LLG Needle Bearings

LLG needle bearings is a roller bearing with small cylindrical rollers that are used to reduced friction. These bearings have large surface area and rollers is longer than their diameter ratio. LLG needle bearing can support higher loads.

LLG needle bearings are applied in specific operations such as tool motors, automotive transmissions, aircraft controls, small appliances, farm equipment, Etc.

LLG needle bearings has two variations first is the full complement needle bearings and second is caged needle bearings that has thinner roller complements and can carry lower load capacity than full complement needle bearings.

LLG needle bearings lubrication is preferred for heavy loads and high-speed applications. Different size and dimensions for needle bearings are available. OEM with premium quality needle bearings also available.

LLG offers after-sales services to meet all the needs and requirement of our customers.
Buy now! For inquiries, just send us and email.

Needle Bearing – The Ultimate FAQ Guide

All rolling elements are supposed to suffer from the increased friction during the rotating movement. 

In addition to this, managing the radial loads in rotating machines is pretty difficult. 

You can use Needle Beatings to improve the easiness of your tasks. 

Below FAQ guides contain some helpful questions to answer all your questions related to Needle Bearing. 

Let’s explore what’s in the guide.

• What Is a Needle Bearing Used For? 

A needle bearing, also known as needle roller bearing, is one of its kind. In a needle bearing long and thin cylindrical rollers are used that resemble the shape of a needle.

It is a modified form of a roller bearing. Due to its reduced diameter and extra length (four times larger than diameter), the needle bearing is used in rotating surfaces to reduce friction. 

They are also able to bear high loads. 

Needle Bearing

• Where Is a Needle Bearing Located? 

The location of needle roller bearing changes with the type of needle bearing being used.

Generally, the needle bearings are excessively used in automobiles such as compressors, pumps, rocker arm pivots, and transmissions. 

The driving shaft (also known as the propeller shaft) of the rear-wheel-drive automobile usually has a minimum of eight needle bearing (each U-unit has four needle bearing). 

The number of needle bearings increases when the unit is longer or functions on high perpendicular slopes. 

Location of Needle Bearing

• What Are the Advantages of the Needle Roller Bearing?

Among all the bearings, the needle bearings are the smallest and lightest. 

So, the needle bearings get a definitive advantage of this quality and make them candidates for many applications. 

The needle roller bearings can support more load due to the increased contact with surface area of the races.

If the raceway hardness is lower, the rating of the bearing and raceway combination is also reduced. 

• Who Invented The Needle Bearing? 

A British inventor and ironmaster, Philip Vaughan, invented the needle bearing in 1974. 

He created the first design of a ball bearing. It became the first recorded patent on ball bearing. 

Invention of Needle Bearing

• Why Do Needle Bearings Fail? 

According to the research, the common leading causes of bearings failure are associated with lubricants. 

There is either insufficient lubrication, high temperatures that degrade lubricant, or use of improper lubricants. 

The other reasons for needle bearings failure include corrosion, false Brinelling, improper mounting, contamination, misalignment, spalling, flaunting, excessive loads, overheating, improper storage and handling, and fit.

Failed Needle Bearing

• Do You Grease Needle Bearings? 

Usually, the needle bearings are greased using lubricants, but oil mist or oil-based lubricants are selected for high-speed heavy-duty applications. 

High-speed and heavy load bearings need greasing, while mild/light duty bearings do not need greasing.

• What Is a Needle Bearing Used for? 

Needle bearings are an ideal solution for preventing friction between moving surfaces. It is recommended to be used in areas with low rotational speeds.

The cylindrical rollers inside the needle bearings are compactly packed. In comparison to ball bearings, the needle bearings are compactly designed. Therefore, needle bearings are applicable in spaces where space is a consideration.

Uses of Needle Bearing

• How Do You Install a Needle Bearing? 

Before installation ensure that auxiliary sleeve’s outer diameter is thoroughly lubricated. After that, insert it into the bearing’s outer ring.

This will form an annular hole between the outer ring of the bearing and the auxiliary sleeve.

Then, in the annular hole, insert a needle. After fitting the needle roller, you must push out the auxiliary sleeve with the working shaft. 

• How Do You Measure a Needle Bearing? 

To measure a needle bearing, we use an instrument for making linear measurements known as a Vernier caliper. 

We use the outer anvils of the Vernier to measure the bore of the bear, while we use the jaws of the vernier caliper to measure the outer diameter. 

