E~t\J
Appendix A - Why Bearings Fail
Overview
Obtaining maximum rolling element bearing life
in machines is actually quite easy, as the
requirements for smooth operation and long life
have been known for years.
Aside from the development of new installation
tools. the maintenance technology associated
with precision and proactive maintenance has
not changed significanUy over several decades.
Bearing technology, on the other hand, has
changed significanUy. It is possible to go to a
bearing catalog and find the correct bearing
replacement for a machine that is 40 years old.
However. even though the new bearing is
dimensionally identical (it will fit the shaft and
housing), it is different from the bearing
originally installed in the machine.
Improvements in metallurgy have produced
steels that are stronger, and more importantly,
more uniform. so there is far lower probability
for the bearing to fail due to inclusions or other
material-related problems. Machining and
grinding methods have produced smoother and
more geometrically correct (high conformance)
bearings, which lowers stresses and noise, and
improves reliability. Seemingly insignificant
changes in the geometry of the raceways,
cages, and rolling elements have also reduced
loads and high stress areas susceptible to early
fatigue. The result of this technology is that the
modem bearing, required to perform the same
function as the bearing installed in the older
machine, may be one-half the size and will last
longer and run more smoothly.
The downside to 10day's higher performance
bearings is that they require a higher degree of
care during installaUon and operation to achieve
the higher life expectancies. The larger and
lower stressed bearing of 40 years ago was
slighUy more tolerant of installation abuse and
lubrication problems. Over time, maintenance
practices used on the older machines have not
evolved at the same rate as bearing
improvements. and bearings continue to fail at
unacceptably high rates. To take advantage of
SKF ReliabiJily Syslems - Fundamentals of Machine Condition A-I
Why Bearings Fail
Normal Fatigue Failure
the long life that today's bearings can provide,
precision and proactive practices must be
enacted and followed .
Why Bearings Fail
When considering all the bearings produced,
and every application from consumer products
to automobiles to industrial machinery, most
bearings outlive their machines. However,
within the industrial segmen~ this changes
significantly. A large percentage of bearings in
industrial applications fail far eanier than their
design limits.
The selection of a bearing for a given
application is not trivial. It is a balance between
long life, size, and ultimately, cost. Assuming a
machine manufacturer understands the loads
and operating conditions of their machines, and
how to properly determine the correct bearing
for the application, the bearings should run
trouble-free for extended periods. However,
when there is a bearing failure, a common
reaction is to blame the bearing. Certainly,
there are examples where the completely
wrong bearing was selected. A bearing
intended for heavy loads and low speeds is not
a good selection for a lightly loaded, high-speed
application. Before a'bearing type is changed
because it is not "strong enough," all factors
that led to its early demise must be
investigated. A logical approach should
consider virtually all other possibilities before
simply changing the bearing for one with a
higher load rating.
The ultimate failure of a bearing due to old age
is fatigue, which appears as spalling or flaking
on one or both of the raceways or the rollers.
Today, with improved bearing designs and
improved metallurgy, machinery can be
designed, theoretically, for infinite life.
Therefore, even failures that appear to be due
to old age may be preventable. and should be
investigated for possible corrective measures.
Failure causes and modes for bearings include:
This is not premature failure, but failure that
occurs at, or after, the bearing life that has been
designed into a machine. While it is possible
and practical to design a bearing application
with infinite life, many machines have a
designed limit based on load, speed, lubrication
regime, and the bearing selected for the
application . The trick is to understand what the
design life is for a bearing. A value-priced
machine may be cheap for good reason. The
bearing application may be designed to provide
service until the machine goes out of warranty.
For most machines, the design life is
approximately 8000 hours of service.
Premature Fatigue Failure
Parasitic loads above those considered in the
original machine specifications create higher
than anticipated bearing loads and more rapid
fatigue failure . These parasitic loads are most
frequently due to unbalance, misalignment, and
improper operation. However, changing the
operation or the process may also Significantly
change loads. For example. a 20 percent
increase in load will decrease bearing life
expectancy by nearly 50 percent. All three of
these conditions are preventable and
correctable by altering maintenance andlor
operating practices. When a change in process
is planned, a study of the effects of the and again these are most often preventable.
increased loads can be conducted beforehand.
Accelerated wear can be anticipated and
accepted, or alternate designs can be
considered. maintenance of sealing and lubrication systems
Installation, Storage, and Handling
Handling begins when a bearing leaves the
factory to the point when it is installed on a
machine, and picks up again if the machine is
to be transported after it is installed. Proper
transportation and storage prevent damage that
occurs before the machine is even placed in
service. Proper installation techniques and
machine I fit tolerances are critical, and failure
to ensure that precision steps are followed
represents one of the largest sources of
maintenance induced failure. The tools.
A-2 SKF Reliability Systems - Fundamentals of Machine Condilion
techniques, and tolerances are readily achieved
given proper training, time, and environment.
Lubrication
Lubrication related failures fall into two
categories - the lubrication mode, and the
