A method of manufacturing a sliding camshaft for an internal combustion engine includes providing the sliding camshaft from a steel alloy having a carbon content between 0.25% and 0.60%. The sliding camshaft is then processed with a carbon infusing heat treatment process, such as carburization or carbonitriding. After the sliding camshaft has been processed with the carbon infusing heat treatment process, the sliding camshaft is then processed with a quenching heat treatment process, such as a mar-quenching heat treatment process.