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Aftermarket Connecting Rods vs. OEM for the 3.4L

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13 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW

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YOUR RESEARCHAftermarket Connecting Rods vs. OEM for the 3.4L

Reported or suspected cause

bolts letting go

Reported cause

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Reported fixes
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that report identifying a cause
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Reported cause

I haven't heard of many 996 rod fails that weren't traced to the bolts letting go.

Aftermarket Connecting Rods vs. OEM for the 3.4L
Frequently discussed work

Recommend brand

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Suggestion · Original poster

He did not give me a recommended brand, but said that rods are common failure failure point in engines that have had other internal upgrades performed.

Aftermarket Connecting Rods vs. OEM for the 3.4L
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Leading evidence: 'bolts letting go' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'bolts letting go' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Recommend brand' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.

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Use during manufacturing, you

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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed

There are hundreds of thousands of them out there screaming every day, so they must be OK But the Porsche rod bolts can only be torqued a maximum of 4 times (1 time is used during manufacturing, you use 1 for measuring rod/bearing,so that only leaves 1 after installation) and the ARP2000 rod bolts can be torque many times.

Aftermarket Connecting Rods vs. OEM for the 3.4L

Recommend brand

Suggestion or failed attempt

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0
Reported fixes
0
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1
Discussions
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion · Original poster

He did not give me a recommended brand, but said that rods are common failure failure point in engines that have had other internal upgrades performed.

Aftermarket Connecting Rods vs. OEM for the 3.4L

Use 1

Suggestion or failed attempt

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0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

There are hundreds of thousands of them out there screaming every day, so they must be OK But the Porsche rod bolts can only be torqued a maximum of 4 times (1 time is used during manufacturing, you use 1 for measuring rod/bearing,so that only leaves 1 after installation) and the ARP2000 rod bolts can be torque many times.

Aftermarket Connecting Rods vs. OEM for the 3.4L

Use arp bolts

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

You would be ok if you upgraded your OEM rods to use ARP bolts.

Aftermarket Connecting Rods vs. OEM for the 3.4L
Frequently discussed actions (8)

These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.

Recommend brand

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion · Original poster

He did not give me a recommended brand, but said that rods are common failure failure point in engines that have had other internal upgrades performed.

Aftermarket Connecting Rods vs. OEM for the 3.4L

Use 1

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

There are hundreds of thousands of them out there screaming every day, so they must be OK But the Porsche rod bolts can only be torqued a maximum of 4 times (1 time is used during manufacturing, you use 1 for measuring rod/bearing,so that only leaves 1 after installation) and the ARP2000 rod bolts can be torque many times.

Aftermarket Connecting Rods vs. OEM for the 3.4L

Use arp bolts

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

You would be ok if you upgraded your OEM rods to use ARP bolts.

Aftermarket Connecting Rods vs. OEM for the 3.4L

Use during manufacturing, you

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Performed · outcome unconfirmed

There are hundreds of thousands of them out there screaming every day, so they must be OK But the Porsche rod bolts can only be torqued a maximum of 4 times (1 time is used during manufacturing, you use 1 for measuring rod/bearing,so that only leaves 1 after installation) and the ARP2000 rod bolts can be torque many times.

Aftermarket Connecting Rods vs. OEM for the 3.4L

Use fea

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
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Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

A quality company is going to use FEA to make sure the rods are going to hold up at their weakest points, and improve on those spots, so you're also paying for R&D.

Aftermarket Connecting Rods vs. OEM for the 3.4L

Use oem rods

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Suggestion · Original poster

the risk associated with using OEM rods.

Aftermarket Connecting Rods vs. OEM for the 3.4L

Use original connecting rods (of

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Suggestion · Original poster

Since there is no additional labor charge involved with using the original connecting rods (of which I had to replace one) vs.

Aftermarket Connecting Rods vs. OEM for the 3.4L

Use same rod bolts

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Suggestion

The rod bolts have been known to fail(although usually they fail from a spun bearing).The part number has been updated a gazillion times (99710311501)and now ALL M96 N/A M97 N/A and Cayenne V8 Panamera V6 and V8 Porsche engines use the same rod bolts.

Aftermarket Connecting Rods vs. OEM for the 3.4L
Reported and suspected causes (1)

These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.

bolts letting go

No successful repair reported for this finding.

1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Discussions that report identifying a cause
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Reported cause

I haven't heard of many 996 rod fails that weren't traced to the bolts letting go.

Aftermarket Connecting Rods vs. OEM for the 3.4L
Coverage and how to read this overview

Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.

