B EARI N G FA ILU RE

ANALY SIS CHA RT

Bearing Failure Descriptions

Inadequate
Lubrication
Brinelling
Cone Large Rib Face Scoring
False Brinelling Welding and heat damage from
Cage Wear caused by vibration metal to metal contact.
Damage or relative axial movement
between rollers and races. Roller End Scoring
Improperly installed or
Metal to metal contact from
dropped bearing. True Brinelling breakdown of lubricant.
Damage from shock
or impact. Cone Large Rib Face Deformation
Metal flow from excessive
heat generation.

Excessive Excessive
Preload or End Play
Overload Cage pocket wear
Heavy contact between the Peeling
Rapid and Deep Spalling
Caused by unusually rollers and cage pocket Micro-spalling due to
high stresses. Full race surface due to operating thin lubricant film from
width fatigue spalling is under excessive end play. high loads/low RPM or
caused by heavy loads Scalloping elevated temperatures.
creating a thin lubricant Uneven localized wear
film and possible elevated resulting from excessive
temperatures. end play.

Fatigue
Spalling
Corrosion /
Improper Fit Geometric Stress
Etching
Cage pocket wear Spalling from misalignment,
Line Spalling Cup Spinning deflection or heavy loading.
Roller spaced spalling Loose cup fit in a
from bearings operating Inclusion Origin
rotating wheel hub. Spalling from oxides or
after etching damage.
Cone Bore Damage other hard inclusions in
Etching Fractured cone due to bearing steel.
Rusting and pitting out of round or
caused by moisture oversized shaft. Point Surface Origin
or water exposure. Spalling from contamination
or raised metal exceeding the
lubricant film thickness.

Foreign
Material
Handling Grooving
Large particle contamination
Damage Misalignment imbedding into soft cage
Cup Face Denting material.
Indentations from Irregular roller path from
hardened driver. deflection, inaccurate Abrasive Wear
machining or wear of Fine abrasive particle
Roller Nicking / Denting bearing seats. contamination.
Rough handling or
installation damage. Bruising
Contamination from other
fatigued parts, inadequate
sealing or poor maintenance.

STEMCO - USA
P.O. Box 1989 Longview, TX 75606-1989
(903) 758-9981 1-800-527-8492 FAX: 1-800-874-4297
ISO 9001:2000 & ISO/TS 16949 Photos and material reprinted with permission from
STEMCO, is a registered trademark of
(TMC) Technology & Maintenance Council FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT STEMCO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT:
of American Trucking Associations,
STEMCO LP 2009 STEMCO LP

an EnPro Industries company
1.800.527.8492
www.stemco.com 950 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22203.
Printed in the USA Part No. 571-3080 (703) 838-1763
STEMCO - Canada
Hudson 10-645 Rev. 01/09 http://tmc.truckline.com
5900 Ambler Drive, Units 4 & 5 Mississauga, ON L4W 2N3
(905) 206-9922 877-232-9111 FAX: 877-244-4555