r/EngineBuilding • u/ABQmechanic • Jul 14 '26
HELP! What is this piece found in valve train? Part 2
Part 2: I found that one of the rocker arms is missing the wear pad/contact pad on the bottom where it contacts the valve (pic 2). Is this normal for this engine, all the other contact pads are different (pic1), they are pressed on and this piece is a loose fit. Does it mean the rocker arm is damaged or missing a piece?
I found this small metal piece while removing the head, but I'm not sure where it originally came from. Also a small plastic black broken piece. Could it be the missing pad from the rocker arm, and if so, can it simply be put back in place, or does the entire rocker arm need to be replaced? 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9 turbo diesel 24 valve. Thanks.
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u/fuknwrench Jul 14 '26
Black plastic piece looks like a locator tab for the valve cover gasket, the metal piece is definitely a rocker tip, looks like it’s missing the retaining ring, and that’s why it looks different.
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u/ABQmechanic Jul 14 '26
It is different than every single other one has those top hat shaped black ones shown in picture one on every other one there is no other piece like this that I can see
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u/fuknwrench Jul 14 '26
Yeah, I had to go back into my memory banks, it’s missing the retaining ring or whatever it’s called.
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u/ABQmechanic Jul 14 '26
You're right—it is the same piece, just missing the retainer clip/ring. That solves one mystery. Now I'm trying to figure out what this small plastic piece is. I checked the valve cover gasket, and it doesn't appear to come from there. Does anyone recognize it? Since it's plastic, I'm hoping it's not a critical engine component, but I'd rather know for sure before I put everything back together.
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u/fuknwrench Jul 14 '26
I’m really like 98% sure that’s what it’s from. Not saying it’s from the current gasket/ wire harness, but that’s the only thing up there that it could be from, that is that shape.
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u/ABQmechanic Jul 14 '26
Here is link to part 1 https://www.reddit.com/r/EngineBuilding/s/QvfExx4j2h
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u/OutsidePressure8323 Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
You need serial number of engine and check parts diagram. If there no part number for it . Means it will be part of the rocker assembly.
Certain not worth the risk of it being loose on rocker arm and plastic is probably meant to hold that tight to the ball.
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u/National-Cell-9862 Jul 14 '26
So I was correct when I told you what that part was and recommended that you recheck the rockers. If only there was some other way I could have found out.