Spherical Plain Bearings

Spherical Plain Bearings are used in high load and severe misalignment conditions. They may also be used in applications requiring oscillation, tilting or similar conditions not involving high rotational speeds. Typical applications include mounting joints for hydraulic cylinders, vehicle steering linkages and other heavy duty articulating joints. These bearing are available in multiple configurations:

- Open and sealed
- Inch and metric dimensions
- Self-lubricating PTFE liners or metal to metal

Additional designs include high misalignment, angular contact and extended inner rings. Spherical plain bearings, or commonly known as bushings, consist of a spherically ground inner ring (ball) and outer ring. Depending on the size of the part the outer ring is intentionally cracked to accommodate assembly. NPB's spherical plain bearings consist of races made of GRC15/52100 steel and are heat treated for optimum wear resistance. The races are phosphate coated for corrosion resistance and the sliding surfaces are MoS2 coated (not applicable to self-lubricating bearings).