The first sign of bearing failure is excessive vibration. After this, the bearing will start to heat up beyond acceptable levels and produce excessive noise. After this, the bearing will begin to heat up beyond acceptable levels and to produce excessive noises, whether sharp or squeaky. At the beginning of the third stage, the harmonics of the fundamental frequency will begin to be very obvious.
Racing defects are now obvious and will be visible in the vibration analysis of the noise signal. At this point, there will also be a significant increase in temperature. Why do bearings fail? This is a common question about manufacturing, but it's not always easy to answer. Failures can result from many factors: extreme working conditions, maintenance and lubrication programs, or specific industry demands. Early signs of a bearing failure may include machinery that operates irregularly, at an exceptionally high volume, or with reduced precision.
There are also some visual signs to look out for. If the bearing suddenly makes noise during operation, this is a bearing fault. This excess noise occurs when the treads of the bearing are damaged, causing the rolling elements to bounce or rattle during the rotation. If you notice that the bearing makes excessive noise while it's in operation, you'll need to replace it as soon as possible.
The fault has already occurred in the bearing and the machine could break down at any time. The first signs of a bearing failure are unusual noises that come from the bearing, such as grinds, squeaks, or rumbling noises. These noises usually indicate that the bearing is experiencing an increase in friction and wear. Another, but more dangerous, sign is when the bearings are worn or damaged, as they can cause increased vibration due to the imbalance or misalignment they create.
This is dangerous and it is vital to detect bearing problems as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the vehicle. With these safety risks in mind, it's critical not to drive a vehicle with a faulty bearing, and ignoring the problem is only worse and can lead to more serious damage, more costly repairs, and a greater risk of accidents. This fault, also known as electric arc erosion, occurs when an electrical current crosses the bearing and is interrupted on the contact surface between the raceways and the rolling elements, causing high temperatures at localized points. You'll need to determine the severity of the problem using data such as temperature and vibration and replace the bearing before it causes catastrophic failure.
The cost of replacing a wheel bearing can vary considerably depending on several factors, such as the make and model of the vehicle, the location of the repair shop, and whether you're replacing just one or more bearings. A broken bearing rapidly increases frictional forces, causing a significant increase in temperature and extreme wear. As we have already mentioned, high temperatures are not good for bearings and can cause other problems mentioned above, such as lubrication and internal friction. It is essential to use the right tools, ovens and induction heaters during the bearing assembly and installation process.
If the shaft is too large or too loose, the bearing will drag on the shaft and will wear out and generate heat, eventually causing vibration and eccentricity problems. Simply put, wheel bearings allow cars and trucks to run smoother and more efficiently by reducing friction and supporting the vehicle's weight. Keep reading to learn about the most common symptoms of poor wheel bearing quality, based on my experience (50 years in the industry) and that of Joe Simes, a Toyota expert technician certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). That's why it's important to be able to recognize the warning signs of a bearing fault so that we can quickly identify it and schedule repairs before the fault occurs.
According to Vibralign, defects appear around 20,000 to 60,000 Hz and, while this is not a reason to replace a bearing, phase 1 may indicate a lack of lubrication between the wheels and the rolling elements. TriStar Plastics, LLC is dedicated to the engineering, custom manufacturing and manufacturing of high-performance plastics and self-lubricating bearing materials. Accurately diagnosing and solving bearing failures to anticipate them will help prevent their recurrence and avoid other problems that your installation may experience, such as reduced operating efficiency, increased downtime and lost revenue. Using these four stages and identifying what phase a bearing is in is critical because not only will it help you promote an accurate predictive maintenance plan, but it will also help you keep your machines running efficiently and avoid costly and unplanned downtime.
