I just replaced my starter but it makes an ugly sound. i tried shims,still makes the sound

Did you replace the starter yourself or have a garage do it? It sounds like the starter gear is not aligned properly with the ring gear on the engine. Sometimes a 'shim' is needed to make them align. Compare the old starter with the new one to see they are exact or is if a shim fell off when removing the old.

Is it 4 cylinder? or 6? If it's 4, the starter is on the front bottom of motor, behind the radiator. A 6 cylinder is on the backside of the motor. Disconnect battery first...... There are only 2 bolts on the starter to take it off. There is a rubber cover over the selanoid wires. Move that back and undo the nut. Pull wires off. In the center is the bigger cable [ battery cable] . You then disconnect the nut for this, and take that wire off. Unbolt the 2 bolts on the starter and watch for shims. Sometimes starters are shimmed to make them line up with the fly wheel. Pull starter out. . If there were shims in the old starter, it is wise to use them in the new one too, and if it doesn't have shims, your new starter may still need them. Bolt the starter back in place, and reconnect the wires the same way you took them off. When you start it, if you hear the starter grinding or wailing, just not sounding right, that means you either have to take the shim out or put the shim in. Chances are this won't happen, but nice to be warned if it does.Hope this helps you out keep me informed how you make out or if you have any questions. Please rate my solution thanks

you need shims on the start. some of the older gm cars need shims when a new starter is installed

They do sell shims, usually they come with the starter, but you can buy them separately.

I have replaced many of those type starters, and almost never need to use the shim. If the original starter was also aking a grinding noise, you may have a flywheel problem. (not good) If he has not tried it without the shim, have him remove the shim and see what it sounds like. He will only have to remove the front bolt, and loosen the rear bolt to remove the shim. Good luck

inspect fly wheel good could have bad ring gear. check torque convertor bolts they are tigth. with starter bolted up NO SHIMS push out pinion gear and check clearance at flywheel teeth . you can use a feeler gauge (ROUND DIAMETER) measure clearance between top of flywheel ring gear tooth & bottom tooth of pinion tooth on starter clearance should be 0.01-0.06inchs. can ge shim in different gauges. DONT USE MORE THAN 2 SHIMS. some times you have to shim them but not often most of the time if use shims have a flywheel issue.

yes u need to get some shims make sure to get right bolt pattern Z or straight .....hope it helps

Your starter bendix is not kicking far enough to mesh with the ring gear, replace your starter and shim it is it take shims.

is this a screeching sound of it is then, you may need to adda shim between starter and the mounting surface. Double check all wiring to starter and make sure they are not broken especially wire to the bendix of the starter (starter selonoid). Get back top me if you need more help. Thanks for using FIX YA

Shims, are to space the starter drive gear away from the flywheel. The shim is inserted between the engine block, and the starter. The thicker the shim, the more the starter drive gear is further away from the flywheel.

Starter housings are machined from the factory, where they were made. No two housings come out the same, for the machined pad, where the starter bolts to the engine block.
The difference is minimal, granted, but thousandths of an inch count in this area.

It's generally a trial an error situation. This is why there are shim packs. Packs of shims with varying thicknesses.
Rule of Thumb, is generally that the starter drive gear, is 3/32nd's of an inch away from the flywheel.
If you hear a metallic grinding kind of sound, the starter is too close. A thicker shim is needed.

I suspect your problem is the starter drive itself. Definitely sounds like it from your description.
Granted, when bench testing the starter drive kicks out, but the roller clutch inside the Bendix drive is no good. (Starter drive)
Suggest you take the starter back, and get an exchange.

This rebuilt starter has a bad Bendix drive.