Q: How to Replace a Piston and Its Connecting Rod on 2008 Dodge Ram 3500?
A: It's important to first remove the negative cable from the battery to prevent damaging the cylinder. Then take out the oil pan and gasket/windage tray, next the cylinder head covers, the timing chain cover and the cylinder head(s). If it helps, use a good ridge reamer to clear the top of the cylinder bores before taking out the pistons, covering their tops during the process. Centering each connecting rod is done by spinning the crankshaft and viewing if each is positioned at the center of its bore hole. You should never mark the rods or caps with a number stamp to prevent any harm to them. Write or scratch on the sides of the connecting rods and bearing caps using an ink marker or scribe tool, trying not to harm the separated rod and cap joint surfaces or the crankshaft journals. Take off the cap of the connecting rod and place Connecting Rod Guides 8507 on the connecting rod being removed, afterward remove the piston from the cylinder bore for all of the cylinders. As soon as the piston and connecting rod are removed, insert the bearing cap onto the mating connecting rod to stop damage to the broken cap and rod and cautiously take out the piston rings.