Support element for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, and method for production of support element

A hydraulic support element for lash compensation of a valve train of an internal combustion engine, comprising a hollow cylindrical housing that is installable with an outer lateral surface thereof in a receptacle hole of a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine and that holds, in a radially inner axial hole thereof, a piston that is displaceable coaxial to a longitudinal center axis, the piston includes an essentially hollow cylindrical pressure part and a pot-shaped work part connecting axially to said pressure part, at least one axial end-side head of the pressure part projects past a housing edge and is used as a support for a cam follower, an inner space of the pressure part and also an inner space of the work part form a storage space for a hydraulic medium, a high pressure space for the hydraulic medium defined by a base of the pot-shaped work part and the hole of the housing, a non-return valve hydraulically connects the storage space and the high pressure space, the non-return valve (66) includes a ball for automatic lash compensation of the valve train, a compression spring is located between the base of the pot-shaped work part of the piston and a housing base to support the piston, and a retaining ring is arranged radially between the pressure part of the piston and the housing, said retaining ring limits an axial travel of the piston, an axially oriented ball guide is located on the base of the piston, the ball is displaceably held in the base of the work part in the axially oriented ball guide for displacement in the axial direction, the ball guide has a storage space side first ball seat and a high pressure space side second ball seat, and the two ball seats are formed with the base of the work part of the piston.