Tri-metal crankshaft main bearings Honda Acura B16 B17 B18 B20 K20 K24

The Honda and Acura B16, B17, B18, B20, K20 and K24 engines

This main bearing set is listed by ACL for the Honda and Acura B16, B17, B18, B20, K20 and K24 engine families, including the Honda Civic, CRX, Integra, Accord, CR-V, Element and Odyssey and the Acura Integra and RSX. ACL and King list a main bearing set for these engines.

The crankshaft of these engines runs on five main bearings. Each journal turns between two half shells, one seated in the block and the other in the main bearing cap: they carry the crankshaft. The ACL Race Series and KING RACING tri-metal sets shown here replace them on built engines.

Tri-metal main bearings

A tri-metal bearing stacks three layers: a steel back, a copper-lead intermediate layer with high load capacity and an anti-friction running surface that protects the journal. The complete set contains 10 half shells, five pairs for five main bearings. The upper and lower half shells are different: each goes in its own position.

An aluminium bi-metal takes around 8,000 psi, a performance tri-metal up to 12,000 psi, 50% more. Hence better resistance and better durability on turbocharged, supercharged and high-revving engines.

Technical specifications

Technical guide

The ACL and King main bearings shown here are trimetal bearings, designed for engine building and racing. Compared with an original bearing, they handle far higher loads: they cope with increased power, high rpm or the addition of a turbo or supercharger, where a standard bearing quickly reaches its limit.

The two brands

	ACL Bearing Company, an Australian manufacturer of high-performance engine bearings since 1949, offers with its Race Series precise tri-metal bearings, available in many sizes and proven on built engines worldwide.
	King Engine Bearings, an Israeli manufacturer of high-performance engine bearings since the 1960s, offers with its pMax Black tri-metal alloy bearings designed for heavy loads, with a pMaxKote coating (XPC version).

Construction and advantages

Criterion	ACL Race Series	King Racing
Cross-section
Type	High-performance trimetal bearing	High-performance trimetal bearing
Country of manufacture	Australia	Israel
Construction	Trimetal: steel back, copper layer, soft surface	Trimetal: steel back, copper layer, soft surface
Alloy	Race Series (copper-lead)	pMax Black (hardened copper-lead)
Protective coating	Calico CT-1 (HC and HXC versions): thin dry-film lubricant that reduces friction and wear. No coating on the H and HX versions.	pMaxKote (XPC version): polymer coating on the surface that limits wear when lubrication drops (start-ups, thin oil film).
Available sizes	Standard to +0.25 mm (+ increased clearance HX) ; Calico: standard and HXC	Standard to +0.50 mm (+ increased clearance STDX)

Vehicle compatibility

This main bearing set fits the Honda and Acura B16, B17, B18, B20, K20 and K24 engines of the following vehicles: