Maintenance-free spherical plain bearings are used when there are special requirements for working life or when metal/metal plain bearings are not suitable for lubrication technique due to one-way load. These bearings allow adjustment movements in all 3 dimensions and can handle radial, axial or combined loads depending on the bearing type (radial, angular contact or axial bearing).

Maintenance-free spherical plain bearings have special sliding layers bonded to PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene). These tiers are shown below in order of performance.

• ELGOGLIDE® – the highest performing layer

• PTFE composite

• PTFE-bronze film.

These materials form the sliding surface of the outer ring or shaft washer. These absorb the incoming forces and provide lubrication – bearings should not be lubricated in any other way.

radial spherical plain bearings

Radial spherical plain bearings consist of maintenance-free inner and outer rings with a sliding layer of ELGOGLIDE®, PTFE composite or PTFE-bronze film. These bearings can handle light axial forces as well as radial loads and are suitable for varying dynamic loads.