Connecting rods / crankshafts

Together with the piston, connecting rods and crankshafts ensure the turning of a part in the bottom block of a combustion engine. Here, the force of combustion is converted into a rotating movement in order to generate driving forces. The forces exerted on the pistons are transferred to the crankshaft by means of the connecting rods. The so-called 'big end' of the connecting rod has to endure the most, this being the side that is attached to the crankshaft. Connecting rods in more powerful engines are usually made out of a whole unit and then broken. This provides an extra strong connection when the connecting rod cap is attached because they are two rough contact surfaces and fit together perfectly. For this reason, the connecting rods must not be interchanged with the connecting rod covers. Usually the connecting rods will last a car's lifetime, unless there is something wrong with the engine or its settings. This can lead to increased wear and tear, which can cause a connecting rod to break or, in an extreme case, even hit the motor.

Connecting rods

The connecting rod converts the sliding movement of the piston into a rotating movement. The distribution, a crankshaft pulley and, in many cases, a vibration damper is attached at the front of the crankshaft. At the rear of the crankshaft, the flywheel and clutch are attached to transmit the forces to the gearbox.

Crankshafts

The crankshaft is a carefully designed component which is critical in terms of fit and balance. If the fit or balance in the crankshaft is not correct, this results in major damage due to the high rotational speeds the crankshaft achieves in the combustion engine. The crankshaft rotates in sliding bearings in order to ensure the lowest possible resistance. It is important that the radial play, i.e. the clearance between the crankshaft and the main bearings, is optimal. If the clearance is too small, no oil film can form between the crankshaft and the slide bearings, resulting in extra wear/heat in the bearings. If there is too much clearance, too little oil pressure builds up and excessive wear and tear also occurs, often accompanied by abnormal noises in the engine block, especially with a warm engine (thin oil).

Wilmink Performance has the right crankshaft, connecting rod or accessories for your vehicle from e.g. Eagle, Edelbrock, Scat and Engine Pro. If you have any questions or would like advice, please contact our product specialists. They will be happy to assist you.