Clevite Coated Bearings

[nm9stheham]

I have read up in the Clevite-Mahle catalog about their anti-wear coatings option on the 77 series bearings; sounds nice. But paying $200 for a set of the -K suffixed mains for the intended use was a bit steep LOL. So a set of MS540H and CB481HN bearings (early LA's: 273 and 340) were ordered. When the boxes were opened, a coffee colored coating was observed on these non-K suffixed bearings, which looks just like the K-suffix coated bearings described in their catalog and that are illustrated online.

Has anyone run into this and is there another explanation for this coffee colored bearing coatings? It's been a while since I have bought this brand so I could well be missing something.

 

[MOPAROFFICIAL]

Those are HP narrow rod bearings you would use with a raised fillet journals.
Steel back, more crush, cost more than regular 77 rod bearings.

 

[nm9stheham]

Got that, tnx.. need them for a large fillet crank. Anyone got any more info on the coating? I'm just wondering, as a set of the -K verision of these mains are listed at a price of over $200. If this is the same coating, then it can be had for half the cost. Per what I understand this is a .0003" thick PTFE coating. As said, I have not bought 77's in a while and just dunno if this is becoming a standard Clevite practice. Per their own info, this has grown well into their OEM market, and is going on something like 30% of their product now.

 

[MopaR&D]

Those are the EXACT same bearings I got for my 5.9 Magnum just a few months ago, same P/N and everything. I also noticed the strange color, "coffee" is a good way to describe it; I initially thought they were dirty or something was wrong with them but I wiped each one down thoroughly with acetone on a cotton t-shirt pad before installing in the engine and none of the coating came off. I haven't run the engine yet but we'll see, I didn't check any clearances just purchased standard-size rod bearings and popped them in. At least the engine seemed to turn over by hand nice and smooth with almost no drag (piston rings weren't touched so they're all seated) once all the new bearings were in. I just used regular motor oil for assembly lube btw because I'll be doing a lot of testing with the oil system at full pressure and turning the engine over a lot figuring out my LA rocker oiling setup, before the engine runs for the first time.

I don't think these bearings are extra narrow either, didn't measure them but visually they seemed to be the same width as the old bearings I took out of my Magnum, unless those used narrower bearings from the factory than LA engines.

 

[MopaR&D]

Cool video BTW, yet another reason not to get a new car with that annoying stop-start BS.

 

[moper]

While it looks similar I don't think the two coatings are that alike. I wouldn't know for sure because I don't run the coated bearings. But the "stain" as I call it is more common now and doesn't alter clearances greatly. So I just run them.

 

[nm9stheham]

Cool video BTW, yet another reason not to get a new car with that annoying stop-start BS.

It's on my wifes 2017 Durango and we both disable it each time we drive the car. There's no menu option to permanently disable it, which I suspect is because it is part the regimen to meet CAFE requirement.

While it looks similar I don't think the two coatings are that alike. I wouldn't know for sure because I don't run the coated bearings. But the "stain" as I call it is more common now and doesn't alter clearances greatly. So I just run them.

And that could very well be the case that is just another treatment besides the PTFE. I think I will decline the opportunity to buy a $200+ set of -K bearing just to compare LOL

 

[Max1196]

Does this help, there not the same, but right now this is all I can show to compare. The coated stuff does have a black like coating ant the "H" series I've seen them vary in colour and pattern of colour all over the place like as if they've been heat treated.

 

[rumblefish360]

Slightly off topic..... I just opened up my Clevite77 main bearings and have 2 lower shells. Piss me off. MOre delays!

 

[Max1196]

And also, watch out for the size stamped on the bearing, lately they've (Clevite) been screwing up, stamped wrong but size in box is right!

 

[MopaR&D]

Does this help, there not the same, but right now this is all I can show to compare. The coated stuff does have a black like coating ant the "H" series I've seen them vary in colour and pattern of colour all over the place like as if they've been heat treated.View attachment 1715271432 View attachment 1715271433 View attachment 1715271434

My bearings looked just like the Clevite shell on the right with the bluing effect and dark brownish tint.

 

[nm9stheham]

Does this help, there not the same, but right now this is all I can show to compare. The coated stuff does have a black like coating ant the "H" series I've seen them vary in colour and pattern of colour all over the place like as if they've been heat treated.View attachment 1715271432 View attachment 1715271433 View attachment 1715271434

These Clevite rod bearings have a fairly uniform coffee colored coating all over, so not like the 'rainbow' colored bearings you show. The are very much like that coated cam bearing on the right in your pix. But the mains, which I just broke out of the plastic pack, are a little bit erratically colored like what you show. It is like some liquid has been poured on them and then dried.

But oddly, it has been purposely masked off or removed from the thrust surfaces.

The mystery continues...

Slightly off topic..... I just opened up my Clevite77 main bearings and have 2 lower shells. Piss me off. MOre delays!

If I may ask, are they coffee colored or regular babbit colored? So you are completely missing a lower shell? Geez...

 

[Max1196]

Flip it over and lets see the back side of these bearing for colour.

 

[nm9stheham]

Flip it over and lets see the back side of these bearing for colour.

Your wish is my command... just don't make a habit of it LOL It is not 100% evenly colored and is bit 'rainbow-ish' on one edge. Not like your coated cam bearing.

 

[bbab3]

Not sure if the article in this link will help. It does discuss the newest coatings from Clevite. What I found interesting was recommendation to 180* mains vs. full grove mains.
How to Select and Install High-Performance Engine Bearings - Hot Rod Network

 

[rumblefish360]

If I may ask, are they coffee colored or regular babbit colored? So you are completely missing a lower shell? Geez...

Sorry, I was just venting... Regular P series full groove main bearings with two rear main bottom shells. And they dont fot well together
See? LOL! The bottom picture is the offset into the rear of the crank.

 

[rumblefish360]

Back to the thread on hand, not my woes, thanks though, sorry for the mini hijack. My bad.

 

[nm9stheham]

Not a problem.... just standard internet off-on-a-tangent stuff LOL. If it makes you feel any better, I was test fitting a crank and only had a used upper rear bearing shell at that moment. So put it in the saddle.... damn, why won't this new crank turn?!? Yep looked just like yours, hanging out from the saddle. I filed the notch off to use it as a temp bearing.

Not sure if the article in this link will help. It does discuss the newest coatings from Clevite. What I found interesting was recommendation to 180* mains vs. full grove mains.
How to Select and Install High-Performance Engine Bearings - Hot Rod Network

Thanks, this is pretty much what the catalog says. I'm not convinced that what I got is the -K coating. (Darn, no free lunch!) But I sure would like to know what it is. Maybe it is the modern equivalent to the dull grey coating that came on these bearings. That info a good read and if you want to learn more detail, go to the Clevite-Mahle site and download the catalog... the up-front technical section goes much further in depth.