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3.2L 24v - R32
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3.2L 24v - R32
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Set of 12 trimetal connecting rod half-bearings for the Volkswagen VR6 2.8, 2.9, 3.2 and 3.6 six-cylinder.
The VR6 is the Volkswagen Group's compact six-cylinder: a very narrow V under a single cylinder head, fitting six cylinders into the space of a four. Introduced in 1991 as a 2.8 litre 12-valve (2,792 cc), joined by the 2.9 litre Syncro, it later moved to 24 valves in 2.8 litre form, then 3.2 litres (3,189 cc, R32) and 3.6 litre FSI (3,597 cc). Fitted to the Volkswagen Golf, Corrado, Passat, Sharan, Touareg, Phaeton, Transporter and Multivan, the Audi A3, TT and Q7 and the Seat Alhambra and Leon, it keeps the same crankpin diameter across all these versions: a single bearing set covers the whole family.
From the factory, the Volkswagen Group fits this engine with standard connecting rod bearings, supplied as graded half shells (part numbers 021 105 701 B on the 2.8 and 2.9, 022 105 701 C on the 3.2 R32). These bearings are sized for the loads of the original engine: as soon as power, revs or boost pressure rise, they reach their limits.
A trimetal 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 12 half shells, six pairs for a six-cylinder engine.
The original bearing relies on an aluminium alloy over a steel back, intended for low to medium loads, whereas trimetal is designed for high, sustained loads: an aluminium bi-metal takes around 8,000 psi, a performance trimetal up to 12,000 psi, 50% more. Hence better resistance and better durability on turbocharged, supercharged and high-revving engines.
| ACL / King bearings Crankpin Ø 53.958 / 53.978 mm Housing bore Ø 56.800 / 56.819 mm Width 17 mm | OEM reference Part no. 021 105 701 B (2.8, 2.9) and 022 105 701 C (3.2) |
| Reference | Brand and treatment | Size | Wall thickness (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6B5530H-STD | ACL Race - Untreated | Standard | 1.404 |
| 6B5530HX-STD | ACL Race - Untreated | Std, increased clearance (HX) | 1.391 |
| 6B5530H-.025 | ACL Race - Untreated | +0.025 | 1.417 |
| 6B5530H-.25 | ACL Race - Untreated | +0.25 | 1.529 |
| CR6764XPC | King Racing - pMaxKote | Standard | 1.402 |
| CR6764XPC STDX | King Racing - pMaxKote | Std, increased clearance (STDX) | 1.389 |
| CR6764XPC.026 | King Racing - pMaxKote | +0.026 | 1.415 |
| CR6764XPC0.25 | King Racing - pMaxKote | +0.25 | 1.529 |
The running clearance is the gap between the bearing and the journal where the oil film flows.
In operation, the crankpin does not rub against the bearing: it rides on this oil film, which carries the load. Clearance sets the thickness of this film: too tight, oil flows poorly, temperature rises and the risk of seizure increases; too loose, oil escapes, the film loses load-carrying capacity and oil pressure drops. The right clearance is the balance between adequate lubrication and a well-maintained oil film.
| Size / grade | When to choose it | ACL Race Series | King XPC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (STD) | Standard journal, not reground | 0.056 to 0.067 mm | 0.054 mm - 0.070 mm |
| Increased clearance (HX / STDX) | Wider clearance: high oil flow, high rpm | 0.081 to 0.092 mm | 0.079 mm - 0.095 mm |
| +0.025 / +0.026 mm | Polished journal | 0.056 to 0.067 mm | 0.054 mm - 0.070 mm |
| +0.25 mm | Journal reground to 0.25 mm | 0.056 to 0.067 mm | 0.054 mm - 0.070 mm |
Checking on assembly: lay a calibrated strip (Plastigauge) on the journal, torque the rod cap to spec (see the torque table below), then compare the crushed strip against the gauge to read the clearance.
| Bolts | By torque | By stretch (gauge) |
| Original bolts (OEM), VR6 2.8 / 2.9 / 3.2 | 30 Nm + 90° | |
| Forged rod ZRP, ARP2000 (3/8″ × 38 mm) | 61 Nm | 0.140 to 0.152 mm |
| Forged rod ZRP, ARP L19 (3/8″ × 38 mm) | 67.8 Nm | 0.152 to 0.165 mm |
| Forged rod Boostline, ARP2000 (3/8″ × 41 mm) | 81 Nm | 0.142 to 0.152 mm |
| Forged rod Boostline, ARP Custom Age 625+ (3/8″ × 41 mm) | 88 Nm | 0.152 to 0.163 mm |
ARP recommends the stretch method (gauge).