You can measure the bearings in millimeters or inches, e.g., 9.53mm would be 3/8 inch.

Measure a Needle Bearing

• How does a Needle Bearing Work?

A needle roller bearing utilizes small cylindrical rollers that rotate to reduce friction. 

The needle roller bearing comprises of inner and outer race. Sometimes despite of the inner race, only a shaft is used. 

The inner raceway has an internal cage that aligns and holds the needle rollers. 

The cage guides and holds on the rollers together. The firm structure supports the function to support radial loads and rotational speeds. 

Due to their large surface area over small diameter, they effectively reduce the friction in rotating bodies.

• How Do You Know Which Bearing to Use?

There are eight essential factors to choose the correct needle bearings. 

• • Load 
  • Rotation speed
  • Bearing life
  • Rigidity and Precision
  • Sealing system
  • Vibration and impact

• Load: 

The essential criterion to choose a bearing is the load it can support. You can divide the bearing types into two depending on their load carrying capacity.

Axial load: It is parallel to the axis of rotation of the shaft

Radial load: It is perpendicular to the axis

Bearings are designed to support either an axial load or a radial load. 

The bearings that can help both the loads are called combined loads. The needle-bearing rollers are classified as combined load. 

Cylindrical roller bearings are known for their high radial load carrying capacity. Whereas, ball bearings can support lighter loads. 

• Rotation speed: 

Rotation speed is also an essential factor to consider while choosing a bearing. 

Cylinder roller bearing and needle bearing offer better speed when they are caged than the non-caged versions. 

Alignment and operating conditions also affect the rotating speed of roller bearings. 

• Bearing life: 

Bearing life is a crucial factor affected by many factors, such as the quality of material used for making a bearing, rotation speed, or repeated use. 

Another critical factor that affects bearing life is the impact of load it can withstand, alignment with the shaft, and installation conditions. 

• Rigidity and Precision: 

Rigidity and precision vary with the application area of the bearings. 

Moreover, conditions of use may change and affect rigidity and accuracy. 

Selecting a correct preload (radial/ axial) also affects the precision and causes a positive impact on the noise level (impact/ precision) of your system. 

• Sealing system: 

Selecting an appropriate sealing system for increasing the durability that is correct and long-lasting operations of a bearing is crucial. 

The sealing system protects bearing from environmental damages like water and dust and external agents such as corrosive fluids or burned-out lubricants. 

The selection of the system depends on the lubricant’s type, the suitable conditions, the rotation speed, and the fluid pressure. 

High fluid pressure is a governing factor in selecting the sealing system. 

For example, the selection of grease or an oil-based lubricant depends on the presence or absence of grooves in the bearing.

• Impact and Vibrations: 

Impacts and vibrations are noise disturbances that arise due to the number of contaminants in the system. 

Installation errors, poor operating conditions, and alignment issues, especially in high-speed rotations, contribute to impact and vibrations.

• What Are Needle Roller Bearings Made From?

Needle roller bearings are made up of high-carbon chrome steel such as DC04M, SAE1015, and 16MnCr5 

Previously, they were also made by using stainless steel and engineered plastics.

• What Is a Drawn Cup Needle Roller Bearing?

The bearings having thin-walled and deeply drawn outer rings are called drawn cup needle roller bearings. 

In the applications where raceways are not needed for the needle roller bearing housing, these bearings are ideal to be used. 

Drawn cup needle roller bearings need an extensive arrangement. 

Dawn Cup Needle Roller Bearing

• What Are the Different Types of Bearings?

Bearings are specifically designed to withstand axial and radial loads. The type of the bearing you need depends on its load carrying capacity. 

You must use the bearing depending on the direction of the force. The different bearing types available for this purpose are:

• Plain bearings
• Ball bearings
• Fluid bearings
• Tapered or needle bearings
• Magnetic bearings

Each type of bearing has a different shape and features, and you can utilize each type for various purposes.

• How Many Types of Needle Roller Bearings Are There?

• Needle Roller and Cage Assemblies

Description: These types of needle bearings possess a single cage. The cage does not have an inner and outer ring. As a raceway surface these bearings use the shaft and housing.

Advantage: These bearings are lightweight and compactly designed. 

• Needle Roller and Cage Assemblies for Connecting Rods

Description: These needle bearings are recommended to be used in engines of variable sizes. These are also suitable for compressors connecting rods.

