If you've ever worked on the 5.9 L engine, you know what I mean about the "Tube" that's in front of the spark plugs.
I just bought my 1996 1500 Ram and had a need to change the plugs. I was not about to get my spark plug socket all the way down on one of the plugs. With a flashlight, I was able to see what looks like a crushed place in the tube that is keeping the socket from getting around the hex part of the plug.
Are these tubes removable?
I tugged on it a bit with a pair of pliers, but it didn't move and I was afraid of making it worse.

Thanks,

 

the 5.2 and 5.9 both have this "tube"... if u look on the outside of the tube can u see any crease or anything of that sort. I am honestly not sure if there would be a easy way to remove them maybe a little bit of finess and a cut off wheel cut down one side and try to put a socket on?

 

Grab them with a pair of pliers and wiggle them outa there. I would remove them all... all they do is hold dirt/debris inside them.

 

Yup, wiggle them out. Removed mine when I installed it.

 

Yea thats what i noticed on my New Jeep with the 5.9, i took one spark plug out to check the condition of it, and even tho i use a can of compressed air to clean the dirt around it first there was still alot of sand and stuff right there after i took the plug out..

I had to use the socket and wrench and put duct tape on it to get most of the sand out, some fell into the chamber nothing i could do about that cept start the engine and hope it all got blown out of the exhaust. Those little metal things are good for nothing but holding debris in... I havent figure out how to take mine out yet

 

+3 take them out. I had all mine out within 5 minutes. Just spray some PB blaster around the outer edge of them, then take some pliers, and spin them back and forth while pulling. Easy Sauce.

 

when i bought my truck with 163k miles on it, those tubes were there....the plugs were stock it took me two days to get them out and the spark plugs were another hell in themselves, mine were completely rusted and pretty much a part of the head, i took a pair of pliers and tried to wiggle them out, they broke at the base..... using needle nose pliers and a flat head screw driver i slowly but surely got them out of there....but it took a LONG time

as for everyone talking about debris in there, i couldnt get it all out, so i rigged a shop vac up and put it into the chamber which took care of all but one small rust flake i was never able to get out, but it got blown out upon engine run i was lucky enough to have a snap on camera to look into each cylinder though and make sure nothign got in there

 

I just dealt with those tubes when I changed my plugs in my '94 318. I blew out each one with shop air after taking each plug wire off and before removing plug. Not so bad. I'm thinking that their function is to act as a heat shield so the plug boots don't become brittle.

One of the best little tools I ever bought is one of those flexible spark plug "starters" that lets you get a plug into a tricky spot and then spin it in before you take a socket to it. Great thing to have, especially when working on Toyotas or other cars where the plugs go straight down into the top of the head.

 

Like everybody else said wiggle the **** outta them.

 

I have to totally disagree with everyone who is suggesting that the tubes be removed. The plug boots are right smack next to the exhaust manifolds, and those shields will definitely keep them in better shape.

Considering how infrequently plugs need to be replaced, and how critical their proper functioning is, I can't see removing those heat shields.