A GUIDE TO CLEANING BEARINGS EFFECTIVELY

Bearing cleaning is a part of regular maintenance & repair activity. However, it needs to be done thoroughly and with precision, as improper cleaning can impact the performance of the bearing.

It is essential that you clean your bearings wholly and thoroughly to avoid damaging them. The best way to do this is by using approved cutting oils and cutting fluids and a suitable tool for cleaning. Many different types of bearings are used in vehicles today: ball bearings, roller bearings and thrust bearings. Ball bearings are found in transmissions and differentials, while roller bearings are used in cast-iron, steel axles, or ball joints. Thrust bearings are used in multi-link suspension systems to stabilise your car when turning corners or braking hard.

Before deep diving into how bearings can be managed appropriately, we look at some of the most common bearing failures.

Common bearing failures

• Extreme operating temperatures (below -30 °C or above 200 °C)
• Exposure to aggressive chemicals
• Rapid lubricant degradation requires frequent re-lubrication
• Lubricant flammability concerns
• Material compatibility issues
• Dirt or other contamination

While cleaning the bearing is the most crucial part of any maintenance operations, one should know what type of bearing cleaning you require. 

How to clean bearings?

It is standard practice for industrial maintenance teams to set up component cleaning facilities that use water-based cleansers, even if bearing manufacturers advise using cleaning oil. This setup is frequently seen in fields like railroads, where there are a lot of bearings that need to be cleaned often. Bearings are cleaned with these parts washers, and water-based emulsions are properly dried using hot air or vacuum drying methods.

Alternatively, spent bearings are soaked in rinse tanks or manually sprayed and rinsed with the cleaning solution in heavy industries like steel and metal processing that use massive, heavy-duty bearings. The operator then sweeps the bearing's leftovers away. Light oil, kerosene, or degreaser based on isopropyl alcohol are typically advised as a cleaning agent. However, the industry standard has been to give its maintenance crew readily accessible diesel, mineral turpentine oil (MTO), and kerosene as the cleaning agent.

Are cleaning agents safe?

Although diesel has a good cleaning impact, the working environment is sensitive due to the staff's low flash point and constant exposure to the nauseating odour of diesel. In addition to the well-known side effects, such as skin and eye irritation, prolonged exposure to diesel without protective equipment can harm an adult's immunological, hormonal, and central neurological systems. Kerosene is known to irritate human eyes and skin when exposed to it continuously. According to studies, prolonged contact with kerosene can cause drowsiness, irritability, restlessness, and even convulsions. Kerosene has a flash point that ranges from 23°C to 61°C.

Cleaning guidelines:

1) Use sufficient lubricant for correct cleaning by replacing the old oil with a new one if required.
2) Cleaning should be started by draining all dirty lubricants out of the bearing before starting any cleaning process.
3) Use appropriate tools while cleaning bearings, such as brushes, wire brushes etc.

Final thoughts

While bearing cleaning is essential, it is equally important to use the right cleaning oil. It is important to clean your bearings regularly and, most importantly, thoroughly. Cleaning a bearing can help in prolonging its life, improve its efficiency and reduce friction. 
Castrol provides a wide range of high-performance water-soluble cutting fluids designed to help reduce the use of coolants. These cutting fluids are compatible with various materials like aluminium, cast iron, and other ferrous alloys.