Patent ID: 7581315

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a connecting rod assembly for use within an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of: defining a small end of a connecting rod having a terminal end, defining a pin bore extending through the small end of the connecting rod and forming a pair of channels on opposite sides of the small end of the connecting rod such that each of said pair of channels define an arc disposed about an axis and wherein the axis of each of the channels is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pin bore; forming a bushing having a contact surface including at least partially annular grooves disposed thereon and opposed distal ends; installing a bushing into the pin bore of the small end and; machining the connecting rod to reduce the width of the small end between each channel and the terminal end, wherein at least a portion of the grooves are disposed along the distal ends to reduce the need to deburr the area adjacent the pin bore.