lubricant. If the proper lubricant, as determined
by the machine manufacturer, is used, there is
little likelihood that a bearing wilt fail because of
the lubricant. There are bound to be examples
of lubricant versus application failures, but they
are relatively rare. Most often. failures due to
not adhering to a good lubrication program are
blamed on the lubricant. Newer lubricants may
improve the lITe of a machine, but they will not
correct for other maintenance de'ficiencies.
Changing lubricant to correct for poor alignment
practices will not be effective. When a machine
is operated in an environment not considered in
the original design, or when a generic machine
is used in extreme conditions such as arctic
winters or desert summers, a change in
lubricant may be required . This can often be
discussed with the machine manufacturer in the
purchasing and design specification phase.
The three lubrication modes generally practiced
are "greased for life: periodic replenishment,
and continuous . The over and under-lubrication
of machinery and contamination represent a
large percentage of premature bearing failures.
Contamination from water, chemicals, and
particles are especially harmful to rolling
element bearings. Proper design and
can prevent many contamination problems.
Maintenance practices associated with
alignment and balancing influence
contamination related failures due to the large
shaft orbits that develop. A tendency of those
conducting failure analyses on a bearing is to
jump to the conclusion that there is a seal
problem on a machine, when the failure
mechanism appears to be contamination. Upon
further examination, it may be that the true root
cause problem was excessive misalignment,
which created the secondary seal failure. The
perfect seal will not solve failures due to
misalignment; in fact. the replacement seal may
Why Bearings Fail
have superior sealing capabilities but an even
lower tolerance for misalignment.
Selection and Design
The bearing selected by the original equipment
manufacturer is, in most cases, the correct
bearing for the There are
exceptions, and possibility that the wrong
bearing is used should always be considered
after all other sources of failure have been
investigated. As mentioned above, a
process or machine speed may a most important of which are the bearing
new bearing, but the selection of a replacement
is not trivial. Avoid the temptation to eliminate
failures by simply selecting a
failures that are more
loaded. All other sources of
considered before a design change.
rule of replacement is to
the same bearing out of a
machine. This must be expanded to include a
verification of the bearing from the
machine drawings or If the
wrong bearing was installed two overhauls
back, the same mistake will be made by simply
replacing like-for-like. When reviewing
equipment history, note any changes in bearing
type and attempt to determine why a change
was made.
one particular area is the
maintenance approach
of
SKF Reliability Systems - Fundamentals of Machine Condition
Why Bearings Fail
addressing all failure modes is the key to Load Examples: speeds. There is a clear energy
reliability. rolling element bearings over plain
Radial - belt tension, car wheel (straight line)
speed increases.
Axial- driH press, pumps
,.-rnn;uv Function of a Combined - right angie gearbox., car wheel
(turning)
Traditional
Friction The SKF Bearing Maintenance Handbook
In a rolling element friction is the
How Bearinas Work troubleshooting guide.
acquaint the
determining factor for generation and the reader with the most commonly encountered
operating temperature. Friction bearing mounting and operational problems,
in on load and several other factors, the and provide a basis for improvement in overall
m:::.inl",,,:::.n.-'::> practice.
and size, operating speed, lubricant nrr.n",rli.::,,::
and lubricantq use of the trOUbleshooting
guide is to narrow down the of
The total resistance to rolling in a bearing is problem causes. The prclce,dure
made up from:
the book on the table symptom, such as
The rolling and sliding friction in the rolling
of as a plain bearing. When
contacts
introduced, the contact area is
heading in the Guide
The ralline and sliding friction in the contact lowering friction. The
HOverheated Bearing."
rolling elements and cage contact area has changed from a flat, plane
surface to a line -line contact. Use clear tape to cover the numbers in the
The guiding surfaces for the rofling
guide.
elements or the cage
Read each "Reason for condition" and
The friction in the lubricant
evaluate as a cause. Circle the
The sliding friction of rubbing seals, in the number with pen if probable, and
case of sealed bearings cross out if not you have completed
the section, the circled "Reasons for
condition" are the most
Bearing Loads causes and can be inv'estia;ated
Loads are transmitted between the stationary cause. By coupling with analysis or
part of a machine (commonly a housing) and a condition monitoring results, root cause will
rotating part of a machine (commonly a shaft) be arrived at methodically.
with minimum resistance. Q - What is the problem with troubleshooting?
A - All we do is shoot the trouble repeatedly.
RII~ro~ C<:lmbiood Io.~
Fr Introducing marbles or balls reduces the Q-What of maintenance does this
contact area further, to no more than a point.
Point contact has less friction than line contact, A - Reactive, or breakdown maintenance.
resulting in improved rolling motion. Q - What can this lead to?
Curl the book into a circle and it becomes the A -Insanity, doing the same thing repeatedly,
inner ring of the bearing. Curl the tabletop expecting a different result.
surface into a Circle and it becomes the outer h/<>li,-.,n,lIt" Maintenance (PRM) goes
of the bearing. Add a cage to prevent ,hl~'c::hnnlinf1 La:
Fa element contact and we have the
rolling element bearing. Eliminate most failure sources
element bearings have lower friction Identify faults before failure
bearings, especially at higher
A3 A-4 SKF Reliability Systems - Fundamentals of Machine Condition
 Why Bearings
true causes an analytical Poor Lubrication Contamination Failure mechanisms are created before the
approach shaft makes its first revolution.

