OEM 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Timing Chain

2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Timing Chain Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Remove and Replace a Timing Chain on 2008 Dodge Ram 1500?

  A: Gently push the secondary chain tensioner piston until the piston step is aligned with the tensioner body and then loosen the ratchet pawl and move the ratchet plate away from the body about 2 mm. Put tensioner pin 8514 into the tensioner hole and gently open the vise to make the piston spring force push against the lock pin. Put the primary tensioner over the oil pump, secure bolts tight in the lower two holes in the bracket and tighten them with 28 Nm of torque. Attach the right side chain tensioner arm with a Torx bolt, tightened to 28 Nm and afterwards use their Torx bolts to attach the left side chain guide and left side chain tensioner arm, all to 28 Nm. After this, place the side chain guide and tighten the bolts to 28 Nm. Screw the two chains onto the idler sprocket so two plated links are visible through the bottom; afterward, place the Secondary Camshaft Chain Holder 8429, securing the chains. Center the links of the primary chain so that the double plated ones rest on the timing mark at 12 and the single plated one sits on the timing mark at 6. Add clean engine oil to the idler shaft and bushings and put in all the chains as well as the crankshaft and idler sprockets at the same time, passing them through the appropriate openings in the block and cylinder head using an elastic strap to secure their tension. Put the timing mark on the idler sprocket together with the one on the counterbalance shaft gear, fully seat the idler sprocket, apply oil to the washer and tighten the retaining bolt to 34 Nm. Just enough to move the camshafts, adjust the left sprocket dot with the "L" next to it and the right sprocket dot to the chain's two plated links. Make certain to remove any lingering oil on the camshaft bolts and, once you attach both sprockets to the camshafts, refrain from tightening the bolts. Check that every plated link lies exactly on the sprocket's marks and the "V6" stays at the 12 o'clock position on the camshaft sprocket to confirm the left secondary chain tensioner block assembly is in position. Make sure both tensioners are connected and tight the bolts to 28 Nm, then take out all 3 locking pins from the tensioners to release any pressure-don't crank the tensioner arms by hand. Place Spanner Wrench 6958 onto Adaptor Pins 8346 and torque the camshaft sprocket bolts on both sides to 122 Nm. Let the engine run forward for two full revolutions and examine that the timing marks are set accurately. Apply engine oil to all chains, check that the idler gear end play is less than 0.25 mm and replace the idler gear if it is outside the range. Fit the timing chain cover and the crankshaft damper, after which install the cylinder head covers while coating the threaded plug in the relevant cylinder head with Mopar Thread Sealant with Teflon and tightening it to 81 Nm. Put in the oil fill housing, insert the left-cylinder head access plug and the power steering pump. After that, put fluid in the cooling system and then attach the negative cable to the battery.