Does anyone know if just the Rocker Arm Pedestals are replaceable on the Rockers, and or have slight adjustments for wear on the 5.9L or 8.0L motor?


Thanks,
~Rustin~

 

Yes they are Mopar Part # 5304-1105 V10, 5300-8232 V8 5.9 rocker arm pivot, x1 kit for a v10. Note: part number may need updating.

 

I have a 2001 Ram 2500 V10 that broke the #1 intake pedestal a few months ago. The dealer charged me $821 to tap out the broken bolt, and use the wrong grade 5 bolt, it broke in a month. They wanted $3000 for a reman head. This is how I fixed it:

I drilled the broken pedestal oversized to accept a 3/8" heli-coil, threaded the heli-coil through the broken piece into the pedestal, drilled the pivot to 3/8" in a drill press (2hours), put a piece of 3/4" black iron pipe about 7/8" long over the broken piece and swedged it onto the pedestal. Used RED thread locker and a new grade eight 3/8" x1.5" bolt torqued to 20 lbs. Runs GREAT! I have 500 miles on this fix with no engine light.
This sounds unconventional, but my total cost in parts is $2....not $3000...I'll run it until it fails then replace the head. I found a reman V10 head in Dallas for $250 plus $50 shipping,comes with a return label for the core. Cylinder Heads International, Dallas TX

 

The best answer I got from two mechanics as to why these bolts break (very common). Mechanic A says clogged bypass on the oil pump causing over pressure in the hydraulic lifters and rockers.Mechanic B says a clogged passive crankcase vent doing basically the same thing. Check the PCV first, on a V10 its near the coil packs.

 

I don't see how a clogged PCV can cause a rocker to break...... a slight over-pressure in the crankcase/valve covers isn't going to make it harder to open valves, or, make it harder for anything to move...... Yeah, it will blow out gaskets and such, but, usually, valve cover gaskets are first to fail.

 

#5304-1105 is discontinued by Chrysler, I used #5300-8382 works fine on my V10 with 110,000 miles on the clock, I put every mile on my truck,bought it new in Nov 2000. It has a May 2000 build date, but is a 2001.

 

These two answers were offered by certified mechanics both with over 20 years. Personally, I'd hate to think the cast iron heads are defective in some way,but I see many posts re this problem. One guy drilled through the side of the pedestal and drove a pin through the pedestal and bolt...whatever floats your boat...

 

I am a certified mechanic with over 40 years experience.... still, I fail to see how the PCV system could break the valve train in any possible way........ but..... that may just be one of the "accepted" explanations, whether it has any basis in fact or not..... (seen that happen before too.)

Do folks break the same rocker/pedestal/stud on a regular basis? Or is it random as to which one gives up the ghost? Any particular years more prevalent for this? Or is it across the board?

In any event, 2 bucks most certainly beats the hell out of 3000 for a repair. You wouldn't happen to have some pics by chance, would you? We are all pic ****** here.

 

The clogged PCV idea addresses the hydraulic lifters acting like solids and applying more pressure on the rocker arms,vis a vie the bolts/pivots and pedestals...I don't have a really good solid answer just these two "best fit" offers by two old grizzled mechanics.

 

The PCV system has zero effect on the lifters. It has zero bearing on oil pressure in any way, shape, form, or manner. It is crankcase ventilation. It evacuates blowby gases from the cylinders back into the intake tract, and draws a slight vacuum on the crankcase. (helps ring seal.) That's it.

Oil pressure is produced by the oil pump, and is pretty much determined by how tight the tolerances still are in your engine. Even a clogged PCV system that prevents ANY evacuation at all, is still only going to see crankcase pressure go a few pounds above whatever barometric pressure is at the time, it will find places to escape. That few pounds of pressure difference is NOT going to have any effect on oil pressure whatsoever.