OEM 2005 Dodge Dakota Piston Ring Set

2005 Dodge Dakota Piston Ring Set Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Check and Install a Piston Ring Set on 2005 Dodge Dakota?

  A: A clean cylinder bore is required to check the ring clearance before you install old or new rings; make sure the ring's gap is recorded at a distance of at least 12mm (0.50 inch) from the bottom of the cylinder bore. Drop the ring down with a piston, then judge the ring end gap with a feeler gauge and exchange rings that don't meet the specifications. Clean and smooth the ring grooves, don't leave any nicks or burrs before you test the clearance, slide the feeler gauge snugly in place to measure and replace rings that don't meet the needed standards. Rotate the ring around the piston to check it glides properly and always place the No. 2 ring with the manufacturer's mark facing the top of the piston. Install in this sequence: oil ring expander, upper oil ring side rail (1), lower oil ring side rail, the intermediate No. 2 piston ring and finally the upper No. 1 piston ring. Place the oil ring expander first, then the upper side rail on one side, where the end fits between the piston ring groove and the expander ring. Press the side rail down into position. Repeat for the other side rail. With the piston ring installer, place the No. 2 intermediate and No. 1 upper piston rings into the piston grooves. Position the piston ring gaps so that the expander ring gap is a minimum of 45° away from the gaps in the side rail and avoid having them center on the piston pin or along the thrust line.