Engine Bearings
- Mahle®Main Bearing GasketMain Bearing Gasket by Mahle®. This top-grade product is expertly made in compliance with stringent industry standards to offer a fusion of a well-balanced design and high level of craftsmanship. Manufactured from industry-leading...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$37.89 - $58.57
- Sealed Power®Auxiliary Shaft Bearing SetAuxiliary Shaft Bearing Set by Sealed Power®. Designed utilizing the latest technology, this product by Sealed Power features premium quality and will perform better than advertised. Perfect for your vehicle and lifestyle, it is...Direct replacementManufactured to strict engineering quality standards$18.70 - $29.68
- Sealed Power®Balance Shaft BearingBalance Shaft Bearing by Sealed Power®. Designed utilizing the latest technology, this product by Sealed Power features premium quality and will perform better than advertised. Perfect for your vehicle and lifestyle, it is manufactured...Direct replacementManufactured to strict engineering quality standards$8.28 - $31.94
- Enginetech®Crankshaft Thrust WasherCrankshaft Thrust Washer by Enginetech®. This premium product is the best way to go for those looking for the highest quality replacement that offers supreme levels of quality, performance and reliability. Designed to provide a perfect...Rigorously tested to withstand years of abuseDesigned with innovative manufacturing techniques$5.49 - $12.42
- Enginetech®Thrust WasherThrust Washer by Enginetech®. The Engine Builder's Source, can locate the right part for nearly any rebuild application. Offering a full line of internal engine parts for domestic, import and high performance applications, Enginetech...Rigorously tested to withstand years of abuseDesigned with innovative manufacturing techniques$3.92 - $26.21
- ITM Engine®Balance Shaft Bearing SetBalance Shaft Bearing Set by ITM Engine®. This top-grade product is expertly made in compliance with stringent industry standards to offer a fusion of a well-balanced design and high level of craftsmanship. Manufactured from...Designed with innovative manufacturing techniquesMade with maximum safety and reliability in mind$14.83 - $59.98
- Clevite®Auxiliary Shaft BearingAuxiliary Shaft Bearing by Clevite®. Enjoy superior performance by getting this premium-grade Sniper product that is throughly engineered to help take the performance of your fuel system to the next step delivering unprecedented levels...Perfect for upgrading your fuel injection systemMade with the use of the highest quality materials$22.60 - $43.31
- Clevite®Balance Shaft BearingBalance Shaft Bearing by Clevite®. This premium product is the best way to go for those looking for the highest quality replacement that offers supreme levels of quality, performance and reliability. Designed to provide a perfect fit...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$17.62 - $40.89
- Clevite®Thrust Washer SetThrust Washer Set by Clevite®. This premium product is the best way to go for those looking for the highest quality replacement that offers supreme levels of quality, performance and reliability. Designed to provide a perfect fit for a...Material Grade OE ReplacementExpertly crafted from premium materials$9.29 - $21.49
- Dura-Bond®Auxiliary Shaft Bearing SetAuxiliary Shaft Bearing Set by Dura-Bond®. This top-grade product is expertly made in compliance with stringent industry standards to offer a fusion of a well-balanced design and high level of craftsmanship. Manufactured from...OE quality parts from top original equipment and aftermarket manufacturersThe finest quality at a great price$12.19 - $30.12
- Dura-Bond®Balance Shaft Bearing SetBalance Shaft Bearing Set by Dura-Bond®. This top-grade product is expertly made in compliance with stringent industry standards to offer a fusion of a well-balanced design and high level of craftsmanship. Manufactured from...OE quality parts from top original equipment and aftermarket manufacturersThe finest quality at a great price$8.76 - $153.92
- King Engine Bearings®AM-Series Thrust Washer SetAM-Series Thrust Washer Set by King Engine Bearings®. This King Engine Bearings product is professionally and meticulously designed to provide superior durability you are looking for. The company does not accept compromises when it is...High quality at an affordable priceExpertly made from premium materials$6.53 - $24.35
- ACL®Thrust Washer SetThrust Washer Set by ACL®. ACL high performance tri-metal thrust washers they prevent the crankshaft from moving around, thus keeping it in line with all of the other main moving engine parts. It also helps the crankshaft to stand up...High quality at an affordable priceExpertly made from premium materials$2.57 - $9.61
- Clevite®Replacement A-Series Crankshaft Main BearingsReplacement A-Series Crankshaft Main Bearings by Clevite®. This premium product is the best way to go for those looking for the highest quality replacement that offers supreme levels of quality, performance and reliability. Designed to...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$18.19 - $151.11
- King Engine Bearings®Crankshaft Main Bearing SetCrankshaft Main Bearing Set by King Engine Bearings®. This King Engine Bearings product is professionally and meticulously designed to provide superior durability you are looking for. The company does not accept compromises when it is...High quality at an affordable priceExpertly made from premium materials$40.49 - $194.62
- King Engine Bearings®SM Series Main BearingSM Series Main Bearing by King Engine Bearings®. King’s ability to meet the continuously changing and challenging demands of the racing industry with our unique materials and geometric features are a testament to the quality and...Aluminum alloy bonding layerThe strongest aluminum based material$148.42
