What are the causes of bearing excessive noise?

The bearing excessive noise is one of the common symptoms of bearing failure. It may cause heavy damage to the whole set. We will introduce the five major causes of bearing failure in this article. You can learn and use them in your working.

Metal-to-metal Contact

• Insufficient lubricant
• Oil film too thin for the operating conditions
• Rolling elements sliding (skidding)

Contamination

• Dents in raceways and/or rolling elements due to ingress and over-rolling of solid contaminants
• Solid particles left in the housing from manufacturing or previous bearing failures
• Liquid contaminants reducing the lubricant viscosity

Too Loose Fits

• Inner ring creeping (turning) on the shaft
• Outer ring creeping (turning) in the housing
• Bearing lock nut loose on the shaft or on the bearing sleeve
• Bearing not clamped securely against mating components
• Excessive radial/axial internal clearance in the bearing

Surface Damage

• Abrasive wear from ineffective lubrication
• Smearing damage due to sliding rolling elements
• Dents in raceways and/or rolling elements due to over-rolling of solid contaminants
• Dents in raceways and/or rolling elements from impact or shock loading
• False brinelling marks on raceways and/or rolling elements due to static vibration
• Spalls in raceways and/or rolling elements due to material fatigue
• Spalls in raceways and/or rolling elements due to surface initiated damage
• Static etching on raceways and/or rolling elements due to chemical/liquid contaminants
• (Micro) Spalls on raceways and/or rolling elements due to moisture or damaging electric current
• Fluting in raceways and/or rolling elements due to passage of damaging electric current

Rubbing

• Housing seals installed incorrectly
• Adapter or withdrawal sleeve not properly mounted
• Spacer rings not properly clamped
• Lock washer tabs bent