OEM Vehicle Camshafts, Lifters, & Parts

Your camshaft are important parts when it comes to keeping your engine running right. They consist of two parts: a cam, or lobe, and a shaft. Put simply, they activate the engine cylinders' intake and exhaust valves.

How Camshafts Work

The camshaft is located inside the cylinder head. A single overhead cam engine has one cam per bank, with the cam placed between the valve stems. Dual overhead cam engines have two cams for each bank, and they're located directly over the valve stems. In this set-up, one cam serves the intake valves while the other serves the exhaust valves.

When the shaft part of a camshaft rotates, the cams push the valves open in sync with the crankshaft gears. That happens thanks to the timing belt, which connects the camshafts to the crankshaft. Of course, newer models may have a more durable timing chain that serves the same purpose, instead of a timing belt.

Camshafts are usually made of steel. Most are produced from cast steel blanks, though high-performance or custom camshafts can be produced from a solid block of steel. Since they're made of steel, camshafts are typically more durable than other engine parts. However, they can still go bad.

How to Detect Bad Camshafts

Causes and signs of failing camshafts include:

Genuine OEM Camshafts Perform Best

In order to keep your engine healthy and running its best, inspect your engine carefully if you notice any of these symptoms. If your camshafts need to be replaced, choose new ones made by your manufacturer. They are, after all, the only ones that are guaranteed to be compatible with your model and the engine powering it. Our online auto parts store has everything you need for the job. Buy now and we'll get your order shipped right out!