car for the next belt.

Fits These EMPI Billet Pulleys

• 16-9706-0: Billet Alternator / Generator Pulley Kit — Black Anodized
• 16-9707-0: Billet Alternator / Generator Pulley Kit — Polished
• 18-1080-0: Billet Alternator Pulley — Blue Anodized
• 18-1081-0: Billet Alternator Pulley — Red Anodized

Important: These are machined specifically for EMPI billet pulleys. They are not the correct shim for a stock stamped-steel VW pulley — the inside diameter and thickness differ.

Vehicle Fitment

• VW Beetle & Super Beetle: All years, wherever an EMPI billet pulley is fitted
• VW Karmann Ghia: All years
• VW Bus / Transporter (Type 2): All years, Type 1 upright engine
• VW Thing (Type 181) & Type 3: All years
• Dune buggy, Baja, sandrail & kit car: Any Type 1-based build running an EMPI billet pulley

Key Features & Benefits

• Five per set: Enough range to dial in belt tension on a fresh install and still have spares stored under the nut.
• Correct for billet pulleys: Machined to the EMPI billet pulley bore and face — no slop, no hanging up on the shaft.
• Restores proper tension: A belt that squeals, walks, or slips is usually a shim problem, not a belt problem.
• Cheap insurance: Missing shims mean either an over-tight belt chewing the alternator bearing, or a slipping belt that undercharges and overheats the engine.

Technical Specifications

• Part Number: 16-9709-0
• Manufacturer: EMPI
• Sold As: Set of 5 shims
• Compatibility: EMPI billet pulleys 16-9706-0, 16-9707-0, 18-1080-0, 18-1081-0 only
• UPC: 707924354829

Installation Tips

• Set tension by feel, not by spec: A correctly tensioned VW fan belt deflects roughly half an inch under firm thumb pressure at the midpoint of its longest run.
• Too loose? Remove a shim. Too tight? Add one. Change one shim at a time and re-check.
• Park the spares under the nut: Stack unused shims outside the outer pulley half before the washer and nut, so they travel with the car and are there for the next belt.
• Don't over-tighten to fix slip: An over-tight belt kills the alternator front bearing. If the belt still slips with all shims out, the belt is worn or the wrong length.
• Re-check after the first heat cycle: A new belt seats and stretches. Verify tension after the first good drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many shims come in the set? Five. Part number 16-9709-0, UPC 707924354829.
• Which pulleys do these fit? EMPI billet alternator/generator pulleys only — 16-9706-0 (black), 16-9707-0 (polished), 18-1080-0 (blue) and 18-1081-0 (red).
• Will these work on my stock VW pulley? No. These are machined for EMPI billet pulleys. Stock stamped-steel pulleys use a different shim.
• What do the shims actually do? They set fan belt tension. Stacking more shims between the pulley halves lets the belt ride deeper and loosens it; removing shims tightens it. There is no belt tensioner on an air-cooled VW.
• Where do the leftover shims go? Outside the outer pulley half, under the washer and nut, so they stay with the car for the next belt change.
• Do I need the nut and washer too? Not usually — but if yours are galled or deformed, EMPI 16-9708-0 is the matching nut and washer set for these pulleys.
• Is this a genuine EMPI part? Yes — Washburn's Metal is an authorized EMPI dealer, so this is a new genuine EMPI part, not a copy.

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. All parts legal for use on pre-pollution controlled vehicles only.

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