Rolling Bearing Installation and Removal Techniques
From: XingMao DATE: 2026/7/13 Hits: 292
Rolling Bearing Installation and Removal Techniques
The clearance of a rolling bearing refers to the maximum amount of radial or axial movement of one ring when the other ring is fixed. It is divided into radial clearance and axial clearance. When assembling rolling bearings, the clearance must not be too large or too small. Excessive clearance reduces the number of rolling elements that simultaneously bear t...
The clearance of a rolling bearing refers to the maximum amount of radial or axial movement of one ring when the other ring is fixed. It is divided into radial clearance and axial clearance. When assembling rolling bearings, the clearance must not be too large or too small. Excessive clearance reduces the number of rolling elements that simultaneously bear the load, increases the load on each individual rolling element, thereby reducing the bearing's rotational accuracy and shortening its service life.
Insufficient clearance increases friction, leading to increased heat, accelerated wear, and similarly reducing the bearing's service life. Therefore, the clearance must be strictly controlled and adjusted during bearing assembly. Preload involves applying an axial force to the inner or outer ring of the bearing during assembly to eliminate clearance and induce initial deformation at the contact points between the rolling elements and the inner and outer rings. Preload improves the bearing's rigidity and rotational accuracy under operating conditions. For bearings bearing large loads and requiring high rotational accuracy, they typically operate with no clearance or a slight interference fit, necessitating preload adjustment during assembly. Clearance adjustment and preload are usually achieved by making appropriate axial relative displacements between the inner and outer rings.
Before installing the bearing, thoroughly clean the bearing, journal, and bearing housing bore. During installation, use a specialized tool to press the bearing in evenly and straight, avoiding direct impact with hard objects such as hammers. If a specialized tool is unavailable, use a copper or wooden rod as a pad, then hammer to ensure even pressure distribution on both the inner and outer rings. Avoid applying pressure in one direction to prevent bearing tilting, damage to mating surfaces, or misalignment.
During bearing installation, if the bearing is found to be too tight or too loose in the journal and bearing housing bore, stop installation and reinstall a suitable bearing. If there are deviations in the journal or bearing housing bore, repair them before installation.
After installation, start the machine and measure the temperature of the bearing housing and listen to its sound. If the temperature is too high, the clearance is too small; if the sound is abnormal, the clearance may be too large. Adjust the clearance after stopping the machine based on the inspection results.
When disassembling the bearing, special care must be taken to ensure that pressure is not transmitted through the rolling elements to avoid damaging the bearing cage. Use a puller to slowly disassemble the bearing whenever possible. If you do not have a puller, you can use a copper or wooden stick as a pad and gently hammer it to disassemble it, while being careful not to damage the journal or bearing housing bore surface.
