s14 ka24de completely stock engine timing guide broke? weird

[sskracing]

So i have a 1995 s14 with a completely stock ka24de in it (probably high mileage) that i daily drive. Just recently i started hearig a little non consistant tapping noise coming from the valve cover. Thinking it was the worn out timing chain/tensioners, i pulled the valve cover to take a peak. To my suprise the timing chain guide on the very top (in between the cam gears, above them) completely was broken in half, an the whole thing was resting on my timing chain, because it was broken by where the bolts bolt it down to the head..
I have no clue how something like this would happen but it doesnt even appear to be worn out badly or anything.
so my questions are,

how could this have happened?
is it ok to daily drive my car without it even there?

ive never really seen this happen, i expected the chan tensioners to be worn out or something, but not the steel bracket for the tensioner to be broken.
any advice or help is appreciated.

sabastian

[Cake Is Dope]

VERY common, you're not alone. Just unbolt the guide and discard it.

[sskracing]

My buddy just informed me of this. Thanks man.

[Pacman]

If its high mileage, remove the upper most and the left side upper timing chains. There is also an updated guides for these motors. Instead of the guides being all plastic, they are now metal backing with a plastic top were the chain runs. IF you can't find the piece that broke, PLEASE drop the pan and fish it out. At that point, pop the covers off and pop a new chain on it. I got mines from Partsgeek.com, a Cloyes unit, very nice with updated parts. I put it in my car when I rebuilt the engine and haven't had an issue. My original chain was stretched half a link on the upper chain at 18XK miles. Something to think about.