Bearings - big end and little end

[Fresh Prince]

I'm trying to understand where bearings sit in an engine, and trying to understand whether big end and little end are connected in any way.

Am I right in thinking that they are connected by a rod at the base of the piston which goes up and down a cylinder, with the little end connected to the base of the piston, and the large end connected to the crankshaft? If you were to strip an engine, can you get to one without the other, or do you have to get to one to get to the other?

Please forgive my ignorance! Trying to understand in theory how these are connected.

[Fresh Prince]

M32Guy said:

You are almost correct. There are no bearings, big end and small end refers to the ends of the con rod (connecting rod)...

Thanks, this is very useful. I've spent the afternoon googling and trying to understand it but only with partial success.

So, you say there are no bearings, then when people say "big end bearing", what are they referring to? Is it just where the con rod meets the crank?

[Fresh Prince]

Right I think I get it now, so the shells are bearings, just a different type to what I'm used to (normally ball bearings). Thanks all!