How to spot 1 (or more) out of 20 cam followers faulty?

[Martynf]

Now I am a bit baffled.....

I KNOW I have 'some' failing camshaft followers, but I can't tell which ones are lame?? it aint that obvious!!

Car from cold is nice n quiet, drive her for 10-15 minutes and my lord, it sounds terrible!! I'm embarrassed to drive her!!

I've got her stripped right now, if I turn the crank by hand so the cam lobes are vertical, then using a blunt rigid plastic probe I try to push down on each follower in turn, I cannot spot any 'lame' followers!! every follower feels solid to me!! I cannot push any of the 20 followers down, not by one 0.0001 mm!! they are all solid.

I'm sure I dont HAVE to remove the cams to check the followers (as with the lobes vertical they don't touch the followers) , but it looks like I will have too to be completely sure..

Anyone any comments?

Removing the cams and having to reset everything afterwards is not something I want to do unless I have to!!

Ideas?? any BTDT's??
Cheers!

[Mark Halligan]

Ideas?? any BTDT's??
Cheers!

Martyn, yep I changed all twenty of them .

Sorry mate, I couldn't resist that .

Cheers,

Mark.

[sal_s2]

Martyn, yep I changed all twenty of them .

Sorry mate, I couldn't resist that .

Cheers,

Mark.

So did I

[Martynf]

Why thanks guys, I knew I could depend on your professional opinions

[Beetie]

To be honest as a mechie and all that, i'd change all 20 as well, just to be on the safe side, and make sure the jobs done proper....
Im sure u can afford all 20 now ive got my credit card out....

[audiman]

Just change all 20 you tight git. If you gonna do a job, make sure you do it the right way!!!

[Beetie]

Just change all 20 you tight git. If you gonna do a job, make sure you do it the right way!!!

Aint that true!

[Graham]

I changed all 20 even though 2 were giving me problems, its the expensive way i know but it saves pulling her apart again in 3 weeks time when another one decides to go on a wobbler.
Graham

[Vagsport]

Change ALL 20 of them AND put the old ones in the bin! That way you don't get tempted to used them again

Siena

[Doug_RS2]

I never changed mine and it doesn't tick. It did tick with the oil level a bit low and after a thrash - I just keep the oil on the top level and use a decent thick oil - maybe you should try something differnet to the synta silver Martyn?

[audiman]

Im not gonna be changing mine, they do also tick after trackdays etc and after a good rant.

[S2central.net]

Martyn - I would try her with Castrol-R 10w/60 then see how that sounds. Perhaps a quick dose of engine flush before hand will help rid old oil, but I understand your concerns if you don't believe in engine flush.

Gotta agree with the conventional wisdom on changing them though - all or nuthin'


Paul

[Martynf]

shoot, the funds for the mods are getting smaller by the second