These bearings are ideal for tolerating load directions and rapid load variations. You can use these bearings effectively in high temperatures and can work efficiently in low lubrication.

Advantage: These are highly resistant to extreme temperatures and operating conditions. It is because of the production process, design, and material used in the bearing.

• Drawn Cup Needle Roller Bearing, Open-end/ Close-end/ Open End High Capacity

Description: They are open or closed-end without a ring or stop segment. It uses the shaft as the main raceway in the ring. 

However, the needles and the cage of this bearing cannot be removable. Due to the outer ring, drawn needle bearings can conveniently adjust in to a compact design.

Advantage: easy handling and extreme hardness.

• Needle Roller Bearings with Solid Rings (Bearings without inner ring/ Bearings with inner ring)

Description: These bearings have three parts – a solid outer ring, needles, and a cage. These bearings are unique because you cannot separate the outer ring raceways, the needle rollers, and cage assemblies. It is due to the shoulder or the side plates.

Advantage: excellent operating procedures and suitable for high speed and loads.

• Needle Roller Bearings with Separable Solid Rings 

Description: These bearings are different because they lack the side plates or the shoulders. For this reason, the outer ring, needles, and the cage can easily be separated.

Advantage: excellent operating precisions 

By combining the needle roller with the inner and outer rings you can conveniently control the clearance.

• Combined Bearings

Description: The combined bearings are capable of tolerating both radial and axial loads. To withstand the radial load they possess a radial needle roller bearing. Similarly, to carry an axial load these bearings have a thrust ball bearing. 

By combining both bearing types, you can have a combined bearing.

Advantage: These are compact-designed bearings possessing two-in-one qualities, i.e. carrying radial and axial loads. 

• Thrust Bearings and Cages with Needles or Rollers

Description: These bearings are specifically designed to carry axial loads, that is why they are also called axial bearings. They are available in single and double-acting properties. 

The thrust bearings consist of inner and outer rings, needle roller, thrust washer, and cage assemblies.

Advantage:  You can get a wide range of thrust bearings. Moreover, they are known for their ready-to-mount quality. 

Types of Needle Roller Bearings

• What Are Bearing Types and Their Applications?

Needle roller bearings are divided into various types depending on their variable shapes and applications. 

• You can use the simple needle roller bearings in U-joints, constant-mesh gears, and planetary gears. 
• In pulley supports, pilot bearings, and general gearbox shaft support you can use the drawn cup needle bearings.
• Needle roller and cage assemblies are applicable in constant-mesh gears, planetary gears, connecting rods, and idler gears. 
• Airframe needle bearings are used in pivot positions and wing flaps. 
• In automatic transmissions, thrust needle roller bearings are used. Heavy-duty needle bearings are used in the steering gear, heavy machines, and hydraulic pumps. 
• Track rollers are used in cam followers, mast rollers, and machine ways. 

• What Is a Cage Needle Bearing?

Cage needle bearing comprises of cylindrical needle rollers gathered into a cage or retainer. 

The cage/retainer can be made up of molded plastic. 

Other common materials include polyamide, acetyl, or other synthetic materials. 

You can also manufacture cage needle bearing from low carbon steel, stainless steel, or brass. 

The needle rollers are made from bearing-grade chrome steel (52100 / GCr15). 

This material is preferred for making needle rollers due to its hardness, wear-resistance, and high strength. 

Needle Cage Bearing

• How Do You Choose a Needle Bearing?

Bearings are typically marked with their dimensions on the outer ring. You can see the dimensions mentioned on the ring or use a vernier caliper to measure the inner and outer diameters.

Bearings have the dimensions of inner diameter, outer diameter, and the width mentioned on the bearing itself. 

Choose the best suited size for your application. 

• Do Needle Bearings Need Grease?

During the working of spherical or needle bearings, friction generates, and the system heats up.

To reduce the heat, we use lubricants for the needle bearings. 

Grease has certain benefits, such as grease helps to cut away contaminants, grease can seal the system and shield it.

• How Do One Way Needle Roller Bearings Work?

One way needle roller bearings are specifically known for their movement in one direction. But they lock to transmit torque when the direction of rotation is changed. 

You can also call the needle roller bearings as the drawn-cup roller clutches.

• How Do You Fit a One-Way Needle Bearing?

