Tri-metal crankshaft main bearings Toyota 3S-GE 3S-GTE

The Toyota 3S-GE and 3S-GTE four-cylinder engines

The 3S-GE and 3S-GTE are the Toyota 2.0 litre four-cylinder engines with twin overhead camshafts and 16 valves, the latter turbocharged. They power the Toyota Celica, MR2, Carina, Corona, Caldina and Altezza, among others. ACL and King list a main bearing set for these engines, which also fits the 1S, 2S, 2S-E, 3S-FC, 3S-FE, 4S-FE and 5S-FE.

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

Three layers make up a trimetal bearing: the steel back for stiffness, the copper-lead intermediate layer for load capacity, then the anti-friction running layer that protects the main 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.

Where an aluminium bi-metal bearing, designed for low to medium loads, withstands about 8,000 psi, a performance trimetal bearing goes up to 12,000 psi: 50% extra margin. That is what keeps it durable on an engine boosted by a turbo or supercharger, or pushed to high rpm.

Technical specifications

Technical guide

Designed for engine building and motorsport, these ACL and King trimetal main bearings carry much more load than an original bearing, whether the engine gains power, revs higher or receives a turbo or supercharger. They are available in several sizes: the standard size, a +0.025 / +0.026 mm size for a main journal that has only been polished, +0.25 and +0.50 mm regrind sizes and the HX / STDX version with increased clearance for high-revving engines or engines needing a high oil flow. That makes it possible to put a reground crankshaft back into service without changing range and to set the clearance for the oil and use.

The two brands

	ACL Bearing Company has been making high-performance engine bearings in Australia since 1949. Its Race Series offers precise trimetal bearings, available in many sizes and proven in tuned and racing 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	No	pMaxKote (XPC version): polymer coating on the surface that limits wear when lubrication drops (start-ups, thin oil film). The XP version has no coating.
Available sizes	Standard to +0.50 mm (+ increased clearance HX)	Standard to +0.50 mm ; XPC: standard, STDX, +0.026, +0.25 and +0.50 mm

Vehicle compatibility

This main bearing set fits the Toyota 3S-GE and 3S-GTE four-cylinder engines of the following vehicles: