Proper Rod Bearing Installation

The rod bearings fit between the piston connecting rod and connecting rod caps and ride on the crankshaft journal of your engine. These bearings, or inserts, allow engine oil lubrication to protect the crankshaft journals and piston connecting rods from premature wear and damage. Over time, however, the rod bearings themselves wear out, lowering oil pressure. As part of your engine overhaul, you can install new rod bearings and help increase the life of your engine.

Instructions

1

Secure the engine to an engine stand or workbench to keep it from moving as you install the bearings on the rods.

2

Wipe the back side of the new upper bearing half clean with a clean lint-free towel and install it by hand on the connecting rod of the piston you want to work on first. When properly installed, the tab on the new bearing should rest inside the recess of the connecting rod.

3

Install the piston rings and align the ring spaces as indicated in the service manual for your particular vehicle make and model. Install a ring compressor around the piston rings.

4

Slide a rubber hose on each of the two studs located on each side of the bearing mounting area of the connecting rod. These hoses should be larger than the rod studs to protect the cylinder wall as you install the piston in the cylinder.

5

Insert the piston, connecting rod first, through the upper part of the cylinder, resting the bottom of the ring compressor on the upper section of the cylinder. Carefully push the piston into the cylinder by tapping the top of the piston with the wooden handle of a hammer until the piston sits inside the cylinder. You may have to rotate the crankshaft with a wrench to move the crankshaft journal out of the way of the piston connecting rod.

6

Apply a layer of engine assembly lube to the face of the bearing on the connecting rod.

7

Align the connecting rod with its corresponding crankshaft journal by rotating the crankshaft with the wrench. When the connecting rod is sitting on the crankshaft journal, remove the two rubber hoses from the connecting rod studs.

8

Clean the connecting rod cap and lower bearing half with the lint-free towel and install the lower bearing half on the rod cap by hand. The tab on the new bearing should rest inside the recess of the rod cap when properly installed.

9

Apply a layer of engine assembly lube to the face of the rod cap bearing, position the rod cap on the connecting rod and install the two connecting rod mounting nuts by hand.

10

Use a torque wrench to tighten the two connecting rod mounting nuts evenly in three stages to the torque indicated in the service manual for your particular vehicle make and model.

11

Install the rest of the rod bearings following Steps 2 through 10.