Piston Rings

REMOVAL 

1. Remove the piston and connecting rod(s). Refer to ROD, PISTON AND CONNECTING, REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION  .
   CAUTION:

   To avoid damage to the piston rings, they must be removed in the following order:

   • No. 1 (upper) piston ring (1)
   • No. 2 (intermediate) piston ring (2)
   • Oil ring upper side rail (3)
   • Oil ring lower side rail (4)
   • Oil ring expander (5)

   Courtesy of CHRYSLER GROUP, LLC

   1 - Upper Piston Ring

   2 - Intermediate Piston Ring

   3 - Oil Ring Upper Side Rail

   4 - Oil Ring Lower Side Rail

   5 - Oil Ring Expander

2. Remove the No. 1 (upper) piston ring using a ring expander tool.

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   1 - Upper Piston Ring

   2 - Piston Ring ID Mark

3. Remove the No. 2 (intermediate) piston ring using a ring expander tool.
   NOTE:

   Do not use a piston ring expander to remove the oil ring side rails.

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   1 - Intermediate Piston Ring

   2 - Piston Ring ID Mark

4. Remove the oil ring upper side rail.

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   1 - Oil Ring Upper Side Rail

5. Remove the oil ring lower side rail.

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   1 - Oil Ring Lower Side Rail

6. Remove the oil ring expander.

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   1 - Oil Ring Expander

INSTALLATION 

1. If required, fit NEW  rings to the piston. Refer to PISTON RING FITTING  .
   CAUTION:

   To avoid damage to the piston rings, they must be installed in the following order:

   • Oil ring expander (5)
   • Oil ring lower side rail (4)
   • Oil ring upper side rail (3)
   • No. 2 (intermediate) piston ring (2)
   • No. 1 (upper) piston ring (1)
   NOTE:

   Do not use a piston ring expander to install the oil ring side rails.

   Courtesy of CHRYSLER GROUP, LLC

   1 - Upper Piston Ring

   2 - Intermediate Piston Ring

   3 - Oil Ring Upper Side Rail

   4 - Oil Ring Lower Side Rail

   5 - Oil Ring Expander

2. Install the oil ring expander.

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   1 - Oil Ring Expander

3. Install the oil ring lower side rail by placing one end between the piston ring groove and the oil ring expander. Hold this end firmly and press down the portion to be installed until the side rail is in position.

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   1 - Oil Ring Lower Side Rail

4. Install the oil ring upper side rail in the same manner as the lower side rail.
   NOTE:

   Install the No. 1 (upper) and No. 2 (intermediate) piston rings with the TOP  marking facing up, towards the top of the piston.

   NOTE:

   The No. 2 (intermediate) piston ring is a micro napier design and has a greater radial wall thickness than the No. 1 (upper) piston ring.

   Courtesy of CHRYSLER GROUP, LLC

   1 - Intermediate Piston Ring

   2 - Piston Ring ID Mark

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   1 - Oil Ring Upper Side Rail

5. Install the No. 2 (intermediate) piston ring with the TOP  marking facing up using a ring expander tool.

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   1 - Piston Ring ID Mark

6. Install the No. 1 (upper) piston ring with the TOP  marking facing up using a ring expander tool.

   Courtesy of CHRYSLER GROUP, LLC

   1 - Upper Piston Ring

   2 - Piston Ring ID Mark

7. Rotate the rings around the piston, the rings must rotate in the grooves with out binding.
8. Position the piston ring end gaps as follows:
   • Oil ring expander gap
   • Oil ring lower side rail end gap
   • Oil ring upper side rail end gap
   • No. 2 (intermediate) ring end gap
   • No. 1 (upper) ring end gap

   Courtesy of CHRYSLER GROUP, LLC

   1 - Oil ring upper side rail end gap

   2 - No. 1 (upper) ring end gap

   3 - Cross Mark Reference

   4 - Oil ring lower side rail end gap

   5 - Oil ring expander gap

   5 - No. 2 (intermediate) ring end gap

9. Install the piston and connecting rod(s). Refer to ROD, PISTON AND CONNECTING, REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION  .