Resurfacing V8 Rocker Arm Pads

Posted by Joe Hall On 2007/6/2 20:05:41

With the minimal oil coming to the top end of the V8, wear down on the rocker pads is common, especially the rearward ones on the left bank and forward ones on the right bank. Many of them need to be resurfaced after as little as 50,000 miles. If not addressed, they will eventually wear into a "circle" that matches the end of the valve stem. Once this happens, the pad begins to catch and "wag" the valvestem sideways as it goes up and down; this will wear the valve guides out in short order.

THE FIX: disassemble the racks and resurface the rocker individually on a fine grit grinding wheel. Carefully rotate it back and forth against the wheel to follow the original curve of the surface, until all signs of wear are erased. Next, polish the surface on a wire wheel; repeat 15 times.

This fix works to repair even the worst of rockers, since the hydraulic lifters actually have about .200" of self adjustment, they will compensate for the removed material. Also, I am aware of surface hardening and going below it, but all I can say is this has always worked for me.

Joe H