ACL Bearings Engine Connecting Rod Bearing

ACL Bearings Engine Connecting Rod Bearings: Precision Built for Performance and Reliability

When it comes to engine connecting rod bearings, few names carry the credibility that ACL Bearings has earned over decades of motorsport and OEM engineering. Connecting rod bearings sit at the heart of every reciprocating engine, cushioning the interface between the connecting rod and the crankshaft journal with a thin, pressurized oil film. Under hard acceleration, high RPM, and extreme cylinder pressures, these components endure some of the most punishing loads in the entire powertrain — making material science, dimensional precision, and design engineering the difference between an engine that lasts and one that fails.

The ACL Race Series: Trimetal Technology for High-Performance Engines

ACL Race Series performance engine bearings are recognized as a premier brand throughout the motorsports world. The flagship offering for enthusiasts and engine builders is the Race Series connecting rod bearing — a trimetal design engineered specifically for elevated RPM environments. Designed to withstand higher RPM conditions, ACL Race Series Connecting Rod Bearings are available for many popular 4, 6 & 8 cylinder applications.

What sets the Race Series apart is a carefully engineered stack of materials and design choices that work together under stress:

• High-strength overlay plate — with reduced thickness for improved fatigue properties, the overlay on rod bearings is deliberately thinner than on main bearings to handle the higher loads at the big end.
• Hardened steel backs — hardened steel backs on all rod bearings improve the support of the bearing lining and assist with bearing retention in the housing.
• Increased crush — increased crush provides improved bearing retention, locking the shell into the rod bore and maximizing thermal transfer.
• No flash plating on the back — elimination of flash plating on the back of the bearings improves heat transfer and maximizes the grip between the bearings and its housing.
• Increased eccentricity — increased eccentricity compensates for bore distortion at high RPM and assists in the formation of hydrodynamic oil films, a critical advantage in built engines where rods may flex slightly under load.

The Race Series is also available in multiple clearance variants. The "HX" designation signifies the set will give an extra .001" (0.025mm) oil clearance on a standard size shaft — popular with builders who prefer a looser clearance for high-volume oil systems or turbocharged applications.

Aluglide and Duraglide: OEM-Grade Rod Bearings for Street and Rebuild Applications

Not every build demands a Race Series bearing. ACL's Aluglide rod bearings were developed for OEM engines and have the inherent physical properties perfectly suited for replacement applications, with a proprietary composition comprised of aluminum, tin and silicon. For builders who prefer a trimetal configuration, plain and flanged bearings are manufactured in several material options, including ACL's Duraglide F780 heavy-duty, tri-metal copper-lead material, to suit every performance requirement.

Coverage Across American, Asian, and European Engines

These exceptional bearings are available for a variety of American, Asian and European performance engines, and ACL's catalog spans a wide range of undersizes to accommodate reground crankshafts. ACL's experience includes designing and manufacturing bearings for GM, Ford, Toyota and Mitsubishi, giving their replacement and performance rod bearings a deep foundation of OEM-grade engineering.

Whether you are refreshing a daily driver, rebuilding a track car, or assembling a forced-induction project engine, the right connecting rod bearing matters. Explore the full ACL Bearings catalog to see main bearings, cam bearings, and more, or browse all engine connecting rod bearings to compare options across brands.