Correct problems source

The Proactive
Eliminate the Sources of Failures
Correct storage. shipping, handling
Correct bearing for the application
Fatigue
Proper bearing installation techniques
Lubrication
Proactive skills for balance, assembly,
Contamination 14%)
alignment

life theories are based on a

Hand ling/lnstallation 16%
I",.,nt~min~nt_fr"", bearing and lubricant Lubrication regime

Proper operation

Is it really a lubrication failure?

Fatigue Sources of Contamination
Training, Training. Training

the lubricant (type) from the

Seal types
maintenance practice
washing
Insitall:,dicln techniques Detection of Field Problems
n~lvAnlil~n_and"'lif~;n~fir,n Condition-Based Maintenance
Wrong type
sources will Detection of problems before total failure
bearing service life.
Sianificant evidence of improper diagnosis Detection and remediation of potential
analysis: failure sources
Poor Installation
the lubricant type to solve a Identification of design and installation
problem problems
Failure to understand the application and Verification of corrections
Normal or Pure Fatigue environment
With design, installation, luuncauon,
conlamination. a bearing can
R~arinl1 Failure Rate
Vibrooon

~~
:~~--~--------'--l~~~
Parasitic Loads
These loads, above and
reduce the fatigue life of a
Added loads decrease bearing life Poor installation is perhaps the most avoidable
function (approximation. varies with of all bearing failure sources.
type).
and tolerances are

Fatigue and skills are essential

_ continue to
load increase from mi:saligl1lm!~nt transportation before and after time, the bearing
calculated
to reach its fatigue limit and the chance

SKF Reliability Systems - Fundamentals of Machine Condiiion AS A-6 SKF Reliabifity Systems - Fundamentals of Machine Condition
Why Bearings Fail Why Bearings

Another is "specification life.'

found in the three by an authority, based
classifications of premature and soeed data supplied
mechanical damage,
Most failures are attributed 10 one
more of the
Defedive bearing seats on shafts and in
housings
Misalignment
Load-Path Patterns and their
Faulty mounting practice
Incorrect shaft and fits The illustrates the load zone resulting
the ring rotates relative load of
Inadequate lubrication constant or where the inner ring
Ineffective sealing rotates and the also rotates phase with
the
.. Vibration while the bearing is not rotating
Although Passage of electric current through the
bearing

