What Are the Stages of Bearing Failure? How to Effectively Prevent It?
The three stages of bearing failure are Initial Degradation, Progressive Wear, and Catastrophic Failure. In the Initial Degradation stage, symptoms include slight temperature rise, subtle abnormal noise, and early lubricant contamination — usually caused by improper installation or poor lubrication — and can be prevented through precision mounting, correct lubrication, and clean storage. The Progressive Wear stage shows visible surface flaking, increased vibration, metal debris in lubricant, and rising temperatures, typically due to fatigue, misalignment, or lubrication failure; prevention requires real-time monitoring, scheduled lubrication, and proper load management. The Catastrophic Failure stage presents severe noise, extreme temperatures, bearing seizure, and broken components — often the result of total lubrication loss or overload — and is preventable only through early detection, routine replacement, and predictive maintenance. Understanding these stages and responding early can protect equipment, cut downtime, and extend bearing lifespan.
