Bearing Lubrication Is The Number One Cause Of Bearing Failure
The True Cost of Lubrication Failure
Beyond the bearing itself, lubrication failure creates cascading costs: unplanned downtime, contamination of nearby equipment or product (a major concern in food and pharma), labor for repeated greasing, and disposal or environmental compliance costs tied to grease and oil.
How Self-Lubricating Bearings Work
Self-lubricating bearings contain solid lubricants such as PTFE, graphite, or molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) incorporated into the bearing material. During operation, these low-friction constituents help reduce friction at the sliding interface and, in many applications, contribute to the formation of a transfer film on the mating shaft. This allows the bearing to operate without externally applied grease or oil. Shaft surface finish is important because it can directly affect transfer-film development, friction, wear, and overall bearing performance.
When Greaseless Bearings Make the Most Sense
Hard-to-access or overhead equipment where regreasing is difficult
Food, pharmaceutical, and cleanroom environments where grease contamination is unacceptable
Applications with frequent washdown that would strip grease anyway
Q: What is the number one cause of bearing failure? +
A: Improper or inconsistent lubrication is the leading cause of premature bearing failure in industrial equipment.
Q: Do self-lubricating bearings need any maintenance? +
A: No external grease or oil is required. Some applications still benefit from periodic inspection, but the bearing itself does not require relubrication.
Q: How do self-lubricating bearings work without grease? +
A: They rely on internal solid lubricants such as PTFE or graphite that migrate to the bearing surface during operation, forming a low-friction transfer film against the shaft.
Tired of regreasing hard-to-reach equipment?
Ask a TriStar engineer about a drop-in self-lubricating replacement.
