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Bearing troubleshooting. If you are wondering what bearing you need. Best is always to look at the bearings that came out. Or ask the tech that cut your case to tell you what they cut the case to. If you do not have that information you can use the information below to help troubleshoot what you need.

Case Bore Measurements (also known as the align bore on the case) should be measured with the 2 case halves torqued together. This measures what the case journal diameter should be. (These measurements do not include the small pulley side bearing)
STOCK - 0MM - 2.559"
0.020" - .50MM - 2.579"
0.040" - 1.00MM - 2.599"
0.060" - 1.50MM - 2.619"
0.080" - 2.00MM - 2.639"

Thrust Measurement - This measurement measures how thick the rear / flywheel side bearing is. Please note there are many machine shops including our own that "custom cuts" the rear thrust bearing. If your measurement is not exactly 0.040" or 0.080" over that is okay, you may just have to have someone cut the bearing to match your engine case. We always suggest taking this to a local machine shop with your engine case so they can fit the bearing exactly to your case. You want to then purchase the bearing that will be larger. So for example if you measurement is .050" instead of .040" you want to get the .080" thrust bearing. So it can be cut to fit your engine case.
STOCK - 0MM - 0.864"
0.040" - 1.00MM - 0.824"
0.080" - 2.00MM - 0.784"

Crank Measurement - This measures the inner bearing diameter, or the crank journal.
Please be sure to check this several times as it is the lowest number, and easiest to make an error when measuring, also least likely to catch when installing.
STOCK - 2.164"
0.010" UNDER - 2.154"
0.020" UNDER - 2.144"
0.030" UNDER - 2.134"
0.040" UNDER - 2.124"

If you continue to have any problems or questions concerning what bearings you may need please feel free to reach out to us.
570-788-0930 M-F 9:30am-4:30pm EST or email [email protected]
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Air-Cooled VW EMPI Main Bearings

Main bearings are crucial to any engine. They help the engine spin and move all the parts freely. The crankshaft spins against the main bearings of any engine. If one of the main bearings malfunctions, it’s detrimental to the entire engine and the engine will be damaged. It’s important to have high-quality, OEM-certified precision bearings, otherwise they may not be able to rotate properly and could damage the entire engine.

Here at V-Dub Store, we carry various certified EMPI main bearings for your Volkswagen vehicle. We carry various sizes that come for all VW vehicle types, including all Type 1 VW engines, Type 3, CT engines, and more. The actual number of main bearings really depends on the overall load factor and maximum engine speed of your vehicle. The more bearings you have in the engine, the greater the size and cost of the engine. However, this also reduces the stress and deflection that is caused by the distance from the crank pins to its closest bearings.

Most engines have a minimum of two main bearings -- one at each end of the crank. Additional bearings can be located along the crankshaft, sometimes having one bearing per crank pin that is usually designed for high RPMs.

Whether you just need an important part for your engine or you’re maybe just revamping your engine for a greater RPM, V-Dub Store has got you covered for all of your vehicle needs and outstanding performance!

Don't hesitate to ask for help. Call us at 570-371-6667 if you are not sure what specific VW main bearing to choose from.