A plain bearing, also known as a slide bearing or a sliding bearing, is the most common and simple type of bearing. Plain bearings are the simplest kind of bearing because they have no moving parts. They are only made up of the bearing and the surface that will eventually slide upon it. As a result, they are one of the cheapest kinds of bearings and the most commonly used.

 When disassembling the sliding bearing when it is damaged, pay attention to:

•The bearing pad must be marked according to the position and orientation of the joint surface of the main bearing pad cover, so that the cause of damage can be better understood. In addition to the appearance of the bearing, its location will usually give information about the cause of the damage. When the crankshaft is bent, eg the first and last main bearings along the joint surface will first show signs of one-sided wear.

•Operating conditions (duration, type of load) and other effects (eg oil used) must be recorded so that damage can be better assessed.

• Abnormalities of other engine components, such as crankshafts, must be recorded. In most cases, damage to the plain bearing abutment can be identified. Bearing damage often results in damage to other engine components as well.

• To enable subsequent analysis, the oil used should be sampled and retained in the oil filter. Particulate residues should be recorded and analysed to provide information on potential causes of damage. 

How are Plain Bearings Used?
Since plain bearings are so generic and broad in nature, their applications are broader than any other bearing in existence. It is impossible to list every function of a plain bushing because there are simply thousands of uses for them. However, this list will outline the most popular uses for a few different types of plain bearings. Keep in mind that there are still more types of plain bearings, and each type has potentially hundreds of uses!
Journal bearings:
• Crankshafts

• Camshafts

• Rotating Applications

• Railway Freight Car Axles

• Combustion Engines

• Powertrains

Sliding bearings:
• Construction

• Precision Tooling

• Other Sliding Motions

Thrust bearings:
• Propeller shafts

• Drive chains

• Other Axial Driving Motions

What Materials are Plain Bearings Made of?
Plain bearings are used in countless applications, and their intended use will determine what material they should be made from. Typically, plain bearings are made from three different kinds of materials: polymers, graphite, or metals. Metal slide bearings are typically made out of bronze or other copper alloys, which can include any combination of tin, lead, copper, steel, and more. Bearings made with graphite are commonly referred to as carbon insert bearings, as the carbonic graphite is used as an inserted shaft lubricant. This is most common when the application of the bearing is too strenuous for traditional metals. The third material is PFTE, which allows for plain bearings to work longer without the need for maintenance. PFTE is very resistant to corrosion, extending the product life even further.
Are Plain Bearings Customizable?
Plain Bearings are extremely customizable, and at CHANNOV we are able to make our bearings according to your design. Buying our traditional, in-stock sizes enables faster delivery, but we are open to building bearings exactly how you would like them. Reach out to us with any questions, and our dedicated sales team will happily help you!