Product successfully added to your shopping cart
Quantity
Total
There are 0 items in your cart. There is 1 item in your cart.
Total products
Total shipping To be determined
Total
1.8L 16v - EA888
Manufacturers
1.8L 16v - EA888
Warning: Last items in stock!
New product
Set of 4 forged 4340-steel connecting rods for Audi / Volkswagen 1.8 / 2.0 TFSI EA888.
The EA888 is the Volkswagen-Audi Group's turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, launched in 2007 to replace the 1.8T 20V. Available in 1.8 and 2.0 TFSI direct-injection versions, it powers a broad family of sporty models: Audi A4 (8K) and A5 (8T), Volkswagen Golf GTI V and VI, and the Scirocco III, with factory outputs ranging from 120 to 220 hp.
The 1.8 TFSI displaces 1,798 cc (bore 82.5 mm, stroke 84.1 mm); the 2.0 TFSI versions share the same short block and, above all, the same rod geometry (148 mm centre-to-centre, 21 mm piston pin). Renowned for its strength, the EA888 responds very well to tuning: a remap, a larger turbo and forged pistons quickly raise cylinder pressure, pushing the stock rod beyond its safety margin.
Machined from high-strength 4340 steel, these reinforced forged connecting rods secure the bottom end as soon as power rises. They become essential when fitting forged pistons, raising the rev limit, increasing boost pressure or gaining displacement, all cases where the original EA888 rod reaches its limits.
Designed to absorb the heavy loads of tuned engines, turbo as well as supercharged, they cover every discipline, from rally to drift, drag, circuit and track days, hill climb and time attack, and support Stage 2, Stage 3 and Stage 4+ builds, right up to competition engines.
| Reference | Brand | Profile | Bolts | Pin diameter OEM 21 mm | Small-end width | Big-end diameter OEM 50.6 mm | Big-end width | Center-to-center OEM 148 mm | Weight per rod |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-AUD-008I | ZRP | I | ARP 2000-3/8"-38mm | 21 mm | 50.6 mm | 21.9 mm | 148 mm | 522 g | |
| R-AUD-008I-L19 | ZRP | I | ARP L19-3/8"-38mm | 21 mm | 50.6 mm | 21.9 mm | 148 mm | 522 g |
| Rod | Bolts | Torque | Recommended stretch |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZRP (R-AUD-008I) | ARP 2000-3/8"-38mm | 61 N·m | 0.140 – 0.152 mm |
| ZRP (R-AUD-008I-L19) | ARP L19-3/8"-38mm | 67.8 N·m | 0.152 – 0.165 mm |
Manufacturers recommend the stretch-gauge method as the reference for tightening: more accurate than torque alone, it ensures uniform preload on tuned engines.
| 4340 is a nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy steel used in aerospace as well as motorsport. Forged and then heat-treated (quench and temper), it combines excellent tensile strength, high fatigue endurance and genuine ductility. Compared with an original rod, usually made of sintered metal optimised for series cost, a forged 4340 rod gains roughly 19% in yield strength, 8% in tensile strength and, above all, 19 to 37% in fatigue strength, giving a service life under cyclic load several times longer. That is exactly what makes forged 4340 the reference material as soon as boost and rpm climb. |
 | I profile. Its slimmer central section makes the rod lighter: less inertia and freer revving. It is the profile of choice on modern turbo engines such as the EA888, where it offers the best compromise between lightness and strength, securing the bottom end while preserving responsiveness. |
The rod bolt is one of the most heavily stressed parts in the engine. The key is to match the ARP grade to the real use of the build, then to strictly follow the assembly torque and stretch.
 | ARP 2000 (tensile strength around 220,000 psi, i.e. about 1,517 MPa) is the high-performance standard. Suitable for builds up to 150 hp per cylinder in 5/16" or 200 hp per cylinder in 3/8", and up to 8,500 rpm, it is the most common grade in circuit, track day, drift, rally, drag and hill climb, valued for its robustness, reliability and versatility, with no particular storage constraint. |
 | ARP L19 (tensile strength around 260,000 psi, i.e. about 1,793 MPa) is designed for engines pushed to the extreme, up to 200 hp per cylinder in 5/16" or 250 hp per cylinder in 3/8", and up to 10,000 rpm: very high boost pressure, sustained high rpm and elevated cylinder pressure. It is the choice for big-power builds in drag, drift, rally and circuit. Note: sensitive to corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement, it must be stored and fitted oiled, away from moisture. |
| In addition to torque tightening, measuring connecting-rod bolt stretch is the most reliable way to achieve optimal preload. The check is carried out with the bolt fitted: a dial gauge is placed on both ends of the bolt and its actual stretch is read, which must match the recommended value (see the torque and stretch table above). This method eliminates the friction variations inherent to torque tightening and secures the assembly on heavily stressed engines. |
 | ZRP is a Greek brand of high-performance forged connecting rods, designed by Alex Drakos in Athens. Each rod is forged from 4340 steel, precision-machined and balanced to ±1 g to stay reliable at high rpm. Offered here in the I profile with ARP 2000 or L19 bolts, they are designed and inspected in Greece, and proven in rally, on circuit and in drift. |
 | 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 |
These forged connecting rods are compatible with all vehicles fitted with the EA888 1.8 / 2.0 TFSI engine (148 mm centre-to-centre, 21 mm pin):
| Brand | Model (chassis) | Engine code | Power | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUDI | A4 (8K) 1.8 TFSI | CABA | 120 hp | 2008–2015 |
| AUDI | A4 (8K) 1.8 TFSI | CABB | 160 hp | 2007–2012 |
| AUDI | A4 (8K) 1.8 TFSI | CDHA | 120 hp | 2008–2015 |
| AUDI | A4 (8K) quattro 2.0 TFSI | CAEB | 211 hp | 2008–2015 |
| AUDI | A4 (8K) quattro 2.0 TFSI | CAED | 220 hp | 2013–2015 |
| AUDI | A4 (8K) quattro 2.0 TFSI | CFKA | 179 hp | 2009–2013 |
| AUDI | A4 (8K) quattro 2.0 TFSI | CPMA | 211 hp | 2008–2015 |
| AUDI | A4 (8K) quattro 2.0 TFSI | CPMB | 220 hp | 2013–2015 |
| AUDI | A5 (8T) 1.8 TFSI | CABD | 170 hp | 2007–2017 |
| AUDI | A5 (8T) Sportback 1.8 TFSI | CDHB | 160 hp | 2009–2011 |
| AUDI | A5 (8T) Sportback 2.0 TFSI | CDNB | 179 hp | 2009–2014 |
| AUDI | A5 (8T) Sportback quattro 2.0 TFSI | CDNC | 211 hp | 2009–2013 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | Golf V 2.0 GTI | CCTA | 200 hp | 2004–2009 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | Golf VI 2.0 GTI | CBFA | 200 hp | 2009–2013 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | Scirocco III 2.0 TSI | CAWB | 200 hp | 2008–2009 |
OEM reference: 06H198401A / 06J198401D (set of 4 rods).
When an original bottom end fails (broken rod, scored crank, block to rebuild), the bill climbs fast, yet without guaranteeing better durability than standard.
For an equivalent, or even lower, budget, fitting forged 4340 connecting rods together with forged pistons brings far greater reliability and safety margin, plus genuine room for power growth. It is the solution chosen by European tuners.
At the same budget: more reliability, more potential and more resale value.
