Replacing starter....questions

[Malamute]

I've searched and haven't found the specific info I need.

First of all over the last few weeks the starter labored more and more when starting my truck. Finally it just got to the point it made a grinding sound and then just quit. Don't think it's the solenoid and the battery is new.

I pulled the starter tonight(what a PITA that was with the headers next to it). I had to drop the starter first to even get to the point I could remove the wires and in doing so the connector came off of the wire on the R post. I can strip the wire and get the connector back on, that shouldn't be a problem.

I'm going to get the starter checked in the next few days, if it's bad I think I'm going to replace it with a smaller high torque starter. #1, is the wiring the same for these and #2, will it need to have the shims placed the same as the starter I'm replacing?

I know, long winded but I ran into a few problems I didn't plan on. Thanks.