Connecting Rod Bearings

This procedure covers the removal, inspection, and replacement of connecting rod bearings on the 2018-2024 Honda Accord 1.5L Turbo engine, requiring complete engine disassembly including cylinder head removal.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Connecting rod bearing set (standard or oversized) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Connecting rod bolts (new) × 8 — Use OEM specification - single use only
• Engine oil filter × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Lower crankcase gasket × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Cylinder head gasket × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Timing chain cover gasket × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Oil pan gasket × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Valve cover gasket × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Complete engine gasket set × 1 — Recommended for this job

Fluids

• Honda Genuine 0W-20 — 4 qt
• Honda Type 2 Coolant (Blue) — 6 qt

Preparation

1. Disconnect negative battery cable and wait 3 minutes for SRS system discharge
2. Drain engine oil and coolant completely into appropriate containers
3. Remove engine cover and air intake system
4. Relieve fuel system pressure by removing fuel pump relay and cranking engine until it stalls
5. Remove engine and transmission assembly from vehicle using engine hoist
6. Separate transmission from engine block
7. Mount engine securely on engine stand with oil pan facing up
8. Remove all external accessories including alternator, starter, AC compressor, and wiring harnesses
9. Clean exterior of engine thoroughly to prevent contamination during disassembly
10. Organize workspace with clean assembly area and parts storage

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove oil pan and oil pickup tube
   Remove oil pan mounting bolts in reverse of tightening sequence (start from ends, work toward center). Carefully separate oil pan from lower crankcase using a plastic trim tool - do not pry with metal tools. Remove oil pickup tube mounting bolts and extract pickup tube assembly.
2. 2

   Remove timing chain cover, chain, and front engine components
   Rotate crankshaft to TDC on cylinder #1. Remove crankshaft pulley bolt using holding tool. Remove timing chain cover bolts and separate cover. Remove timing chain tensioner, guides, and chain. Mark camshaft and crankshaft sprocket positions before removal. Remove water pump and chain tensioner assembly.
3. 3

   Remove cylinder head assembly
   Remove valve cover. Loosen cylinder head bolts in sequence (reverse of tightening pattern, working from outside toward center in three passes). Carefully lift cylinder head straight up from block. Do not pry between head and block surfaces. Place cylinder head on clean surface with combustion chambers facing up.
4. 4

   Remove lower crankcase and expose crankshaft
   With engine inverted on stand, remove lower crankcase bolts in proper sequence. Carefully separate lower crankcase from upper block using plastic wedges only at designated pry points. Lift away lower crankcase and main bearing caps as an assembly. Inspect main bearing surfaces for damage.
   ⚠The lower crankcase contains the main bearing caps and must be kept as a matched set with the block. Never interchange components between engines.
5. 5

   Mark and remove connecting rod caps
   Verify each connecting rod and cap are marked with cylinder number (1-4) and orientation. If not marked, use metal stamps on non-bearing surfaces to mark them. Remove connecting rod cap bolts and carefully separate caps from rods, keeping each cap with its matching rod. Note the orientation - the oil squirt hole faces the intake side.
   ⚠️Connecting rods and caps are matched pairs and must not be mixed between cylinders or reversed in orientation. Mark clearly before disassembly.
6. 6

   Remove piston and rod assemblies
   Check for ridge at top of cylinder bore. If present, use ridge reamer to remove before pushing pistons out to prevent ring breakage. Push each piston and connecting rod assembly up and out through the top of the cylinder bore. Place rags in bottom of cylinders to catch assemblies. Keep each piston with its matching connecting rod and rod cap. Store assemblies in numbered order.
   ⚠Do not allow connecting rods to strike crankshaft journals during removal. This can damage the precision-ground surfaces.
7. 7

   Remove old bearings and inspect components
   Remove bearing inserts from connecting rods and caps. Inspect old bearings for unusual wear patterns, scoring, or embedded material - this indicates root cause issues. Clean connecting rod big end bores thoroughly with solvent and lint-free cloths. Inspect connecting rod for cracks, especially around bolt holes and big end. Measure connecting rod big end bore diameter for out-of-round condition.
   ℹ️If bearings show unusual wear, damage, or excessive clearance, inspect crankshaft journals and measure with micrometer. Journals may require regrinding and oversized bearings.
8. 8

   Measure crankshaft journal clearances
   Clean crankshaft rod journals with solvent and dry completely. Measure each journal diameter with micrometer in multiple locations to check for taper and out-of-round. Standard journal diameter is 47.988-48.000mm. Maximum taper/out-of-round is 0.005mm. If journals are out of specification, crankshaft requires machining and oversized bearings must be used.
   ⚠Worn or damaged journals cannot be corrected by installing new bearings. The crankshaft must be reground and oversized bearings installed.
9. 9