The ACL and King rod 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.
 | ACL Bearing Company, an Australian manufacturer of high-performance engine bearings since 1949, offers with its Race Series precise trimetal 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 trimetal alloy, coated with pMaxKote in the XPC version, bearings designed for heavy loads. |
| 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 | No | Yes, pMaxKote: 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) | Standard to +0.25 mm (+ increased clearance STDX) |
This connecting rod bearing set fits the VR6 six-cylinder of the following Audi, Ford, Seat and Volkswagen models:
| Brand | Model (chassis) | Engine code | Power | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUDI | TT / TT Roadster (8N3, 8N9, 8J3, 8J9) | BHE, BPF, BUB, CBRA | 250 hp | 2003–2010 |
| AUDI | A3 / A3 Sportback (8P1, 8PA) | BDB, BMJ, BUB | 250 hp | 2003–2009 |
| AUDI | Q7 (4LB) | BHK | 280 hp | 2006–2010 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | PASSAT B3/B4 / PASSAT B3/B4 Variant (3A2, 35I, 3A5) | AAA, ABV | 174–184 hp | 1991–1997 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | CORRADO (53I) | AAA, ABV | 174–190 hp | 1991–1995 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | GOLF III / GOLF III Variant (1H1, 1H5) | AAA, ABV | 163–190 hp | 1992–1999 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | VENTO (1H2) | AAA | 163–174 hp | 1992–1998 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | SHARAN (7M8, 7M9, 7M6) | AAA, AYL | 174–204 hp | 1995–2010 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | TRANSPORTER T4 Bus / TRANSPORTER T4 Platform/Chassis / TRANSPORTER T4 Van (70A, 70H, 7DA, 7DH, 70J) | AES, AMV | 140–204 hp | 1995–2003 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | GOLF IV / GOLF IV Variant (1J1, 1J5) | AQP, AUE, BDE, BFH, BJS, BML | 204–241 hp | 1999–2006 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | PASSAT CC B6 (357) | BLV | 280 hp | 2008–2012 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | BORA I / BORA Variant (1J2, 1J6) | AQP, AUE, BDE | 204 hp | 1999–2005 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | NEW BEETLE (9C1, 1C1) | AXJ | 224 hp | 2000–2001 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | PHAETON (3D1, 3D2, 3D3, 3D4, 3D6, 3D7, 3D8, 3D9) | AYT, BKL, BRK | 241 hp | 2002–2008 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | TOUAREG (7LA, 7L6, 7L7) | AZZ, BAA, BHK, BKJ, BMV, BMX, BRJ | 220–280 hp | 2002–2010 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | TRANSPORTER T5 Bus / TRANSPORTER T5 Van / TRANSPORTER T5 Platform/Chassis (7HB, 7HJ, 7EB, 7EJ, 7HA, 7HH, 7EA, 7EH) | BDL, BKK, CFLA | 235 hp | 2003–2009 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | MULTIVAN T5 (7HM, 7HN, 7HF, 7EF, 7EM, 7EN) | BDL, BKK, CFLA | 235 hp | 2004–2009 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | GOLF V (1K1) | BUB, CBRA | 250 hp | 2005–2008 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | EOS (1F7, 1F8) | BUB, CBRA | 250 hp | 2006–2009 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | PASSAT B6 / PASSAT B6 Variant (3C2, 3C5) | AXZ, BLV | 250–280 hp | 2005–2010 |
| VOLKSWAGEN | JETTA III (1K2) | AAA | 174 hp | 2009–2010 |
| SEAT | ALHAMBRA (7V8, 7V9) | AUE, AYL | 204 hp | 2000–2010 |
| SEAT | LEON (1M1) | AUE, BDE | 204 hp | 2001–2006 |
| SEAT | TOLEDO II (1M2) | AUE | 204 hp | 2000–2001 |
| FORD | GALAXY I (WGR) | AAA, AYL | 174–204 hp | 1995–2006 |
