Bad pushrods or Bad lifters? How can I know? | Ford Explorer Forums

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Bad pushrods or Bad lifters? How can I know?

Raulsk8

New Member
Joined
July 12, 2007
Messages
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City, State
Juarez
Year, Model & Trim Level
Stock 1996 XLT 4.0 OHV
Hello everyone,

I have a '96 4x4 with the classic ticking noise, I am a medium skilled mechanic oriented and I am really thinking about fixing this on my explorer, but in searching the forums (this one is the best by the way) I found that some members have confirmed that just by changing the pushrods and rocker arms their problem was fixed, but most say that the lifters are almost always the problem. I want to take off one of the head covers to check mine but I am now in doubt as to how can I know what the problem is before buying any unnecesary parts.... Can this ticking/tapping problem be determined by the gap/wear in the pushrod with the rocker arm? Or pulling the lifter out and look at it is the only way?

Also, do I have to take the entire head to remove the lifters? Or can this be done just by taking the head covers off?

I ask because to take the head off you also need to take the headers off, this seems a little scary for me, as I only have basic tools.

Any advise will help a lot. :thumbsup:
Thanks!!
 



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I'd bet that your hearing worn rocker arms and push rods. Those can be replaced without pulling the heads, and should be replaced together.
 






I took off my left side valve cover because I am having the same noise. The rocker arms AND the pushrods are worn. I put it back together, the noise was gone at start up, but reappeared after about 15 seconds, only now it is slightly worse. So, next week I will be looking at new push rods at least. You will find the push rods are solid and oil up through the rocker arm stands. Not really the best setup to me.
 






Will take a look at them tomorrow, taking of the head covers is easy enough. Thanks for the input, this has pumped me up to do it.

Thanks!
 






Let us know what you find out please. I'm thinking about grinding the rocker arm stands down a bit, just for a cheap, temporary fix. JUST THINKING ABOUT IT. This ought to stir up a bunch of comments. But it would be a cheap way to see if tightening the clearances would help. Thinking about .015 inch should do it. Don't know, just an idea. Money being tight, couldn't hurt anything. Also thinking about the EGR valve making noise, but the noise seems to be valve train related. Any one got any ideas?
 






Money being tight, couldn't hurt anything.

Sure, nothing ca be hurt....
Maybe will just seize in the guide and push the valve against the cylinder. Of course, your engine...
 






How can it sieze in the guide. I wouldn't be taking much off the rocker stand. However I got the stethescope out again, and I'm not sure, but I'm think more like a bad lifter. Funny thing is, the engine pulls between 21&22" vacuum at idle, smooth, no shaking, and vacuum reading is steady. So it can't be too bad. Just annoying noise.
 






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