Mountain Biking - MTB bars in road stem?

Okay, so I've got a 25.4 MTB bar, but have found a couple of deals on road stems, intended for 25.8/26 bars. They all have removeable face plates. Does it need a shim to work or get it tight enough? Or can I get away with a discrepancy of 0.4-0.6mm?

Sorry if this is a dumb, over-asked question, but that's not a place I want equipment to fail.

In case it matters, it's for my MTB. Thanks in advance.

Doug

Yep, it'll work!

Why do you want to use a road stem, besides the bargain? This is one area I would not cut corners on or fudge. Believe me....I have a nice long ugly scar up the side of my left thigh as testament to what can happen. Jagged metal has a way of ripping open flesh. Another inch and I'd be singing soprano.

Check out Sheldons page

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/handsup.html

Well, it's a Ritchey WCS, and they have both road and MTB versions that are identical, save for the bar clamp diameter. I'm going to put one on my road bike already, and the stem on my MTB is getting long in the tooth.

Will probably just get the MTB version for my MTB. Found a couple of new or nearly new too-good-to-resist eBay deals that caught my eye.

Absolutely no big deal.......simply cut out a piece of aluminum soda can and use it as a shim.

Absolutely no big deal.......simply cut out a piece of aluminum soda can and use it as a shim.

beer cans work better.

well, they're more fun to procure, anyway.

beer cans work better.

well, they're more fun to procure, anyway.

Sorry, I only drink beer from bottles! :p

Sorry, I only drink beer from bottles! :p

Some beer is better from a can. Guinness for instance... Admittedly, pulled from the tap is best.