Bearing Failures

Product information 401

Bearing failures and their causes

Contents

Introduction ....................................................................................................... Bearing failures and their causes .................................................................. How is bearing life defined?.......................................................................... Path patterns and their interpretation................................................................ Different types of bearing damage .................................................................... Wear.............................................................................................................. Wear caused by abrasive particles............................................................ Wear caused by inadequate lubrication..................................................... Wear caused by vibration .......................................................................... Indentations................................................................................................... Indentations caused by faulty mounting oroverloading............................. Indentations caused by foreign particles.................................................... Smearing ....................................................................................................... Smearing of roller ends and guide flanges ................................................ Smearing of rollers andraceways.............................................................. Raceway smearing at intervals corresponding to the roller spacing.......... Smearing of external surfaces ................................................................... Smearing in thrust ball bearings ................................................................ Surface distress ............................................................................................Corrosion....................................................................................................... Deep seated rust........................................................................................ Fretting corrosion ....................................................................................... Damage caused by the passage of electric current...................................... Flaking (spalling) ........................................................................................... Flaking caused by preloading .................................................................... Flaking caused by oval compression ......................................................... Flaking caused by axial compression........................................................ Flaking caused by misalignment................................................................ Flaking caused by indentations.................................................................. Flaking caused by smearing ...................................................................... Flaking caused by deep seated rust .......................................................... Flakingcaused by fretting corrosion .......................................................... Flaking caused by fluting or craters ........................................................... Cracks ........................................................................................................... Cracks caused by rough treatment ............................................................Cracks caused by excessive drive-up........................................................ Cracks caused by smearing....................................................................... Cracks caused by fretting corrison............................................................. Cage damage...................................................................................................