ENGINE MECHANICAL SERVICE MANUAL NUMBER 22
Page 3A-106 90-860074--1 FEBRUARY 2002
Connecting Rod / Piston Assembly
Measuring Rod Bearing Clearance
1. Remove oil pan and oil pick-up tube assembly.
2. Turn crankshaft to gain access to connecting rod bolts.
3. One cylinder at a time, remove rod caps and inspect bearings. Refer to Bearing Failure.
4. Measure crank pin with a micrometer for out-of-round, taper, or excessive wear. If not
within specifications, replace or recondition crankshaft.
5. Measure new or used bearing clearances with Plastigage or its equivalent as follows:
a. Clean oil from crank pin.
b. Install bearing in connecting rod.
c. Place a piece of gauging plastic the full width of crank pin (parallel to crankshaft).
d. Install rod cap with bearing. Torque bolts to 29.4 Nm + 60 degrees (21 lb-ft + 60
degrees).
IMPORTANT: Do NOT turn crankshaft while gauging plastic is in place.
e. Remove rod cap and, using scale on gauging plastic envelope, measure gauging
plastic width at widest point.
72358
a
b
Typical
a-Compressed Gauging Plastic
b-Graduated Scale