The crankshaft of a car engine is a crucial part of the internal combustion engine (ICE), and it’s not advisable to compromise on its quality. Crankshafts are made from high-quality steel and cast iron. Every crankshaft has common elements:

• Main journals – These are the supports of the shaft that lie in the main bearings located in the engine block.
• Connecting rod journals – These are connected to the connecting rods, and it is through the connecting rod journals that the forces from the pistons are transmitted via the connecting rods.
• Oil channels – These are mandatory inside the shaft, allowing oil to flow from the main bearings to the connecting rod bearings.
• Crank webs – They connect the main journals and connecting rod journals into one unit.
• Counterweights – These relieve the shaft from the centrifugal forces caused by the unbalanced masses of the crankpins and the lower ends of the connecting rods. Often, the counterweights are integrated with the crank webs.
• Front end of the crankshaft (nose) – This is where the timing gear, sprocket, or pulley of the timing mechanism (camshaft drive), as well as pulleys for driving auxiliary components, are mounted.
• Rear end of the crankshaft (tail) – This is where the flywheel is attached, and from this end, power is taken to drive the transmission and the driving wheels.

The main elements of the crankshaft – the main and connecting rod journals – are machined with high precision and undergo heat treatment (induction hardening or nitriding), which ensures the required strength and wear resistance of the crankshaft.