Forged connecting rods Ford HMDA 2.0 16V Turbo (Focus RS Mk1) for forged pistons

The Ford Focus RS Mk1 2.0 16V Turbo engine (HMDA)

The HMDA is the 2.0 L (1,988 cc) inline four-cylinder that brought the Focus into the RS family in 2002. With twin overhead cams and sixteen valves, force-fed by a Garrett turbocharger, it delivers 215 hp (158 kW) and pairs with a Quaife limited-slip differential to put its power down through the front axle. Built in limited numbers from late 2002 to late 2004, the first-generation Focus RS (DAW / DBW chassis) remains one of the most sought-after sporting front-drivers of its decade. As soon as boost and rpm are raised to chase more torque, the factory rod, designed for high-volume production, becomes the weak link of the rotating assembly. Replacing it with a set of weight-matched forged rods is the first safeguard of an HMDA that takes a build for the long term.

The forged connecting rods

Drop-forged and carefully machined, these rods withstand bending, compression and fatigue loads far beyond what the factory Focus RS rod tolerates. They suit every discipline: circuit, time attack, drift, drag, rally and hillclimb. Depending on the build level, they support a reliability-focused Stage 1 as well as a Stage 2 or a Stage 3 pushed on boost. Supplied as a complete set of 4, weight-matched, they preserve the balance of the four-cylinder rotating assembly. They adopt the HMDA's 22 mm piston pin, for a 137 mm center-to-center length.

Technical specifications of the Focus RS Mk1 forged rods (22 mm pin)

Tightening torque and stretch

On these rods, tightening is controlled by bolt stretch, measured with a gauge, rather than by torque alone. The values below are given as a guide: always follow the bolt manufacturer's instructions.

Forged rods technical guide

4340 forged steel

These rods are forged from 4340, a low-alloy nickel-chromium-molybdenum steel that serves as the benchmark for the high-performance rod. Die-forging, followed by quenching and tempering, keeps a continuous grain flow behind its high tensile strength and outstanding fatigue endurance, two decisive qualities on a boosted, heavily stressed HMDA. Against a factory fracture-split rod optimised above all for manufacturing cost, a forged 4340 rod gains roughly +19% yield strength, +8% tensile strength and +19 to +37% fatigue endurance. It is this mechanical reserve that absorbs the torque and boost increases of a prepared engine without breaking.

The rod profile

The range is offered in the I profile, by Wössner. The I-beam offers an excellent balance between stiffness and mass, particularly relevant on a 2.0 L turbo where a light rotating assembly matters as much as bending resistance. Wössner offers it in its A-Beam form, an optimised I-beam, to combine lightness and strength. The specification table gives the center-to-center length, big-end diameter, big-end width and weight of the reference.

I profile: I-beam with an optimised stiffness-to-weight ratio, well suited to the 2.0 L four-cylinder; Wössner machines it in its A-Beam form (an optimised I-beam), valued for its lightness and bending stability on high-revving engines.

How to choose your rod bolts?

ARP 2000: the all-round benchmark alloy, with a tensile strength of about 220,000 psi (1,517 MPa). Offered here in 3/8" diameter, it handles the most demanding HMDA builds, up to about 200 hp per cylinder, at speeds reaching 8,500 rpm. Sturdy, reliable and with no storage constraints, it is the reference bolt to make a prepared Focus RS reliable, from Stage 1 to Stage 3.

Measuring bolt stretch

Discover the ARP stretch gauge

The brand offered

This rod is made by Wössner, a respected German manufacturer of forged competition parts. It is machined from 4340 steel in its A-Beam profile (an optimised I-beam), weight-matched and supplied as a complete set of 4, with its dedicated ARP bolts.

Wössner

Glossary

1) Small end 2) Small-end diameter 3) Rod beam 4) Rod bolt 5) Big end 6) Rod nut / bolt 7) Rod cap 8) Big-end diameter 9) Center-to-center

Vehicle compatibility

These forged rods fit the first-generation Ford Focus RS powered by the 2.0 L 16-valve turbo (HMDA code):

Why is it the most economical solution?

A set of forged rods costs vastly less than a blown engine: on an HMDA pushed on boost and rpm, a factory rod that lets go takes out the block and the crankshaft. By fitting weight-matched forged rods from the outset, you make your build reliable for the long term and spare yourself a full rebuild, for a negligible extra cost next to the price of a new engine, all the more so on a sought-after collectible.