   Install and check bearing clearance with Plastigage
   Install new bearing inserts into connecting rod and cap - ensure locating tabs engage properly. Place strip of Plastigage across full width of crankshaft journal parallel to crankshaft centerline. Install connecting rod cap in correct orientation with NEW rod bolts. Torque rod bolts to specification WITHOUT rotating crankshaft. Remove cap and measure flattened Plastigage width with scale provided. Specification is 0.020-0.042mm (0.0008-0.0017 inch). Repeat for each rod journal.
   ⚠️Do not rotate crankshaft with Plastigage installed as it will give false readings. Remove rod caps without rotating crank.
   ⚠If clearance is below minimum, bearings or journals are incorrect size. If above maximum, journals are worn and require machining.
   Torque spec

   Connecting Rod Bolts20 Nm (15 lb-ft) + 90°
10. 10

    Clean and prepare for final assembly
    Remove all Plastigage material from bearings and journals using clean cloth - do not use solvent on new bearings. Clean all rod bearing surfaces and crankshaft journals with lint-free cloth moistened with clean engine oil. Inspect connecting rod bolt holes in rods for damage or stretching. Ensure oil passages in connecting rods are clear and unobstructed.
    ⚠Any debris, lint, or foreign material on bearing surfaces will cause immediate bearing failure upon engine start.
11. 11

    Install final bearings and assemble connecting rods to crankshaft
    Lubricate new bearing inserts with clean engine oil. Install bearings into connecting rods and caps ensuring locating tabs seat properly. Lubricate crankshaft journals with clean engine oil. Install piston/rod assemblies into cylinders using ring compressor, ensuring rod orientation is correct (oil squirt hole toward intake). Position each connecting rod over its journal. Lubricate rod cap bearings and install caps in correct orientation. Install NEW connecting rod bolts hand tight.
    ⚠️Use only NEW connecting rod bolts. Old bolts are torque-to-yield design and will fail if reused, causing catastrophic engine damage.
12. 12

    Torque connecting rod bolts in final sequence
    Torque all connecting rod bolts to 20 Nm (15 lb-ft) in sequence: cylinders 1, 2, 3, 4. Then perform angle tightening: rotate each bolt an additional 90 degrees using angle gauge. Verify each bolt has been angle torqued - mark bolts with paint pen after angle torquing to prevent missing any. After torquing, rotate crankshaft two complete revolutions by hand to verify smooth rotation with no binding.
    ⚠️The 90-degree angle torque MUST be performed after initial torque. Missing this step will result in loose rod bolts and engine failure.
    ⚠If crankshaft binds during rotation after torquing, stop immediately. Disassemble and check for debris, misaligned bearings, or damaged components.
    Torque spec

    Connecting Rod Bolts20 Nm (15 lb-ft) + 90°
13. 13

    Install lower crankcase with main bearing caps
    Apply thin bead of Honda Bond sealant to lower crankcase mating surface. Install new lower crankcase gasket. Carefully position lower crankcase assembly over crankshaft and align with block. Install lower crankcase bolts and torque in proper sequence from center outward. Allow sealant to cure for 30 minutes before proceeding.
    ⚠Lower crankcase must be installed with proper bolt sequence to prevent warping and oil leaks.
    Torque spec

    Gasket Bolts19 Nm (14 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Reinstall cylinder head and timing components
    Install new cylinder head gasket on block with orientation marks facing up. Carefully lower cylinder head onto block, aligning dowel pins. Install cylinder head bolts and torque in proper sequence per factory specification. Reinstall timing chain, sprockets, guides, and tensioner with proper timing marks aligned. Install timing chain cover with new gasket. Install crankshaft pulley and torque to specification.
    ⚠Cylinder head bolt torque sequence and values are critical. Refer to Honda service manual for exact pattern and multi-step torque values plus angle specifications.
    Torque spec

    Cover Bolts15 Nm (11 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Install oil pickup, oil pan, and complete engine reassembly
    Install oil pickup tube and torque mounting bolts. Apply Honda Bond sealant to oil pan mating surface and install new gasket. Install oil pan and torque bolts in proper sequence. Install all external accessories, sensors, and wiring. Install new oil filter. Reinstall engine and transmission into vehicle. Reconnect all hoses, electrical connections, and mechanical linkages. Fill with Honda Genuine 0W-20 engine oil to proper level. Fill cooling system with Honda Type 2 coolant.
    Torque spec

    Mounting Bolts26 Nm (19 lb-ft)

    Sensor Bolts10 Nm (8 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Torque all fasteners to proper specification using calibrated torque wrench
2. Double-check timing chain alignment before rotating engine
3. Replace all gaskets and seals that were disturbed during disassembly
4. Use only new connecting rod bolts - never reuse torque-to-yield bolts

Verification

• Rotate crankshaft by hand through several complete revolutions - it should turn smoothly with no binding or unusual resistance
• Perform compression test on all cylinders - readings should be within 10% of each other and meet Honda specification (minimum 185 psi)
• Start engine and verify oil pressure reaches normal specification within 5 seconds
• Check for oil leaks around oil pan, timing cover, and cylinder head gasket after warm-up
• Listen for unusual noises including knocking, ticking, or rattling that could indicate bearing issues
• Monitor oil pressure gauge during test drive - pressure should remain stable under all operating conditions
• Perform oil and filter change after 500 miles of break-in driving

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