Sliding Bearings vs. Rolling Element Bearings: Key Differences and Application Scenarios

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the key differences and application scenarios between Sliding Bearings and Rolling Element Bearings.

At a Glance: Core Difference

Sliding Bearings: Rely on a fluid film (or a solid lubricant) to separate the sliding surfaces. Motion is smooth and continuous.
Rolling Element Bearings: Rely on interposing elements (balls, rollers) that roll between the surfaces. Motion is discrete and involves rolling contact.

Key Differences Comparison Table

Feature	Sliding Bearings (Plain/Journal Bearings)	Rolling Element Bearings (Ball/Roller Bearings)
Principle of Operation	Sliding contact on a lubricant film.	Rolling contact of elements (balls, rollers).
Friction	Lower friction at very high speeds and under steady loads (hydrodynamic regime). Higher friction during startup (boundary regime).	Higher friction at high speeds due to churning of lubricant and rolling element centrifugal forces. Lower starting friction.
Load Capacity	Very High. Excellent for shock/impact loads. Load is distributed over a large contact area.	Lower relative to size. Excellent for radial and thrust loads but shock loads can cause brinelling (dents) on races.
Speed Capability	Extremely High. Ideal for very high-speed applications (e.g., turbine spindles).	Limited. Maximum speed is limited by centrifugal forces, heat generation, and bearing cage integrity.
Noise & Vibration	Quiet and smooth operation due to continuous fluid film. Dampens vibrations.	Can be noisy. Discrete rolling elements can generate vibration and noise at certain speeds.
Design & Complexity	Simple design in concept (often just a shell). But lubrication system (pumps, filters) can be complex.	Complex internal design. But overall simple to install and maintain (often pre-lubricated and sealed).
Space Requirement	Compact in the radial direction. But often longer in the axial direction.	Large in the radial direction. Compact in the axial direction.
Lubrication	Requires continuous, clean lubrication system. Critical for operation.	Simpler lubrication: Grease-packed or occasional re-lubrication.
Maintenance	High. Requires continuous monitoring of lubricant condition, temperature, and clearance.	Low. Often sealed-for-life or require only periodic re-lubrication.
Cost	Lower initial cost for simple types. Higher operational cost due to complex lubrication systems.	Higher initial purchase cost. Lower operational and maintenance cost.

Application Scenarios: When to Use Which?

Choose a SLIDING Bearing when:

Extremely High Speeds and Loads: The premier application.
- Turbomachinery: Steam turbines, gas turbines, jet engines.
- Crankshaft Main & Connecting Rod Bearings in automotive engines (high shock loads, high speeds).
- Large Electric Motors and generators.
Heavy Shock and Impact Loads:
- Rock Crushers, heavy rolling mills.
- Marine propeller shafts.
Where Silence and Vibration Damping are Critical:
- Household Appliances: Quiet fans, washing machines (often use polymer bushings).
- Precision Machine Tools where vibration would ruin surface finish.
In Harsh Environments:
- Applications with contamination where a rolling bearing would fail (e.g., agricultural machinery using dry or composite bushings).
- Corrosive environments (can use plastic or ceramic bushings).
Radial Space is Limited:
- Where a compact design is needed, as a journal bearing can be just a thin shell.

Choose a ROLLING ELEMENT Bearing when:

Standard Speeds and Loads (Most Common Applications):
- Electric Motors (small to medium size).
- Gearboxes, pumps, and conveyors.
- Automobile wheels (combining radial and thrust loads).
Low Starting Torque is Required:
- Precision Instruments.
- Applications that start and stop frequently.
Simplified Maintenance is a Priority:
- Consumer products, appliances, and machinery where "sealed-for-life" lubrication is desired.
- Applications where access for lubrication is difficult.
Both Radial and Thrust Loads are Present:
- Angular contact ball bearings and tapered roller bearings are explicitly designed to handle combined loads effectively.
Precision Positioning and Rigidity:
- Machine Tool Spindles (using preloaded precision ball bearings).
- Robotic Arms.

Summary and Analogy

	Sliding Bearing	Rolling Bearing
Analogy	Hydroplaning Car Tire (gliding on a film of water)	Bicycle Wheel (rolling on the road)
Strengths	High speed, high load, shock load, damping, compact radial design	Low startup friction, low maintenance, handles combined loads, precision
Weaknesses	High maintenance, complex system, high startup friction	Limited high-speed performance, sensitive to shock loads, noisy, larger radial size

Conclusion

There is no "better" bearing, only the "right" bearing for the application. The choice is a classic engineering trade-off based on load, speed, operating environment, maintenance capabilities, and cost. Rolling element bearings are the default choice for the vast majority of general-purpose applications. Sliding bearings are the specialized, high-performance solution for the most demanding roles in industry.

FAQ

What are the core advantages of EPEN sliding bearings compared with other similar domestic suppliers?

Our core strength lies in our focus on "high performance, high precision, and high reliability." This is exemplified by:

Excellent Quietness: Our products lead the industry in vibration and noise control, making them particularly suitable for applications requiring the highest levels of quietness.

In-depth Technical Support: We provide comprehensive technical support from selection to application, helping customers solve practical problems.

Strict Quality Management System.Strong Customization: We can quickly provide custom solutions.

Choose the Right Plain Bearing(Sliding Bearing) for Your Application | About EPEN

Jiashan Epen Bearing Co.Ltd. is a professional manufacturer of plain bearings and wear plates, and has grown rapidly to a point where now all types of plain bearings can be supplied. Standard catalogue sizes, special sizes and designs can be produced at competitive prices and to a high quality standard. Jiashan Epen Bearing Co.Ltd. Serves both the domestic and international markets. The Jiashan Epen Bearing Company intend to stay at the forfront of this market.

EPEN's existing main products are metal plastic composite series sliding bearings, bimetal series bearings, single metal series sliding bearings, etc.

Products are widely used in more than 30 fields such as automobile industry, metallurgy, engineering machinery, construction machinery, plastic machinery, machine tool industry, water conservancy and hydropower.

Contact us at epen@cnepen.cn to discuss your plain bearing needs and discover how our solutions can enhance your machinery's performance and longevity.

Epen's own sinter lines

Epen using own sintered lines, strictly control the sintering process and procedures to ensure the strip quality and stable performance ....

Epen's own sinter lines

Dr. Eleanor "Ellie" Penn

Dr. Eleanor "Ellie" Penn is our Senior Tribology Specialist at Epen, where she bridges the gap between deep material science and real-world engineering challenges. With over 15 years of experience in the field of sliding bearings and self-lubricating materials, she possesses a passion for solving the most complex problems of friction, wear, and maintenance. Ellie holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on tribology. Her mission is to empower engineers and maintenance professionals with practical knowledge and best practices that extend equipment life, reduce downtime, and drive innovation. When she's not in the lab or writing, you can find her volunteering at STEM workshops to inspire the next generation of engineers. Areas of Expertise: Sliding Bearing Design, Material Selection, Failure Analysis, Preventive Maintenance, Application Engineering.

Dr. Eleanor "Ellie" Penn

Contact to EPEN Bearing

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