Pistons

A piston is a component of the bottom block which, together with the crankshaft and connecting rods, makes up the rotating assembly. Pistons - typically made of aluminium or a magnesium alloy - are attached to the connecting rod by piston pins (aka wrist pins) that are held in place by circlips or spring rings. As pistons move up and down within their cylinders, they deliver power to the crankshaft as a result of the energy generated by combustion. The combustion pressure acting on the piston heads forces the pistons down and creates power. Due to their design, there is little friction with the cylinder walls and wear is kept to a minimum. Piston weight must also be kept down to keep the rotating mass within reasonable limits. Moreover, the piston rings transfer heat from the piston to the cylinder wall to prevent the piston from overheating.

Pistons must be replaced when they are worn out and/or when the cylinders are worn out. The cylinders must be bored and honed again. When boring and honing the cylinder block, the bore should be sized to accommodate an oversize piston, given that the bore size increases. Pistons, piston pins, and circlips are recommended to be replaced as a set. You can find the right pistons, piston pins, and circlips for your vehicle in this category. 

We offer a large selection of pistons for different applications, such as for tractor pulling and drag racing. Wilmink Performance also has a wide range of piston brands, including Icon Forged Pistons, KB Hypereutectic Pistons, MAHLE, Silv-O-Lite, Supertech, UEM Pistons and CP-Carrillo. With the latter brand we also offer a custom-made service where you can order a piston completely according to your wishes, application and engine. If you have any questions about this service or other pistons, please contact our product specialists. They will be happy to assist you.