The three top causes of bearing failure (and one solution to avoid them all)
Bearing failures can be expensive, disruptive, and in some cases dangerous. Understanding the causes of bearing failure is the first step towards improving equipment reliability and reducing maintenance costs. In fact, many common bearing failure causes can be avoided before the bearing is even put into operation.
Here are the three most common causes of bearing failure—and how to avoid them.
Bearing Type – The Bearing You’ve Chosen Doesn’t Suit the Application
The number one of the causes of bearing failure is selecting the wrong bearing for the application. Without specialist guidance, it is easy to choose a bearing that cannot meet the operating requirements.
There are plain bearings, ball bearings, roller bearings, and needle bearings, each available in numerous configurations. Plain bearings alone are offered in sintered, wrapped, plastic, composite, and solid machined materials, while rolling element bearings are available in a wide variety of designs.
Many customers understand their application’s load, speed, and environmental requirements but are unsure which bearing type will deliver the best balance of performance, reliability, and cost.
Selecting the correct bearing helps prevent bearing failure, improves machine efficiency, reduces maintenance, and extends service life.
Material Selection – The Material Doesn’t Match the Application
Choosing the correct material is equally important.
Plain bearings are manufactured from materials including sintered bronze, sintered iron, rolled bronze, cast bronze, engineering plastics, composites, stainless steel, and advanced materials such as BowMet®, manufactured from ToughMet® alloy.
Ball, roller, and needle bearings are also available in high carbon chrome steel, stainless steel, ceramic, and many other materials.
With continuous advances in material science, it is increasingly common during bearing failure analysis to discover that the correct bearing type has been selected, but the material itself is unsuitable for the operating conditions. Incorrect material selection is a frequent cause of plain bearing failure, particularly in harsh or highly loaded applications.
Lubrication – Bearings Are Not Being Maintained Correctly
Lubrication remains one of the biggest bearing failure causes across many industries.
Maintaining an effective lubrication schedule is essential for reducing friction, controlling heat, and maximising bearing life. However, many applications make regular maintenance difficult or impractical.
In sectors such as marine, servicing bearings can be costly or impossible because of the operating environment. In agriculture and construction, maintenance schedules are often limited by operational demands.
Where regular lubrication cannot be guaranteed, selecting maintenance-free or low-maintenance bearing solutions can help prevent bearing failure while improving equipment reliability and reducing servicing requirements.
One Simple Solution
Avoiding these common causes of bearing failure starts with selecting the right technical partner.
Working with a manufacturer or supplier that offers a comprehensive range of bearing types, materials, and application expertise gives you access to impartial recommendations based on your operating conditions—not just the products they manufacture or stock.
Whether the solution involves changing the bearing type, selecting a more suitable material, or switching to a lubrication-free bearing, expert consultation can significantly reduce bearing downtime and improve equipment performance.
If you have not reviewed your bearing selection for some time, there may be newer technologies available that offer longer service life, lower maintenance, and improved reliability. For technical support, DM us or call +44 (0)1235 462 500.
