Engine Rebuilding Kits
A rod bearing is a two-piece (top and bottom) band of smooth metal. In the case of driveshaft rod bearings, for example, the top half of the bearing is a semi-circle that is mounted to the undercarriage of the vehicle. The bottom half of the bearing is bolted to the top half once the driveshaft is in place. A pinhole through the top half of the bearing allows lubrication to reach the inside. This permits the shaft to spin within the bearing without generating excessive heat.
Connecting Rod Bearings
Connecting rod bearings (also called rod-end bearings) are a component in the piston-to-driveshaft portion of the powertrain. This spherical articulating joint is also known as a heim joint in the United States and a rose joint in the United Kingdom. The device was invented in Nazi Germany and was discovered by the Allies in a German plane shot down over England in 1940. Patent rights were given to the Rose Bearing Company in the UK and the Heim Company for North America. Rod-end bearings connect the piston rod (also called the gudgeon or wrist pin) to the bearing journal. In this context "journal" refers to the section of the piston rod that contacts and turns the driveshaft. Replacing the connecting rod bearings is a standard step in an engine rebuild.