The process to fit one-way needle bearing is shown in this video.

https://youtu.be/nPBJUMDSgUs

• Can You Put Too Much Grease in a Needle Bearing?

Too much grease causes the rolling parts to create pressure by pushing through the lubricating fluid. 

Too much grease causes the bearing to work hard. 

The temperature inside the bearing rises due to increased friction and pressure caused by too much oil. 

Re-lubrication amounts are typically one-third or half of the original fill volume. 

A grease-lubricated bearing’s proper fill quantity shows the bearing’s empty area. 

You can generate heat from fluid friction by placing too much oil in a bearing. 

Because there is an area for the heat to escape, it might damage the grease by creating excessive churning. 

Heat is produced by the friction of the moving parts if the bearing is not adequately lubricated.

• Can You Use Lithium Grease on Needle Bearing?

You can generate heat from fluid friction by placing too much oil in a bearing. 

Because there is no space for the generated heat to escape, it might damage the grease by creating excessive churning. 

Heat is produced by the friction of the moving parts if the bearing is not adequately lubricated. Lithium-complex lubricants are known for their high stability, high-temperature qualities, and water resistance. 

By using adequate additives you can increase other performance criteria, such as severe pressure, anti-wear, rust, and corrosion. 

These greases also meet the standards of the NLGI’s GC-LB specification. 

However, a detailed comparison of lithium-complex and calcium-sulfonate greases demonstrates that calcium-sulfonate greases outperform lithium-complex greases.

Lithium Grease On Needle Bearing

• Is White Lithium Grease Ok for Wheel Bearings?

Wheel bearings can be greased with LubriMatic White Lithium Grease. 

If you want to remove it, all you have to do is wipe the parts down as thoroughly as possible and then use brake cleaner to clean the bearings further. 

When mixing variable grease types, one of the most important things to remember is that some are compatible with each other and others are not. 

If you’re unsure about grease compatibility or what’s on your hub right now, it’s preferable to scrape out all of the old greases, then use brake cleaner to remove any remaining grease before replacing it with all-new fresh oil.

• Is EP2 Grease Ok for Needle Bearings?

EP2 lithium grease is best suited for applications involving various temperatures and high/extreme pressures. 

It’s also excellent for conventional and disc brake wheel bearings, where traditional can of grease and typically does melt. 

In addition, EP2 lubricants are used in automotive applications on parts that cannot be greased often. 

It’s also used on sections where lubricating oil doesn’t always remain put. EP2 grease can also serve as a sealant, preventing the ingress of incompressible components and water. 

Finally, EP2 grease’s qualities make it popular for household products and automobile parts such as u-joints, CV joints, and ball joints.

• Are Needle Bearings Press Fit?

Drawn cup needle bearings provide an excellent load-carrying capability while taking up the least amount of space. 

While the press fit in the housing makes installation simple, for a successful application, however, specific tools and procedures are essentioal. 

A slightly different mechanism is needed to install a closed-end bearing. The installation tool incorporates all of the capabilities of the open-end bearing installation tool. 

Needle Bearings Press Fit

• How Tight Should Needle Bearing Fit?

For a snug fit, the wheel hub’s internal diameter (I.D.) must be less than the outer race O.D.

The spindle O.D. should be smaller within the loose fit range than the inner race bore for inner race fits. 

The outer race of commercial vehicle wheel ends has a tight fit, whereas the inner race has a loose fit. On the spindle, it’s a sloppy fit. 

With the help of a tight fit (hub) the spinning of the outer race in the housing is kept. When the outer race finishes, the inner race begins. The hub degrades over time. 

The center I.D. (internal diameter) and backing shoulder, causing debris particles to fly about.

• How Do You Calculate the Tolerance Of Bearing?

Its arithmetical value can be derivative by subtracting two times the rolling element width from the outer contest breaker path or ball furrow I.D. and the inner race roller path or ball groove O.D. size. 

(IRC) Internal Radial Clearance of the ball and roller bearings is a critical metric for good machine performance, long bearing life, and a comfortable operating temperature. 

Internal Radial Clearance is widely used with radial bearings of the bottomless furrow ball, spherical roller, and cylindrical roller. 

In the direction of radial, this is the overall Clearance inside an approach. 

Its mathematical worth can result from subtracting the external contest roller path or sphere groove I.D. from the width of the internal race breaker path or ball groove I.D.

• What Is the Normal Clearance of Bearing?

Deep-groove ball bearings have smaller un-mounted internal radial clearances than roller bearings. 