- King Engine Bearings®SV-Series Connecting Rod BearingSV-Series Connecting Rod Bearing by King Engine Bearings®. As a technological leader and an OEM development partner, King is committed to staying at the leading edge of bearing technology to meet customer’s worldwide needs.For extreme load enginesCan be used as a sputter replacement$27.68 - $123.26
- ACDelco®Genuine GM Parts™ Engine Balance Shaft BearingGenuine GM Parts™ Engine Balance Shaft Bearing by ACDelco®. This product is made of high-quality components to meet and exceed strict quality requirements. Designed using state-of-the-art technology and with customers in mind. It will...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$6.81 - $43.18
- Mopar®Crankshaft Main Bearing Cap BoltCrankshaft Main Bearing Cap Bolt by Mopar®. Want your prized possession to look and perform the way it was designed to? Then top-of-the-line Mopar automotive parts and accessories are for you. Made using the latest manufacturing...Ideal solution to keep your vehicle in top shapeCrafted from premium-grade materials and the latest technology$3.41 - $22.37
- King Engine Bearings®Thrust WasherThrust Washer by King Engine Bearings®. This premium product is the best way to go for those looking for the highest quality replacement that offers supreme levels of quality, performance and reliability. Designed to provide a perfect...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$6.68 - $23.23
- ACL®Balance Shaft Bearing SetBalance Shaft Bearing Set by ACL®. This premium product is the best way to go for those looking for the highest quality replacement that offers supreme levels of quality, performance and reliability. Designed to provide a perfect fit...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$10.61 - $14.60
- Dodge OEEngine Oil Pan Bolt (6508985AA)Engine Oil Pan Bolt (6508985AA) by Dodge OE. If you want to ensure peak performance of your Dodge mile after mile and keep it looking brand new, rely on superior-quality Dodge OE parts and accessories. They match the parts and...Genuine Dodge OEM part designed for your make, model, and yearCrafted from premium-quality materials for long-lasting service$3.39
- Dodge OECatalytic Converter Bolt (6035470)Catalytic Converter Bolt (6035470) by Dodge OE. If you want to ensure peak performance of your Dodge mile after mile and keep it looking brand new, rely on superior-quality Dodge OE parts and accessories. They match the parts and...Genuine Dodge OEM part designed for your make, model, and yearCrafted from premium-quality materials for long-lasting service$17.90
- Jeep OEEngine Oil Pan Bolt (6508985AA)Engine Oil Pan Bolt (6508985AA) by Jeep OE. Luckily, your Jeep is built for the long haul and doesn’t need repair very often, but when it does, look no further than superior-grade Jeep OE parts and accessories. They are meticulously...Genuine Jeep OEM part that offers a superior fit and performanceGuaranteed to look and function like the part your Jeep came with from the factory$3.39
- Jeep OERear Suspension Stabilizer Bar Bracket Bolt (6104218AA)Rear Suspension Stabilizer Bar Bracket Bolt (6104218AA) by Jeep OE. Luckily, your Jeep is built for the long haul and doesn’t need repair very often, but when it does, look no further than superior-grade Jeep OE parts and accessories....Genuine Jeep OEM part that offers a superior fit and performanceGuaranteed to look and function like the part your Jeep came with from the factory$10.89
- Mercedes-Benz OEAir Bag Impact Sensor Bolt (000000003648)Air Bag Impact Sensor Bolt (000000003648) by Mercedes-Benz OE. Even such a legendary vehicle as Mercedes-Benz needs proper repair and maintenance to run reliably for a long time. To make your prized possession look and perform like the...Genuine Mercedes-Benz OE parts designed to offer a perfect fitGuaranteed to get your vehicle back to its prime condition$4.20
- ACDelco®Genuine GM Parts™ Crankshaft Main Bearing (19256553)Genuine GM Parts™ Crankshaft Main Bearing (19256553) by ACDelco®. This product is made of high-quality components to meet and exceed strict quality requirements. Designed using state-of-the-art technology and with customers in mind....Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$6.81
- ACDelco®Genuine GM Parts™ Crankshaft Main Bearing (12680650)Genuine GM Parts™ Crankshaft Main Bearing (12680650) by ACDelco®. This product is made of high-quality components to meet and exceed strict quality requirements. Designed using state-of-the-art technology and with customers in mind....Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$34.79
- ACDelco®Genuine GM Parts™ Crankshaft Main Bearing (12648787)Genuine GM Parts™ Crankshaft Main Bearing by ACDelco®. This product is made of high-quality components to meet and exceed strict quality requirements. Designed using state-of-the-art technology and with customers in mind. It will meet...Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$27.05
- ACDelco®Genuine GM Parts™ Crankshaft Main Bearing (10120990)Genuine GM Parts™ Crankshaft Main Bearing (10120990) by ACDelco®. This product is made of high-quality components to meet and exceed strict quality requirements. Designed using state-of-the-art technology and with customers in mind....Designed to deliver trouble-free, consistent performanceRight for your vehicle and lifestyle$26.85
There are many different kinds of bearings used on automobiles, including ball and roller bearings, needle bearings, and tapered roller bearings, but the bearings that are commonly used inside the engine are called plain bearings. These bearings are either cylindrical or are made of two inserts that form an enclosure. Components like the crankshaft and camshaft rotate on plain bearings supported by a film of oil. Oil is supplied under pressure by the engine oil pump.
