Clevite Engine Crankshaft Main Bearing

Clevite Crankshaft Main Bearings: The Industry Standard for a Reason

When engine builders talk about crankshaft main bearings, one name comes up more than any other: Clevite. The crankshaft main bearing is the foundation of every rotating assembly — these precision inserts cradle the crankshaft journals, maintain the critical oil film that prevents metal-to-metal contact, and absorb the enormous loads generated by combustion. Choosing the right main bearing is not just a rebuild detail; it's a decision that defines how long and hard an engine can work. Browse the full Clevite Engine Crankshaft Main Bearing catalog or explore everything from the Clevite brand page.

TriMetal™ Technology: Decades of Proven Engineering

Clevite's TriMetal™ construction is the cornerstone of its main bearing lineup. The three-layer design bonds a hardened steel back with a copper-lead alloy intermediate layer and a precision electroplated white-metal “babbitt” surface overlay. This architecture delivers a combination of conformability, embedability, slipperiness, and fatigue resistance that single-material or conventional bi-metal bearings simply cannot match. Clevite TriMetal™ main bearings are documented to offer up to 40% better seizure resistance and the ability to withstand over 60% higher loads for extended periods compared to competing bearings — critical margins in a high-performance or heavily loaded engine.

Clevite 77 Main Bearing Series Guide

Clevite organizes its main bearing lineup into well-defined series, each engineered for a specific use case — allowing builders to match the bearing to the exact demands of the application:

• P-Series: The original Clevite 77 TriMetal design, built with high eccentricity, high crush, and reduced overlay thickness to prevent overlay fatigue. P-Series main sets are typically full-grooved to maximize oil delivery to rod bearings and are a versatile first choice for performance rebuilds.
• H-Series: Developed for NASCAR-type racing and suitable for all competition engines, H-Series main bearings feature medium eccentricity, high crush, and enlarged chamfers for greater crankshaft fillet clearance. Available with 180-degree upper-half grooving (H) or full 360-degree grooving (HG), they are the recommended starting point when unsure which performance series to choose.
• HC-Series (TriArmor™): HC-Series bearings add a moly/graphite, high-pressure dry film coating over the TriMetal construction. This low-friction PTFE polymer treatment provides intermittent dry lubrication, is unaffected by dust or dirt, and delivers exceptional protection across a broad range of operating temperatures — ideal for today's turbocharged and stop/start engines.
• F-Series: Built for maximum seizure resistance, F-Series main bearings use a lead-tin-indium-alumina electroplated overlay over a cast bronze-lead substrate. This overlay increases seizure resistance by 126% over conventional H-Series bearings while remaining dimensionally identical — a direct drop-in upgrade for the most demanding competition builds.
• V-Series: Derived from the former Vandervell design, V-Series main sets use a lead-indium overlay for superior conformability and single-piece thrust bearings. Extra-clearance options (VX and VXX suffixes) are available for builders dialing in precise oil film tolerances.

BiMetal™ Main Bearings for Modern OEM-Replacement Applications

As modern OEM engines increasingly specify aluminum bearings, Clevite responded with its BiMetal™ line. These 100% lead-free aluminum-silicon bearings feature 60% more silicon content than leading competitors, resulting in better journal surface conditioning and greater wear and seizure resistance. BiMetal main bearings include precision-bored IDs and, where appropriate, straight-shell main bearing designs with an “umbrella” groove for superior oil control and improved pressure — a direct-fit replacement built to OE or better standards.

Racing Heritage and Real-World Durability

Clevite main bearings have powered winning engines in NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA, ARCA, and IHRA competition. That racing pedigree is not just marketing — it is an active engineering proving ground. The same technologies developed under race conditions are validated to exceed 150,000-mile light-vehicle OE durability requirements and 300,000-mile heavy-vehicle OE requirements. Whether the application is a weekend bracket racer, a diesel work truck, or a complete street engine rebuild, Clevite main bearings deliver a level of engineering depth that few competitors can match.