1995 Nissan Pickup - Crankshaft

What Is A Crankshaft?

The crankshaft is the functioning center of your vehicle's engine, which takes the vertical motion of the pistons and converts it to rotational power that is transferred to the transmission. No part of engine operation, including the intake of air, compression, combustion, or the removal of exhaust gases can take place without a working crankshaft. The crankshaft is balanced from the factory and connects to the flywheel or flexplate at one end, and usually to the harmonic balancer or crankshaft pulley at the other. Connecting rods which drive the pistons are also secured to the journals of the crankshaft, and it is held in place in the engine block by main caps and bearings. Crankshafts are over-engineered and extremely durable, and their bearing surfaces are machined smooth during manufacturing or rebuilding to a specific tolerance to ensure safe, long-lasting operation. Over the life of a vehicle's engine, the crankshaft may suffer wear or damage due to internal engine component failure, low oil levels or improper oil change intervals, and other factors. This can cause low-end engine noise and knocking, and could eventually lead to further wear or crankshaft failure. The crankshaft may also break under extreme loads, which will prevent the engine from running at all. Replacing a crankshaft is a big job and will require a complete engine tear down and rebuild, often including machining and new bearings to match the new crankshaft's tolerances. When you need to rebuild your engine, shop O'Reilly Auto Parts for the right parts and tools. We carry crankshafts, engine rebuild kits, gaskets, seals, and more to help you complete your engine overhaul. If you're ready to start your engine rebuild, you can also learn more about O'Reilly Machine Shop services that are available at select locations.