Why Bearing Inspection Matters
Bearings are the silent workhorses of industrial machinery. When they fail, production stops — and the cost isn't just the replacement bearing, it's the downtime, the lost output and the knock-on damage to surrounding components.
A structured inspection routine catches problems early, when a simple re-grease or seal swap is enough. Here are the seven points our engineers check on every visit.
1. Visual Inspection
Clean the bearing and surrounding housing, then examine raceways, balls/rollers and cages under good light. Look for pitting, spalling, discolouration (blueing = overheating), cracks and corrosion.
2. Listen for Unusual Noise
A healthy bearing runs quiet. A high-pitched squeal points to inadequate lubrication; a gritty, irregular rumble suggests contamination or brinelling; a sharp knock under load can indicate cage damage.
3. Check Operating Temperature
Measure the housing temperature with a contact probe or IR gun. A steady rise of 10–15°C above baseline is normal after break-in; anything beyond that signals over-lubrication, excessive preload, or lubricant breakdown.
4. Assess Lubrication Condition
Withdraw a small grease sample and check colour, consistency and contamination. Dark, gritty or burnt-smelling grease has oxidised and lost film strength.
5. Inspect for Contamination
Open seals and shields where accessible. Ingress of dust, water or process chemicals is the leading cause of premature failure in food, aggregate and outdoor applications.
6. Verify Mounting & Fits
Check for shaft and housing wear at the seating. A bearing that has "turned" on the shaft will show a polished or fretted bore.
7. Measure Internal Clearance
Rock the inner ring relative to the outer. Excessive play indicates wear or loss of clearance from overheating. For critical machines, use a feeler gauge or dial indicator.
When to Replace vs Re-grease
If inspection reveals pitting, spalling or discolouration on the raceways, the bearing is beyond recovery — replace it. If the only issue is dried-out or contaminated grease, a thorough clean and re-pack can restore service life.
