To answer your question about a shim on both sides, I really like to do that and try to start with a .015 shim on the pedestal side whenever I can
My head tells me there is plenty of oil there to run alum against alum, but my gut tells me that those similar soft metals can gall. No proof of one ever having issues, and I have run no shim on the pedestal side when I had to, I have also switched parts around to get room, and have clearanced a pedestal slightly to make room for a shim. In the end, none of it seems to matter, but alum against alum is what I try to avoid as a general rule.