BEARING FAQ
Have Questions?
If you’re question isn’t answered here – contact us.
We supply high-quality bearings and associated components to industry, trade, and maintenance professionals. We focus on sourcing the correct bearing for each application, helping customers reduce downtime, extend service life, and avoid costly repeat failures.
We do much more — helping you choose the right bearing is where we excel! We like to say we sell solutions – that happen to be bearing shaped! If you’re unsure about load direction, speed, environment, or mounting conditions, our team can assist with specification and alternatives. We have the knowledge and experience to help!
And that’s not all, we’re also proud stockists of TengTools and PortWest PPE, and that’s just the start – we can offer you an extensive range with expert service.
– Shaft and housing dimensions
– Load direction (radial, axial, or both)
– Speed and operating temperature
– Application type (motor, pump, gearbox, conveyor, etc.)
If you don’t have all of this, don’t worry — we are here to help!
A radial bearing is designed to support loads that act at right angles to the shaft. This is the most common type of bearing and is widely used across industrial equipment.
Typical characteristics:
Load is applied perpendicular to the shaft
Compact and versatile design
Often supplied as deep groove ball bearings
Common applications include electric motors, pumps, fans, and conveyor rollers.
A thrust bearing is built to handle loads that act parallel to the shaft, meaning the force pushes along the shaft’s axis rather than across it.
Typical characteristics:
Load is applied in line with the shaft
Usually flatter and wider than radial bearings
Available in ball, roller, or tapered designs
You’ll often find thrust bearings in vertical shafts, screw jacks, turntables, and similar applications.
The key difference is load direction:
Radial bearings handle side loads
Thrust bearings handle end loads
Using the wrong type can lead to overheating, rapid wear, axial movement, or premature failure. Matching the bearing to the direction of force is critical.
Yes — in some applications. Bearings designed for combined loads include:
– Angular contact ball bearings
– Tapered roller bearings
These are commonly used in gearboxes, wheel hubs, and vertical pumps. The correct choice depends on which load is dominant and the operating conditions.
No. Radial and thrust bearings are designed for different forces. Swapping one for the other will almost always result in reduced service life and potential damage to surrounding components.
Start with one key question: Which direction is the force acting?
– Side-to-side force = radial load
– Force along the shaft = thrust load
– Both directions = combined-load bearing
The bearing’s shape can also offer clues — radial bearings are generally more compact, while thrust bearings are wider to spread axial loads.
Using the incorrect bearing can cause:
– Excessive heat and noise
– Uneven or accelerated wear
– Seal or lubrication failure
– Repeated breakdowns in the same location
Resulting in unplanned downtime and emergency call-outs!
– Bearings failing repeatedly in the same application
– Grease escaping under pressure
– Noisy operation when under load
– Scoring or unusual wear patterns on raceways
If a replacement bearing suffers a repeat of the same issue, the load direction or bearing type should be reviewed.
Both. We support maintenance teams, engineers, buyers, and resellers. Whether you’re maintaining plant equipment or supplying bearings to your own customers, we help ensure the specification is correct first time.
Because downtime is expensive. Our focus is on:
– Correct specification
– Fast & reliable supply
– Practical, experience-backed advice
We don’t just sell bearings — we sell the whole package – helping you avoid problems before they happen.