cause, which Transportation. storage, handling

, corrective action
failures. R.,.""rinn Ufe
Jnfortunately, too many of the ball and roller
never attain their calculated
expectancy because of something done, or
installation, and
maintenance.
The calculated life expectancy of any bearing is
based on is, however, evident from both l:'lh,nr:::l!orv
1. lubrication in will and experiencethatseE3mlnoilY
be available to cal under 360"
COlldiltiorlS have A clearer
The bearing be mounted without
definition of the term "life" is therefore essential
damage.
for calculation of size.
150'
3. Dimensions of parts related to the bearing information oresented bv on dynamic load
be correct. thal90 of a
aPI:l.::wentlv identical
4. There no defects Ihe or exceed. Rolaling Innet Ring Load
bearing. This is called "basic rating and agrees with
However, even when the ISO definition. The median life is
maintained, the times the calculated basic
further cause of failure; fatigue of the
material. the result of shear stresses inside
"lives. One
C:"'~lIr",,"'J ""[}""''-'' immediately below the load inner ring rotates and
the actual life
and is observed spailing the load has a constant direction.
before it fails.
surface metal. Although
the first
be readily observed. it is necessary
corrOSion, seal failure,
between spelling produced at the normal end of

SKF Reliabilily Systems - Fundamentals of Machine Condition A-8 SKF Reliability Systems - Fundamentsls of Machine Condition
 versus what is used today? Why was Mark the location of the fixed or ~1:::1tlnlJ::uv
the change ring with to its anchor, such
housing. cut open, the patterns in
What is Ihe condition of the lubricant in
the bearing can be compared to the
machine?
load zone.
Is there any correlation between
use tools that will remove
rates and any lubrication changes?
without loadinQ the raceways
Have there any installation damage
maintenance Have off a shaft
speCifications standards been altered for is evident when performing
or worse? analysis, it may mask
other
made to the
couplings,
iUs
surface

The bearing Iroubleshooting process follows the

same general for machinery problem and trOlJble,sh()otirlg
or failure, and Important before a new
\.N' , ........'-'''',.... is
questions for cOllsi<jer;ati(ln installed the machine. Obvious failures
the associated with the shaft and housing, and the
lubricant, can be addressed before reassembly.
It In this way. a repea1 of the failure can be
information before, or at a minimum, avoided.
the repair. to ensure all possible failure sources
are considered.
Was there a time when failures were
infrequent? If so, have
occurred and when did the begin?

even and more

a preventive basis, It has been said
speCified for Ilnrll"rlving fault sources to be detected does not lie." If the bearing was
Recommended steps include: of mell-down, the root cause
down to the location where
What bearings are of the lubricant whether
a loren was used to heat the inner or the
dffferent than originally a clean container. If the
spot where was struck a hammer drive it
they changed? varies with proximity to
on that last 1/8 inch (3 on the shaft.
be wise to gather
What changes have been made to the Careful observation of the failed and
lubrication system? For example, from oil associated comoonents will other
mist to air I causes and the true root cause
of
have been made to the
was originally

'"'''''''''''''''HV"",."",,,n< - Fundamentals of Machine Condition A-9 A-10 SKF Reliability Systems - Fundamentals of Ma:;hine Condition
 FAILURE MATRIX

~I
0peuUng CQlldlUons 'En'JI:o:nmlJ"lal LubrlcaUon ractors MouoUng ractors Other facfors
I~C.lQrs
- I .1
t

K
OSS'b,e causes I

.g s;
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a'6 , = iilc.g_<A
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-g f l o= I! -g 8' '3 ;: ~ __ ,1: c [., -DI f e fi,
!- t i' .. , =
Failure modes with .c 0 13 U U 4) 01 Ci
I
characteristics I ~
0
?! 8 j 13 ft 6 ~ ti 8 a
DI 0 III ' C
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ '~ DI
I! ,~ ,~
I: 'I:
si
I 6 6 .l1 :; I/) ~ "0' ~ ,~ 2. .:l &1 :e .E' :E if if j;: .s ~ ~ ~ l .ff :I ~'
FaUgue Flaking, spalllng, poe ling ++ ++ ++ + ++ ++ ++ + ++ ++ ++ + ++ ** ++ +_+1
[ - Burnishing, microcracks ++ ++ ++ ++ +t+ ++ + ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ., +_+ ++ ++, + +.+
Wear Abraslvo Excesslvo wear ++ ++ ++ + ...+ ++ + + ++ ++ ++ ++ + ++ + + ++ -li'+ ++
"- -- Scratchos., scoros ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ "'+ ++
Adhesivo Solzing marks, smearing ++ ++ ... +'+ ++ ++ ++ ++ +... +'+ + ++ .+' ++ ......
Hot runners ++ ++ + + ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ + 11-+ .... ++ ++ ++ ...+ +-+ ... +
Corrosion Moisture corrosion +of ++ + + ++"''1- +
~ T _ ___ Fretting corrosion ++ ++ ++ + ++ + ++ ...+ + ++ ++
'] False brinolllng + ++ + + + ++ +
Electrical eroslon Craters, nuUng ++ +11
Plastic doformatlon Depressions ++ ++ ++ ... + +11- +of +'I- ... t+ ++ + + ++ ++ "'+

