I put a new rotor in my distributor the other day and I was replacing the housing today and there was metal dust in the distributor. What is causing this and if I try to run with my new housing will it tear it up? Also, when I pulled the distributor it did not have any play in it.

 

Where was this dust? was it on the inside of the cap or down in the dist. on the body?
I am guessing it is from mechanical advance weights & springs and is somewhat normal.
What do others think?
Dave ----

 

It was on the bottom of the body on the inside.

 

What color was this dust? If its a darkish dust this is just carbon from the carbon coil button that contacts the raised brass contact on the rotor. Dust is normal inside a dist as you do have the coil button to rotor contact that will wear and cause dust.

But if we are talking large chunks of metal that is not normal

 

Silver very fine dust.

 

Hmmm fine silver dust, could be carbon could be metal wear inside the dist maybe bushings but I think thoses are brass on distributors or it could be just wear from the advance weights moving.

 

Should I worry about it?

 

There is a little black along with it.

 

You got to stop looking for issues that are not issues and just drive the truck and get miles on it.
If then something should show up then look into it deeper.
That is what I would do at this point.
Dave ----

 

Self destruction in 5,....4,...3,....
Just messin' with ya!
Follow what FuzzFace2 just said.....

 

Amen!

-Enjoy
fh : )_~