13 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.

  • Rennlist: 1 discussions

0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.

0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.

Generation: 20261026T135432Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources

POST 1 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Hi gang, A spun rod bearing (cyl 6) is forcing an engine rebuild. Since there is no additional labor charge involved with using the original connecting rods (of which I had to replace one) vs. installing aftermarket rods, my machine shop/short block builder is suggesting I consider purchasing a set of aftermarket upgraded forged rods. He did not give me a recommended brand, but said that rods are common failure failure point in engines that have had other internal upgrades performed. In my case, we are going from 3.4 to almost 3.6L via larger bore and a set of aftermarket Wossner pistons & rings. Have any of you ever heard of, or better yet, actually used these "Titanizing Forged 4340 aircraft chrome moly quality steel" connecting rods in a 996? Pankl & Carrillo rods are over $1500/set and I don't want to go there... but these seem to be a decent deal. I just wonder if it's really necessary vs. the risk associated with using OEM rods. Are the OEM rods one of the known 545 modes of failure for this engine too? Here are the $800 set of conrods I'm looking at: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Connecting-R...VWqIBr&vxp=mtr Any constructive thoughts/suggestions greatly appreciated! JT

POST 2Original post

Unknown Ebay connecting rods seem like a bad idea.

POST 3 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

Quotes source post: 14475449

Agreed. Hence my inquiry...

POST 4Original post

I can get Carrillo rods. PM me if you're interested.

POST 5Original post

You would be ok if you upgraded your OEM rods to use ARP bolts. most failures come from the OEM rod bolts.

POST 6Original post

^^ignore what I wrote I've seen at least one thread by a turbro noting the same looking eBay c-rods that weren't even in his rebuild plan but the builder used them anyway. Motor blew up along with the $25k he spent on the rebuild. you get what you pay for

POST 7Original post

Don't skimp on one of the main life forces of the car. Ebay internals are a joke on pretty much all accounts. They are throwing out extra words with 4340 steel, when pretty much most rods are made from 4340 or 300M, so it's not exactly a breakthrough WOW that isn't standard. Not to mention I don't see where titanizing would help since that's mostly for wear and not compression stressors. You have to remember, there is a reason rods cost a certain amount, whether it be I-beam, H-Beam, aluminum, titanium, steel, etc. A quality company is going to use FEA to make sure the rods are going to hold up at their weakest points, and improve on those spots, so you're also paying for R&D. Ebay rods are probably forged, machined to less standard of tolerancing, and thus losing quality in areas that could cause catastrophic failure. Like said above, you get what you pay for. Metallurgy is no joke when it comes to internals.

POST 8Original post

A set of aftermarket rods from LN Engineering are nearly the same cost as a set of OEM rods, which are supplied with the questionable rod bolts. The LN Engineering rods are the ones I'd go with. I know comparatively little about Carillos, but I know their positive reputation from other applications.

POST 9Original post

Quotes source post: 14475398

ASFAIK rod bolts are the weakest link of most rods, except really badly designed rods. I haven't heard of many 996 rod fails that weren't traced to the bolts letting go.

POST 10Original post

I haven't heard of rods or rod bolts failing on M96 engines. It's pretty standard on some Ford, Chevy and BMW designs though.

POST 11Original post

Those E-bay rods your looking at will not fit a M96 N/A engine..those are for a Turbo/GT3 Mezger engine. There are no E-bay rods for M96 N/A engines. The only after market rods I know of are the LN(FAA),R&R, Carrillo , and Pauter. all these are $1500-$1800. The stock rods are a forged/sintered powdered metal. They are good for there intended purpose, high performance street with occasional track days. The rod bolts have been known to fail(although usually they fail from a spun bearing).The part number has been updated a gazillion times (99710311501)and now ALL M96 N/A M97 N/A and Cayenne V8 Panamera V6 and V8 Porsche engines use the same rod bolts. There are hundreds of thousands of them out there screaming every day, so they must be OK But the Porsche rod bolts can only be torqued a maximum of 4 times (1 time is used during manufacturing, you use 1 for measuring rod/bearing,so that only leaves 1 after installation) and the ARP2000 rod bolts can be torque many times. +1 for the ARP2000 If your someone that lays on the rev limiter or intend to do lots of track days or club racing , go with the aftermarket traditional H-beam or x beam (Pauter) forged rods.

POST 13Original post

Quotes source post: 14475472

Hi what price can you get the rods for? I have a �99 3.4

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