_ f. ~~ - Dobrls IndontaUoll +:to ++ .+ + ++ 'of+ ++

Nicks. gouges ...-+ +... ++
Fract.ure Forced fracture ++ ++ 'fo+ 'fo+ -t+ ++ ++ + ++ ++ +-+ +.f' ++
__-J ___ FaUgue fracture ++ ++ + + ++ +- '" + + ++ ++ of'+ ++
, Thorma' cnlcking ++ ++ + ++ +- + +- + +'" + + ++

FAILURE MODES CLASSIFICATION

1.1. Subsurface fatigue

1. Fatigue
1.2. Surface initiated fatigue

3.2.1. Fretting corrosion

3.2.2. False brinelling

FACTORS INFLUENCING BEARING SPECIFICATION

- vibrations
- misalignment
- noise
- rigidity
- easy mounting
- availability

- cost -lubricant
- housing - relubricatlon
deformation interval
- seal type
- accessibility
- tooling
- mountlngl
dismounting procedure
 are his discovering the cause of failure.
Failure a SvmDtom in Macbine Failure
Bearing Maintenance & Reliability Instructor
the cause
Reliability Maintenance Institute,
me:I.h()dllcallly considering and eliJmillating
the analyst determines the
wbere tbe bearing failed is a much
eqlliplmelnl fails prematurely, the shrewd maintenance life ofllie replacement bearing.
specialist knows that Ibe "more than meets tbe eye." What the
untutored eye sees is a failed bearing - and little more. More often than not, however, a Correctly Ihe condition-monitoring data that makes the analyst's search for
premalure bearing failure is symptomatic of other problems that, left untreated, will cause tbe a cause of bearing easier can also be used to failures before they occur. at
same kind the very least, tbat data can that a bearing be removed from service before a
catastrophic failure occurs, in damage that will probably bide important dues needed
to correctly identify the root cause impending failure.
failure is to send the failed bearing
company could secure training for There "oredictive" technologies with varying levels of sophistication that
ulagrJUsls. Such analyses can maintenance completely. Space permits only a passing
failure and pinpoint action can laken
is the
Vibration analysis can detect and
setup or operating "'''''''',"''''.
are discovered that including rolling-element bearings. By :;m;.,v"IfIV
inner ring. outer elements and cage bearing,
In many cases, a bearing subjected bearing damage caused operation. Any unusual
lubrication failure. However, suspected frequencies immediate concern.
to do a better job is 10 rush
have failed, but poor delivery or maintenance methods vibration analysis tools include "smart" handheld dala lo~~gers/lmaJY2:ers
type may not cause of the failure. to the detection, analysis and
frequency analysis feature that overlays
To understand why additional analysis is often necessary, one must realize that an the detection and identification of machine problems.
abnormal operating condition often excessive heal within a bearing, The heat handheld "pocket" computers that support operator-based malinte:na!lce,
buildup lowers the of the the thickness of the fluid film that constanlly monitor bearings and other components
separates the component The result is metal-to-melal contact The surface for managing, maaipulaling and analyzing machine-condition dala.
damage and increased rTiction that results from the metal-to-metal conlact further increase the
bearing's operating while reducing the lubricant's and fluid-film Lubricant can reveal the condition of bearings lubricated by either a stalic
thickness more. such conditions, continued seriously jeopardize the or circulating for the amount of contamination present in the system. In addition
bearing and will result .in bearing failure. In such 10 incorrectly an indication of the bearing components' condition, the analysis also gives an
diagnose as lubrication problem. whether the oil in the lubrication system is exhibiting lower
oxidatjon, loss of additives, etc.). Again. can be used in
sucb as whether to change the oil
mainl<enance or replace the bearing.