The un-mounted internal Clearance in microns for 50-mm-bore bearings, for example, is a Deep-groove ball, ranging from 6 to 23—30 to 60 mm cylindrical roller. 

The first thing you need to take account of is what bearing internal Clearance is and isn’t. The whole coldness one compartment circle moves radially about the other is known as internal clearance. 

Un-mounted and mounted bearing clearance is the two types of bearing clearance. The bearing manufacturer determines the original, un-mounted bearing internal clearance.

• What Are the Advantages of Double-Row Needle Bearings?

Two rows of balls are stacked end-to-end in a twice row bony contact ball bearing. 

It means the bearings are particularly well suited to radial and axial loads acting in both directions simultaneously. 

They can be customized with seals or shields. Compared to single-row bearings, double-row bearings have the advantage of radial and axial tons in both directions. 

The contact balls are mounted in a steep angle on the double-row ball bearing. It helps them to withstand the tilting effects. 

The rigidity and compactness of double-row bearings are also advantages. 

Double row or two row cylindrical roller bearings are known for their handling capacity of severe loads that a single row bearing cannot handle. 

The greater radial loads are made possible by the additional Row of rollers.

Double-Row Needle Bearings

• How Do You Install a Roller-Bearing Needle?

Roller bearings with cylindrical rollers are known as needle roller bearings. The needle roller bearings contain thin rollers that are lengthy in structure.  

The needle roller bearings are classified into four catagories:

• Needle roller bearings without an internal ring
• Spine breaker bearing with inner ring
• Needle roller bearings with drawn outer ring
• Full bearing. 

The first step of installation is to apply a thin coating of lubricating oil to the external width of the auxiliary sleeve.

After that, insert the auxiliary sleeve into the outer circle of the bearing. It will form a circular gap between the additional cover and the outer circle of the bearing.

In the end, insert the needle into the circular hole.

• Which Bearing is Used for High Speed?

Double-way bony contact push ball bearings with ceramic balls can also improve speed and temperature significantly. 

This bearing is used in conjunction with cylindrical roller bearings and was initially developed for extremely high rigidity. 

High-speed bearings are often made of steel with very high hardness, allowing them to endure the pressures created by extremely high speeds. 

If it is low, some common materials are utilized, and there is no need to go to great lengths, so the material’s hardness and durability requirements are reduced. 

Higher machine tool productivity and cost-effective output will result from improved bearing performance. 

When a rolling bearing rotates at high speed, the rolling elements will be subjected to significant centrifugal stress. 

As a result, the load on the outer ring raceway will grow, while it will decrease on the inner ring raceway.

• How Do You Replace a Needle Bearing?

Apply a slim layer of lubricating grease to the external side of the auxiliary sleeve. Put the sleeve into the outer circle of the bearing.

It is done to ensure that the supplementary sleeve and the external ring of the bearing form an annular gap. 

After that, fit the needle in the annular crack. 

Roller bearings with cylindrical rollers are known as needle roller bearings. In terms of diameter, the rollers are both thin and lengthy. 

Thus, a needle roller is a name for this sort of roller.

• How Much Clearance Do You Need for Press-Fit?

For example, the placement of a deep-groove ball bearing on a solid steel shaft with an interference fit of 0.013 mm (0.0005 in.) can reduce internal radial clearance by as much as 0.010 mm (0.0004 in.). 

The first thing you need to get an idea of is what bearing internal clearance is and isn’t. 

By internal clearance we mean, the entire distance one bearing ring can move axially (axial internal Clearance) or radially (radial internal Clearance) relative to the other. 

Un-mounted and mounted bearing clearance is the two types of bearing Clearance. 

The bearing manufacturer determines the original, un-mounted bearing internal clearance. It’s the bearing’s Clearance right out of the box.

• How Do You Put a Bearing on a Shaft?

To avoid contamination and corrosion, wait, waiting shortly ahead of rising to remove the bearings from their box. 

When bearings are pre-lubricated or utilized for normal operation, you should not wash off the anti-corrosion oil coating because it is a very penetrating lubricant. 

Clean up the shaft and housing to see any defects or burrs from the milling process. 

Remove all lap agents (Al2O3, SiC, etc.), chips, and casting sands inside the lodging with extreme caution. 

After that, double-check that the shaft and housing, forms, dimensions, and finish conditions are described in the drawing.