<p>A camshaft assembly comprises a metal camshaft 8 having a cam piece 2 constructed of a ceramic material, a cam follower 4 and a cam journal piece 9, the surface roughness Ra of this cam piece not exceeding 0.1 mu m, and the Vickers hardness of this cam piece being not less than 1000 kg /mm<2>. The ceramic material of the cam piece 2 also preferably has a modulus of longitudinal elasticity of not less than 25000 kg /mm<2>. The camshaft assembly permits reduction of kinetic losses by reducing frictional losses due to sliding. <IMAGE></p>