2

Correcting the causes of bearing failure
The most common causes of premature bearing failures fall into four general
categories: poor installation, contamination, poor lubrication, and fatigue.
Poor installations account for about 16 percent of all premature bearing failures .
Service personnel need to be aware ofwbich tools to use and bave training in using tbem. For
example, a bearing installation may require mechanical, hydraulic or beat application methods
for correct and efficient mounting or dismounting. Bearing users have the options of securing
training for their personnel or contracting to have installations done by outside professionals.
In either case, quality bearing installations employing specialized tools and techniques, is a
positive step toward achieving ma-.;imum machine uptime. Improper installation techniques
can lead to failures from load imbalance, misalignment or improper load distributions within
the bearing.
Contamination contributes to about 14 percent ofprernature bearing failures. A
bearing is a precision component that will not operate efficiently unless both the bearing and
its lubricants are isolated from contamination. Since already-greased, sealed-far-life bearings
account for only a small percentage of bearings in use, care must be taken to eliminate
contamination from bearings. Today, bearing users have available sealing solutions that can
be tailored to the most arduous operating environments. Typical failures can be the result of
excessive wear, abnormal surface stresses caused by debris denting or corrosion in the case of
liquid contamination, such as water.
Poor lubrication practices coupled witb errors in specifying bearings result in 36
percent ofpremarure bearing failures. While sealed-for-Iife bearings can be fitted and
forgofLen, any bearing deprived of proper lubrication will fail long before its Donna1 service
life. Because bearings are often the least accessible components ofmacbil1ery, neglected
lubrication frequently compounds the problem. Wherever manual maintenance is not feasible,
a fully automatic lubrication system can be installed to lubricate a bearing with the right
amount of lubricant at the correct lubrication intervals. Failures can be the result of using tbe
wrong lubricant type, mixing lubricants, improper re-lubrication amounts and improper
additives.
new classes of bearings that last as much as three times longer than traditional bearings. Other high
tech bearings currently available include new electrically insulated bearings that can withstand 1,000
volts and serve as "drop-in" replacements for stock bearings in electric motors and generators and high
temperature bearings that perfonn at temperatures up to 350C (662F). There are even no-wear
bearings with a thin diamond-like carbon coating on their rolling elements and, if required, lheir
raceways, resulting in a loog-life bearing for the most demanding environments.
A systems approach pays off
A need exists on the part of maintenance departments to look at their plants' equipment as
systems operatillg in specific envirollments and sllpported by specific operational practices. They need
to look beyond the bearings and employ condition monitoring and predictive maintenance practices as
well as corrective maintenance programs - machine alignment, precision balancing, lubrication
management and bearing analysis, to name a few - designed to eliminate the root causes ofbeariog
failures. In companies where resource or training limitations exist, outsourcing such services to
complement internal competencies can help move a reliability program into high gear.
The payoff will be an increase in machine reliability or uptime, which translates into increased
capacity or production capability. Some maintenance professionals who place importance on machine
reliability measure uptime in tenns of mean time between repairs (MTBR), a measure that should be
replacing mean time between failures (MTBF) in environments where reliability programs virtually
eliminate failures of critical machines.
Finally, a reliability program that looks beyond Ule bearing when a bearing fails and takes
steps to eliminate future failures will, in many cases, maintain or even improve the efficiency,
capacity, and capability ofmachines to produce products to specifications. Such a result amounts to an
increase in productivity, since out-of-spec products either cannot be sold or must be sold at a reduced
price, negatively atTecting both productivity measures and a company's bottom line.

Fatigue accounts for the remaining 34 percent of early bearing failures. Whenever
machines are overloaded, unbalanced, or misaligned, bearings sutTer the consequences. These
abnormal conditions cause unintended "'parasitic" loads on the bearings that can quickly add
up to a dramatic reduction in service life. Premature failures from fatigue may appear at first
glance to be the result of lubrication problems. Don't be fooled. Most of these problem
conditions can be detected using predictive or condition-monitoring techniques long before
failure occurs. A thorough analysis and corrective action can often be applied before
catastrophic failure, machine damage and costly production loss occur.
Another strategy open to bearing users with chronic bearing-failure probJems is a bearing
upgrade to high-tech bearings lhat reduce the impact of machine problems. For example, a new
bearing with a toroidal roller design serves as a non-locating bearing that acconunodates shaft
deflection and fmds the best posilion to carry a load no matter how the shaft moves. Also available are