Many connecting rod manufacturers have chosen ARP bolts as standard equipment. They’re proud to advertise their products as being equipped with ARP rod bolts. And for a good reason. The “weak link” in a connecting rod has always been the bolt, and racers know nobody builds a better bolt than ARP. However, it is critically important to monitor the stretch of each bolt and replace it when it has permanently elongated by .0005˝. 

In some instances, you may want to go to an ARP rod bolt made from a better grade of material. This will provide you with improved reliability. However, please understand that the cost will increase significantly when you want bolts made from exotic, super high-strength materials. If you’re on a budget, choosing the most cost-effective solution is best. This is typically defined by the loads carried by the bolts in terms of piston/rod weight and the engine's rotational speed. The most cost-effective design is the one in which the bolt strength is just great enough to handle its anticipated load – plus a safety margin for the occasional overloads. Using a material that has far more strength than required is not as cost-effective – but will give you an extra margin of safety and longer service life.

You should also know that ARP rod bolts are superior to those from other manufacturers, especially in fatigue strength. Testing has shown ARP rod bolts to have ten times the fatigue strength of other bolts. The chart below shows a bar chart that graphically shows the difference between ARP Pro Series rod bolts and the fastener made by a leading competitor. It’s easy to see why ARP bolts are superior. As such, relying on ARP for optimum connecting rod service and reliability makes good sense. Make the most of your racing budget and rely on ARP rod bolts. The ARP name is proudly stamped on each bolt as your quality assurance.