OEM Dodge Nitro Rod Bearing

Dodge Nitro Rod Bearing Parts and Q&A

• Connecting Rod Bearing
  68002286AC
  Q: How to Inspect and Replace Rod Bearings to Ensure Proper Alignment and Clearance on Dodge Nitro?

  A:

  Check the rod bearings for signs of scoring, usual patterns of wear, grooving, fatigue and holes and then replace any that are damaged. Look for scoring and nicks on connecting rod journals, because a bent or misaligned rod can result in unexpected wear on Pistons, piston rings, cylinder walls, connecting rod bearings and crankshaft journals. If wear spots or damage point to a misalignment, double-check the rod's placement and get rid of any rods that look misaligned, bent or twisted. Clean the oil from the connecting rod journal, apply lubricant to upper bearing insert and then put it in place centered in the connecting rod. Manually assemble the rod and piston into the cylinder using the piston ring compressor 3 and connecting rod guides 8507. Be sure the slots of the oil slinger in the rods face the engine front and the "F" marks near the piston wrist pin 1 are pointed there too. Center the new lower bearing insert in the connecting rod as you install it in the cap, being careful not to wet the insert. Touch the lower insert all along its width at the middle of the bearing cap, adding Plastigage so it doesn't crumble and verify the condition; repeat this if the original stock turns out to be brittle. Fit the bearing cap and connecting rod to the journal, fasten the bolts to 27 Nm (20 ft. lbs.) plus 90 degrees, but do not rotate the crankshaft to prevent the Plastigage from smearing and affecting results. Open the bearing cap, measure the pressed Plastigage and use Engine Specifications to check that the chosen bearing-to-journal clearance is correct. If the Plastigage reading varies along the insert, it could mean that the journal is tapered, the connecting rod is bent or something is trapped between the insert and the cap or rod. If the bearing inserts pass clearance, do not replace them; remove the Plastigage and get ready to install the bearing. If the gap between the bearing and the journal is greater than allowed, choose a different bearing set and always replace the rod bolts whenever you deal with them. Make sure to repeat using Plastigage to verify the suitability of the bearing before assembling the machine. When the right insert is found, install the insert and cap, turning the bolts that connect them to 27 Nm (20 ft. lbs.) plus a full 90 degree turn. Put a feeler gauge with a tight fit between the connecting rod and crankshaft journal, check the clearance specified by the manufacturer and swap the connecting rod if the minimum is exceeded.