A large number of manufacturers of connecting rods have chosen ARP bolts as standard equipment.
They proudly advertise their products as equipped with ARP rod bolts for good reason.
The bolt has always been the weak link in a connecting rod, and racers know that nobody builds a better bolt than ARP.
It is critically important to monitor the stretch of each bolt and replace it when it has permanently elongated by .0005.
Below you will find an extensive listing of aftermarket connecting rods and specifications for replacement bolts.
In some instances, you may want to go to an ARP rod bolt made from a better grade of material.
This will provide you with reliability.
However, please understand that when you want bolts made from exotic, super high strength materials, the cost will increase significantly.
If you're on a budget, it's best to go with the most cost-effective solution.
This is typically defined by the loads carried by the bolts in terms of piston/rod weight and the rotational speed of the engine.
The most cost-effective design is the one in which the bolt strength is just great enough to handle its anticipated load plus a safety margin for occasional overloads.
Using a material with far more strength than required is not as cost-effective but will definitely give you an extra margin of safety and longer service life.
You should also know that ARP rod bolts are superior to those from other manufacturers, especially in the area of fatigue strength.
Testing has shown ARP rod bolts to have ten times the fatigue strength of other bolts.
In the chart below, you'll find a bar chart that graphically shows the difference between ARP Pro Series rod bolts and the fastener made by a leading competitor.
It's easy to see why ARP bolts are superior.
As such, it makes good sense to rely on ARP for connecting rod service.
