Plain bearings
A plain bearing has no rolling elements — load is carried by two surfaces sliding on each other. On oscillating, slow and heavily loaded motions it beats a rolling bearing: it takes shock, occupies little space, and maintenance-free types remove periodic greasing altogether.
Types and variants
The distinct designs that sit under this category.
Rod ends (SI, SA, SAL)
A spherical bearing in a threaded body — for tie rods and push rods.
Spherical plain bearings (GE series)
Available steel-on-steel with relubrication, or maintenance-free with a PTFE composite.
Bushings and flanged bushings (PCM, PCMF)
Composite or bronze, for both rotating and sliding motion.
Strips and thrust washers
Break metal-to-metal contact in hydraulic cylinders and at thrust faces.
Where it is used
The applications this category most often serves.
- Hydraulic cylinder eye ends
- Excavator boom and bucket joints
- Agricultural linkages and control rods
- Structural and bridge bearings
- Presses, dies and guide elements
What we ask when selecting
What we need in order to find the right part. You do not need all of it — we can work out the rest together.
- Load direction and oscillation angle
- Continuous rotation or a few degrees of oscillation? They call for different materials.
- Relubricatable or maintenance-free
- Maintenance-free wins where you cannot reach; lubricated wins under heavy load.
- Environment
- Water, dust, salt and temperature decide the liner and body material.
- Surface pressure and sliding speed
- For composite liners the p·v figure sets the limit.
Typical designations
Examples that make the designation readable — not a stock commitment.
- GE 30 ES-2RS
- 30 mm spherical plain bearing, sealed both sides, relubricatable.
- GEH 40 TXG3E-2LS
- Maintenance-free PTFE composite with a heavy-duty section.
- SI 20 ES-2RS
- Female rod end, 20 mm, internal thread.
- PCM 303420 E
- Composite bushing: 30 mm bore, 34 mm outside, 20 mm long.
Other categories in this group
Send us the designation or the dimensions — we will find the match.
A code you cannot find in the catalogue, a faded marking on an old bearing, or just the dimensions — any of the three is enough. The wrong bearing costs more than a late one.