ACL Bearings Engine Connecting Rod
ACL Bearings Engine Connecting Rod Bearings: Race-Proven Engineering for Every Build
When it comes to engine connecting rod bearings, few names carry the same weight as ACL Bearings. With roots tracing back to 1922 and decades of OEM and motorsport pedigree, ACL has built a reputation on precision metallurgy, exacting tolerances, and a genuine understanding of what connecting rod bearings endure inside a running engine. Their connecting rod bearing lineup is a direct reflection of that expertise, offering solutions that span daily drivers, engine rebuilds, and all-out competition builds alike.
The ACL Race Series: Connecting Rod Bearings Built for High-RPM Demands
At the heart of ACL’s performance offering is the Race Series connecting rod bearing line. Engine connecting rod bearings in this range are engineered specifically for the punishment of high-RPM operation, using a trimetal construction that layers a copper-lead-tin lining over a high-tensile SAE1010 steel back, topped with a lead-tin-copper overlay. Several design enhancements set these apart from ordinary replacements:
- High-strength overlay plate with reduced thickness on connecting rod bearing applications specifically, delivering improved fatigue resistance under cyclical loading.
- Hardened steel backs on all rod bearings to better support the bearing lining and assist with retention inside the housing bore.
- Increased crush for superior bearing retention, improving radial contact pressure, locking the shell into the housing, and promoting more effective heat dissipation through improved thermal transfer.
- Elimination of flash plating on the back of the bearings to maximize grip between bearing and housing while improving heat transfer.
- Increased eccentricity — a gradual reduction in wall thickness between the crown and parting line — to compensate for bore distortion at high RPM and assist in forming a robust hydrodynamic oil film.
ACL Race Series rod bearings are also available in specialty variants: the HX suffix denotes 0.001" extra clearance on a standard journal for builders dialing in tighter oil clearances, while the HD suffix indicates a dowel hole location for connecting rod caps that use a dowel pin for shell retention. Combined, these options give engine builders fine-grained control over oil clearance and fitment.
Aluglide & Duraglide: OEM-Grade Rod Bearing Solutions
Not every connecting rod bearing application calls for Race Series hardware. ACL’s Aluglide aluminum rod bearings were developed specifically for OEM replacement, using a proprietary composition of aluminum, tin, and silicon that mirrors the bimetal bearings installed by foreign and domestic automakers today. The Duraglide line uses a proven tri-metal copper-lead configuration — the same fundamental technology found in ACL’s Duraglide F780 heavy-duty material — making it well suited for everyday performance and demanding street engines alike. Both lines are manufactured to tight, consistent wall tolerances to help maintain reliable oil clearances throughout an engine’s service life.
Broad Application Coverage
One of ACL’s most practical strengths is application breadth. Race Series connecting rod bearings are available across a wide range of popular 4, 6, and 8-cylinder engines — covering American, Asian, and European platforms. Whether the build centers on a classic small-block V8, a turbocharged four-cylinder import, or a modern performance diesel, ACL maintains one of the largest ranges of automotive engine bearings in the world, with multiple undersize options available for engines being built with reground crankshafts.