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There are some car parts that signal something special to gearheads. They make it clear that the car being worked on is important, and that maximizing the performance is a priority. Connecting rods are a perfect example of this kind of car part. Everyone can put fancy wheels on their car, or upgrade headlights. And anyone with a passing interest in their car and some money to spend might improve the exhaust system or add performance brakes. But if you’re upgrading the connecting rods on your car, it’s because you’re a good old-fashioned gearhead. You love your car, you love working on the engine, and you love extracting every bit of performance that you can.
Connecting rods are what connect the pistons in your engine to the crankshaft. In layman's terms, the connecting rods take the energy generated by the moving pistons, and transfer it to the crankshaft. It’s a simple enough job, but needless to say, it’s an absolutely critical one. Whether your car’s connecting rods are in need of a replacement or you’re just looking to make a performance upgrade, you’ll have to choose between H-beam rods and I-beam rods, which are named after the shape of their cross-sections if you were to look down on the rods. Thankfully, you can’t go wrong with either H-beam rods or I-beam rods, but as with all car parts, it’s always best to make an informed decision. Here’s what you need to know about both H-beam connecting rods and I-beam connecting rods.
H-Beam Rods
For a long time, the general rule of thumb with H-beam connecting rods is that they are the strongest style of rods. Because of that strength, they’ve developed a reputation for being the connecting rod of choice for forced induction engines, since they’re better equipped to handle the high compression pressure found in these engines. H-beam rods are a very common choice for high-horsepower engines, and as such are commonly found on drag racers, or any cars using heavy boost, nitrous, or anything in that vein. However, they’re less common in high-revving vehicles, as they usually don’t handle stretching loads as well.
Another strength (quite literally) of H-beam connecting rods is that they handle abnormal forces very well, which means they do well at resisting forces that might bend the rod at the face.
One of the few cons of H-beam connecting rods is that they’re usually a few grams heavier than their I-beat connecting rod counterparts. A few grams may not seem like a lot, but when you’re dealing with ultra high-performance vehicles, every single gram counts, and can impact the speed of your vehicle.
I-Beam Rods
While H-beam and I-beam connecting rods accomplish the same thing in very similar ways, they have a few differences. So, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that they have fairly opposite pros and cons.
While H-beam rods handle compressing loads exceptionally well, I-beam rods are well equipped to handle stretching loads. This essentially means that I-beam connecting rods are usually considered a better choice for high-revving vehicles. Unlike H-beam connecting rods, which are commonly used in forced induction engines, I-beam connecting rods are often the connecting rod of choice for naturally aspirated engines.
Similarly, the physical strength of an I-beam connecting rod is the opposite of an H-beam rod. I-beam connecting rods usually handle normal forces a little bit better, meaning they do a good job of avoiding being bent from the side.
I-beam connecting rods are usually a little bit lighter weight than H-beam rods, which can obviously help improve performance. If you’re looking to get the most out of your engine, trying to keep weight as low as possible is a pretty good place to start! Similarly, I-beam connecting rods are often a little bit smaller than their H-beam counterparts, which can be beneficial for certain engine designs, though the primary benefit of the smaller size is that they weigh less.
Choosing The Right Rods For Your Vehicle
As you can see, there are some key differences between H-beam connecting rods and I-beam connecting rods. If you’re not sure which type of connecting rods are the best for your vehicle, the simplest solution is opt for H-beam rods if you have a high-pressure, forced induction engine with a ton of horsepower, and to choose I-beam rods if you have a naturally aspirated, high-revving engine, or more of an everyday vehicle. That’s a basic rule of thumb with connecting rods that it never hurts to follow.
With all that said, it’s important to note that the technology for H-beam and I-beam rods has really improved over the years, to the point where most of the pros and cons have nearly evened out. You’ll occasionally even find some I-beam connecting rods that handle high horsepower output as well or better than some H-beam connecting rods. And you might find some H-beam connecting rods that weigh less than I-beam connecting rods. In fact, if you were to ask a mechanic which type of connecting rod is best for your car, they might not even have an opinion. And if you were to ask two mechanics, you might get two different opinions!
When it comes to connecting rods, the most important thing is to make sure that you’re buying connecting rods that are power rated for the horsepower output of your vehicle, and that are well made. It’s critical to purchase connecting rods that have a shot peened surface, and that are fully smooth, with no sharp edges or corners at all. As long as the connecting rods check all those boxes, you really can’t go wrong with H-beams or with I-beams, and you’re free to move on to other factors like brands you trust and price point.
If you’re looking to purchase H-beam or I-beam connecting rods for your vehicle, or want to talk with some trusted gearheads who can help you figure out the best option for your car, then we’re here to help at JEGS. We’ve got all the parts you need to maximize your vehicle’s performance, and the staff available to help you find the perfect parts for you and your car.
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