When a bearing fails, it indicates the ineffectiveness of the bearing motion. The machine shaft would eventually fail without sufficient bearing action, resulting in machine damages and break downs. In this article, Feiken Bearing would explain more to readers regarding the factors of bearing failure and ineffectiveness.

The above pie chart displays better illustration of the statistics underlying common bearing failure reasons. By learning this article, readers are exposed to the knowledge of these potential problems and may help to prevent bearing malfunctions.

1. Lubrication Failure

Improper lubrication is the main common causes of bearing failure. The factors of damaged bearing due to lubrication failure are such as an improper lubricant used, lack of lubricant applied, or the bearing has been subjected to extreme temperatures that have caused the lubricant to deteriorate.

2. Misalignment

Apart from lubrication failures, bearing misalignment is the second most prevalent cause of early bearing failure. When the faces of the inner and outer rings are not parallel, rolling element bearings are misaligned. The inner ring on the shaft or the outer ring in the housing might be crooked.

3. Corrosion and Contamination

Contaminants in bearing components, such as dirt, sand, water, and chemical compounds, creates a variety of problems. These contaminants reduces the flow of lubricant fluids leading to bearing surface corrosion, disruption of the oil layer, and erosion, that would result in increase of the friction on bearing.

4. Fatigue

Fatigue is a condition where bearing surfaces or raceways had fractures causing the removal of tiny pieces of bearing materials such as metal and other particles. If this fatigue continuously spreads, it can lead the bearing to failure and malfunctioned.