Are you building an all motor beast or turbocharging your VW VR6 engine? Upgrade the weak links in your block and keep your engine together reliably with IE's market leading Volkswagen forged connecting rods! 

When increasing the power output of your VW VR6 engine, internal parts begin to fail as they are pushed far beyond their original factory spec limits. Integrated Engineering Forged Connecting Rods are designed to replace the factory units and take the beating from today's high-output power modifications. Drive fast and reliably with IE performance rods, guaranteed to support over 700HP on VR6 engines!

• VW - GTI 1993-1999.5 (MK3) 2.8L 12V VR6 engines*
• VW - GTI 1999-2005 (MK4) 2.8L 12V VR6 & 2.8L 24V VR6 engines*
• VW - Golf 1993-1999.5 (MK3) 2.8L 12V VR6 engines*
• VW - Golf 1999-2005 (MK4) 2.8L 12V VR6 & 2.8L 24V VR6 engines*
• VW - Jetta 1993-1999 (MK3) 2.8L 12V VR6 engines* 
• VW - Jetta & Jetta GLI 1999-2005 (MK4) 2.8L 12V VR6 & 2.8L 24V VR6 engines*
• VW - Corrado 1988-1995 (A3) 2.8L 12V VR6 engines*

*ENGINE CODES: AAA, AFP, BDF

*REQUIRES 20MM WRIST PIN PISTONS

Suggested Rod Bearings

• OE Rod Bearing Set - Part Number: OEM-12V-RBSET
• CALICO/OE Calico Coated VR6 Rod Bearing Set - Part Number: CAL-VR6-RBSET

IERHVV1-RD (Rifle Drilling)

IERHVV1 (No Rifle Drilling)

Manufactured by

Integrated Engineering (IE)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are these are a direct replacement for my factory rods?

These rods fit VW  2.8L VR6 engines found in many VW chassis and are a direct replacement for the factory rod when installed with aftermarket or factory pistons with 20mm wrist pins.

Is there a proper orientation to install the bearing tangs on our connecting rods?

We recommend installing the bearings tangs facing the exhaust side of the engine.

Are these connecting rods forged?

Yes, all Integrated Engineering Connecting Rods are made from tough and durable 4340 forgings. These forgings far exceed the quality of most factory rods that are typically made from powdered metal as a cost-saving measure. 

Do these rods require any additional machine work for installation?

IE connecting rods are delivered to you in "ready to install" condition. Other engine machine work may be required though when rebuilding an engine, such as decking the block or boring and honing cylinder walls.

What other parts will be needed when installing this connecting rod set?

We recommend at minimum you should use a new set of connecting rod bearings when installing rods.

Is balancing the engine required when installing these connecting rods?

Since IE rods are sold in balanced sets this is not required. For extreme performance application, this can still be done if desired.

What is the maximum RPM limit of these rods?

The maximum RPM limit can be affected by many factors. In this application, we suggest not exceeding 8500 RPM with ARP 2000 bolts. If you plan on exceeding this RPM level, consider upgrading to ARP 625+ bolts.

When should I upgrade to ARP 625+ rod bolts?

Generally speaking, high RPM conditions put the most stress on rod bolts as the rod and cap are literally being pulled in opposite directions. If you plan on pushing your engine far past factory redline or 8500 RPM  we would suggest upgrading to 625+ ARP bolts.  

Do I need rifle drilling?

Rifle drilling is not required. However, we do strongly recommend it for a daily driver and/or high mileage applications. Rifle drilling has been proven to extend wrist pin and bushing life and has also been utilized over the years in several VW/Audi factory connecting rods.

Many high horsepower VW and Audi vehicles use IE rods. We rate our 6 cylinder H-beam rods for 700+ HP/ft lb TQ. If you are planning on exceeding those levels we recommend upgrading to our Tuscan I-beam Rods.

You can run this connecting rod with factory or performance aftermarket pistons with a 20mm wrist pin. We stock several high quality piston options to suit your specific needs and to match our connecting rods. To see what we have, check the piston category of the website.

What are the most common reasons for connecting rod failure?

As one of the highest stressed components in the engine, there are several things that can contribute to a failure. The most common failure is caused by improper installation followed by improper tuning. We recommend that you seek professional help for both installation and tuning. Oiling system health is also essential to ensuring safe engine operation. Momentary oil starvation can result in spun rod bearings and engine failure. In extreme applications also be sure that you are using heavy duty wrist pins. On many of the pistons, we offer we either include stout wrist pins or offer them as an upgrade.