Camshafts

The camshaft is the valve control for the engine and therefore determines the flow of intake and exhaust gases. The camshaft(s) is (are) driven by the timing belt or timing chain. Most modern engines have overhead camshafts which are mounted in the cylinder head. Some older and some American engines still work with a single underlying camshaft in which the valve is operated by push rods. The camshaft rotates, with the cams taking care of the valve operation and thus the opening of the valves. When the camshaft rotates further, the valve spring closes the valve. The sharpness and height of the cams determine the character of the engine. For example, so-called 'sharp' camshafts are used in performance engines.

Camshafts wear out or become defective due to lack of lubrication, and other factors. This can cause damage to the engine block, just as with other bearing parts. If there is damage to the contact surfaces of the camshaft, it is advisable to make a proper diagnosis to determine the cause.

When replacing the camshaft(s), the related parts such as tappets and tows must always be replaced as well. This is because these parts wear on each other. If you have any questions or would like advice, please contact our product specialists. They will be happy to assist you.

Camshaft adjuster

Camshaft adjusters, as the name suggests, are used to achieve camshaft adjustment for optimum performance and lower fuel consumption. Camshaft adjusters are mostly hydraulically driven and therefore run on the oil pressure of the engine block. Very recent engine blocks also use electromagnetic camshaft adjusters for even greater precision and efficiency. The time at which the valves open and close can be adjusted using the camshaft adjuster. As a result, optimum cylinder filling can be achieved at any engine speed and power demand (accelerator pedal position), resulting in an increase in efficiency. Camshaft adjusters are used on both the inlet and the outlet side.

Hydraulic camshaft adjusters may malfunction over time due to internal contamination in the engine block, usually due to excessively long intervals between engine oil changes. As a result, the camshafts may no longer have the full range, resulting in an engine failure light and reduced power combined with increased fuel consumption.

Camshaft lock

The camshafts are secured by means of a half-moon key so that the camshafts cannot rotate on the camshaft sprocket.

Camshaft set

Here you will find complete camshaft sets for your vehicle. Note that in all cases the tappets and/or tows must be replaced along with the camshafts. This is to prevent irregular wear on the new camshafts. Please refer to the factory specifications and/or the workshop manual.