Thanks in advance, guys.

I have a 25.4mm center Nitto Olympiad handlebar and a newer Nitto Technomic 26.0mm clamp diameter quill stem.

My vast internet research tells me that a single thickness of an aluminum soda can will be 0.3mm, so a full wrap with a piece taken from a can will give me the right thickness.

I've seen the shims available on eBay and elsewhere, but would like to save the $10-15 and DIY it. So, here's my question:

How do I manipulate the rolled piece of aluminum as I slide in the bar? Is there some method, or should I just attempt to hold it taut while wiggling in the bar?

Phil

Take the clamping bolt completely out of the stem and prop the stem open with a screwdriver or something. Slide the handlebar in past the curves. Wrap the shim around the center portion of the handlebar and it should slide right in.

Thanks, RG. Sounds straightforward...

Also, don't be surprised if the bar/stem interface is noisy. "Sleeved" handlebars, which you are creating with your shim, are notoriously creak-prone.

Buy the correct shim or bars and do the job correctly.......

A shim is a shim, whether commercial or home made. As long as it's the correct thickness, you are fine. As to buying the correct diameter bars (or stem), yep, that is good advice.

I have 25.4 bars and a 25.4 stem and it's still creaky.

I'm going to attempt the shim, just to learn the do's and don't's, and observe the result. I'm also reconciled to having to buy new bars, too. Thanks for the feedback, all.

Nitto makes a 2 piece sand blasted stainless steel shim for just that task,
putting a 1"/25.4 bar, into a 26.0mm stem.

stocked by QBP and many other distributors to bike shops.

If your going to the expense of buying Nitto in the first place, you really can afford to buy one of their shims.