Clevite Engine Crankshaft Main Bearing Set

Clevite Crankshaft Main Bearing Sets: Race-Proven Precision for Every Engine Build

When it comes to engine rebuilds — whether you're refreshing a daily driver or assembling a dedicated racing powerplant — the crankshaft main bearing set is one of the most critical components in the entire project. The main bearings support the crankshaft at every journal, absorbing the relentless firing loads of combustion while maintaining the hydrodynamic oil film that keeps metal from touching metal. Choose wrong here, and even a flawlessly machined engine will fail prematurely. That's exactly why engine builders around the world turn to Clevite for their engine crankshaft main bearing sets.

The Science Behind Clevite's TriMetal™ Construction

The foundation of Clevite's reputation is their legendary TriMetal™ bearing design. This three-layer construction gives each bearing shell a distinct job: a hardened precision steel back provides structural rigidity and ensures a solid press-fit in the housing; a cast copper-lead alloy intermediate layer carries the bulk of the engine's combustion loads and resists fatigue; and an electroplated white metal babbitt overlay on the running surface delivers the conformability, embedability, and low-friction slipperiness required for long-term reliability. Manufactured from cast copper-lead rather than powdered metal (sintering) processes, Clevite main bearings achieve approximately 20% greater fatigue strength than sintered alternatives — a meaningful advantage under sustained high loads.

The TriMetal™ design also offers as much as 40% better seizure resistance and can withstand over 60% higher loads for extended periods compared to competing bearings. The babbitt overlay provides a critical margin of "forgiveness" — embedding small contaminant particles rather than allowing them to score crankshaft journals, which is especially valuable in older or high-mileage engines.

Choosing the Right Series for Your Application

One of Clevite's greatest strengths in the crankshaft main bearing category is the depth of their product line. With 43 part numbers available, builders can match a specific series to their exact application demands:

• P-Series: The most versatile main bearing set in the Clevite lineup, the P-Series features high crush for maximum retention, high eccentricity to compensate for bore distortion, and full-grooved shells to maximize oil flow to connecting rod bearings. Ideal for OE replacement, street performance, heavy duty, and motorsports rebuilds.
• H-Series: Preferred by race engine builders, the H-Series features medium eccentricity, high crush, no flash plating for better seating, and enlarged chamfers that provide critical additional crankshaft fillet clearance. The H-Series is the go-to starting point for high-RPM and stroker applications.
• HC-Series: The HC-Series combines classic TriMetal™ construction with an advanced moly/graphite dry-film coating. This high-pressure, high-load treatment reduces friction and abrasive wear, provides intermittent dry lubrication independent of dust or dirt, and protects across a broad range of operating temperatures — engineered specifically for the extreme conditions of high-performance racing engines.
• F-Series: The pinnacle of Clevite's main bearing performance lineup. The F-Series uses a lead-tin-indium-alumina electroplated overlay over Clevite's cast bronze-lead substrate, boosting seizure resistance by 126% over the H-Series — without any added thickness, so fitment remains identical to H-Series applications.
• V-Series: Derived from the legendary Vandervell bearing program, the V-Series uses a hardened steel back with low-to-medium eccentricity. All V-Series main sets use a single-piece thrust bearing design for streamlined assembly.

Color-Coded for Accuracy, Proven on the Track

All Clevite 77 main bearing sets are color-coded for quick and positive identification of undersizes, virtually eliminating the risk of installation errors during an engine build. This attention to the builder's experience extends to the company's racing pedigree: Clevite engine bearings have been found inside winning Indy cars and NASCAR vehicles, and have powered NASCAR champions since the series' earliest days. That same technology flows directly into the street and track main bearing sets available here.

Whether you're re-ringing a commuter car engine or assembling a high-output performance build, Clevite crankshaft main bearing sets deliver the precision, material science, and application-specific engineering that serious engine builders demand.