Patent ID: 8484844

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a connecting rod assembly for use within an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of: compressing metal powder within a die cavity defining the predetermined form; sintering the compressed powder to bond and conform to the predetermined form of the die cavity such that the metal powder is shaped into a connecting rod; and removing the connecting rod from the mold cavity; 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 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.