2004 Ford F-150 - Connecting Rods, Pistons & Rings

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Connecting Rods, Pistons, and Piston Rings


Pistons are at the heart of every internal combustion engine. However, what most people imagine when they think of a piston is actually three or more independent parts. Most pistons are made up of the piston, connecting rods, and rings, as well as hardware to properly install the piston assembly. If any of the parts of the piston assembly fail, you may experience a catastrophic engine failure that could leave you stranded. If you notice any issue caused by a worn connecting rod, piston, or rings, shop O'Reilly Auto Parts to find the parts you need for your repair.

What Do Pistons Do?

Pistons move up and down inside the cylinders of the engine block. The main function of the piston is to compress the fuel and air prior to ignition and convert the pressure generated by internal combustion into directional force that pushes the crankshaft and creates power. Pistons can fail over time due to poor engine maintenance, poor air-fuel mixture, poor fuel quality, or using wrong fuel octane. If a piston begins to fail, you may notice engine noise, misfires, burning oil, and loss of power. If you'd like to learn more about fuel octane, our How-To Hub can help you better understand why this rating is important to your engine's performance.

What Are Piston Rings?

Piston rings seal the pistons to the walls of the engine cylinders. This prevents combustion gasses from leaking into the crankcase, and helps ensure the air-fuel mixture is pulled in and exhaust gas is pushed out of the cylinder. Over time, improper lubrication or poor engine maintenance can cause piston rings to wear and allow blow-by, which means oil and gasses can leak into and out of the cylinder. If the piston rings in your engine are worn or damaged, you will likely notice smoke from the exhaust and a loss in power.

Connecting Rods

The connecting rods connect the pistons to the crankshaft and transfer the crankshaft's motion to the piston. A piston wrist pin is used to secure the piston and connecting rod together, and main bearings allow the crankshaft to rotate at the bottom of the connecting rod with minimal friction. The most common connecting rod failure happens when the main bearings wear to a point of failure, and this can cause a bearing to start knocking or lock up and bend the connecting rod, leading to catastrophic failure.

Shop Pistons, Rings, and Connecting Rod Parts

Find the connecting rods, pistons, and rings you need for your repair at O'Reilly Auto Parts. We carry each part individually or as a piston kit, or they may be available as part of an engine rebuild kit. Oversized pistons and performance piston kits are also available for engine rebuilds and high-output applications. We also carry the bushings, bearings, and other hardware you need for a complete piston installation and a lasting repair. Don't forget to shop for the lubricants, coolant, filters, and other items you need for the proper engine maintenance to get the maximum life from your engine.