Exemplary connecting rod cracking mandrels and methods are disclosed. A mandrel may include a pair of jaw elements slidably mounted relative to one another and separated from each other. Each one of the jaw elements has a pair of opposing side portions and a center portion disposed between the opposing side portions. Each one of the side portions is configured to contact an inner diameter surface of a bore of a connecting rod when the jaws are moved away from one another within the bore so as to break the connecting rod. The center portion is configured to be spaced apart from the inner diameter surface of the bore when the jaws are moved away from one another within the bore, such that the opposing side portions contact the connecting rod bore.