Bearing construction varies according to intended use: stock, high-performance, and racing, and there are too many variations for an in-depth discussion here. In general, there are bi-metal and tri-metal bearings. Both have the lining material applied to a rigid and supportive steel backing. Bi-metal bearings have an aluminum alloy lining. The alloy may be strengthened with other metals, and the latest alloys contain silicone, which significantly increases surface hardness. Aluminum alloys with silicone are highly resistant to seizure. Tri-metal bearings have an intermediate layer of copper bearing alloy and an overlay of lead-tin-copper alloy. They have the strength, fatigue resistance and embedability (the ability to embed hard particles like dirt and debris that would otherwise become lodged between the bearing and journal, causing wear to the journal) that is the right combination for many applications.
Bores in the cylinder block are precision machined to accept the engine bearings. The camshaft and balance shaft bearings are cylindrical and pressed into the bores. The main and connecting rod bearing bores are split, with the bottom half of the bore known as the cap. Main and connecting rod bearings are called inserts that fit into bearing “saddles” formed by the top half of the bores in the block and connecting rods, and the caps. Where required, bearings have oil holes that must align with oil passages in the block, and some may have oil grooves. The thrust main bearing is flanged where it contacts the crankshaft thrust surface. Bearing halves for the crankshaft and connecting rods have a certain amount of material that extends above the bore parting line when placed in the saddle, which is known as bearing “crush”. This ensures that the bearings will be fully seated in the bores when the caps are torqued to specification.
For optimal performance and long life, engine bearings must have the right amount of oil clearance. This clearance is the difference between the shaft diameter and the diameter of the installed bearing, and is typically between 0.001” and 0.0035”. Main and connecting rod bearing clearance can be checked with the crankshaft installed using Plastigage, but a more precise measurement can be achieved by measuring the journal diameter with a micrometer and the installed bearing diameter with a bore gauge, and subtracting the micrometer dimension from the bore gauge dimension. If the clearance is excessive and the crankshaft is worn, it can be ground undersize and the appropriate undersize bearings used. However, the main or connecting rod housing bores could also be larger than specifications, requiring the block to be aligned honed or the big ends of the connecting rods reconditioned.
Although there are some performance bi-metal bearings, most performance bearings are of tri-metal construction. Many performance bearings also come with a proprietary dry film coating to reduce friction, provide startup protection, and increase strength and heat resistance. In addition to superior materials, they also have design features better suited to high power output engines. The eccentricity of performance bearings are tailored to the engine block and connecting rod bore characteristics of performance engine components to help maintain proper oil clearance, and they have higher crush for improved bearing retention. Performance bearings may be narrower than stock or chamfered to allow for the larger fillet radiuses of performance crankshafts, and they may have enlarged oil holes and/or grooves to improve lubrication.
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Related Categories
- Engine Assemblies
- Motor Mounts
- Engine Blocks
- Valves & Valvetrain Parts
- Pistons, Rings & Connecting Rods
- Oil Filters
- Serpentine Belts & Auxiliary Drive Belts
- Valve Covers
- Timing Gears, Chains & Covers
- Engine Oil Pans, Drain Plugs & Dipsticks
- Cylinder Heads
- Timing Belts
- Engine Pulleys
- Engine Sensors, Relays, Switches & Connectors
- Oil Pumps
- Drive Belt Tensioners
- Oil Coolers
- Camshafts
- Crankshafts
- Engine Management Systems
- Harmonic Balancers
- Engine Rebuild Kits
- Oil Catch Cans
- Balance Shafts
- Engine Swap Kits
- Engine Wiring Harnesses
- Intercoolers
- Throttle Bodies
- Carburetors
- Motor Oils