Tapered Roller Bearings

Facts & Failures

Standard Terms for Tapered

Roller Bearings

A.
B.
C.

Roller Bearings
Roller Cage
Inner Race

Standard Terms for Tapered

Roller Bearings

D. Outer Race

Tapered Bearing Loading

Patterns
Normal loading. When the
bearings are installed
properly, with the correct
bearing pre-load, the load
pattern will be symetrical
(blue area).
Improper loading.
Overtightening the adjusting
nut, or not seating the
bearing properly, causes a
shift in the load pattern on
the bearing surfaces.

Improper Bearing Adjustment

If larger end of roller shows
smearing, spalling or galling,
bearing adjustment is too
tight.
Spalling - when the surface
breaks up into chips or
fragments.
Galling - when the surface is
broken by friction or abrasion

Improper Bearing Adjustment

If the end of the roller is
spalled, the roller has been
running against the inner
ring.
The inner ring has flanges
on each edge to keep the
rollers in line. If the bearing
is overloaded (tightened too
hard) during adjustment, the
edges of the rollers will ride
against the flange, producing
the wear you see here.

Improper Bearing Adjustment

If you see wear, smearing or

spalling, on the small end of
the roller, it indicates that the
bearing adjustment is too
loose.

Improper Bearing Adjustment

When the race is worn, it

indicates that the bearing
may have been overloaded.

Misalignment

When bearings are in proper

alignment their center lines
are parallel to each other.

Misalignment
If the bearings are not seated
properly their center lines will
be at an angle to each other.
Causes of cocked bearings:
dirt or burrs preventing a
flush mount
outer cup installed without
proper tools
a warped shaft

Effects of Contamination

Scratch marks in the surface

of the race are caused by
hard particles in the lubricant.

Effects of Contamination

Etched metal surfaces are

usually the result of water
contamination.
The water allows oxidation and
the metal becomes pitted and
porous.

Effects of Contamination - rollers

Scoring around the rollers

indicates contamination of
the lubricant by dirt, girt or
metal particles.

Effects of Improper Lubrication

When metal appears to be

flaking off across the full
surface of the race, suspect
there is a lack of proper
lubrication.

Effects of Improper Lubrication

Discolored steel anywhere,

on the cup, cone or roller,
indicates overheating.

Installation Damage

The rib of this cage design

has been bent out of round.
Even small distortions of the
assembly can destroy a
bearing.

Installation Damage
Nicks and dents. Damage
like this dent in the cage or
retainer is the result of a
sharp tool being used to
install or seat the bearing. A
drift or screwdriver used on a
bearing is guaranteed
damage.

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