Hi Cierva
thanks for joining and posting
the kit is an aftermarket kit supplied by a well known specialist - in fact its a direct copy of one produced by one of the leading and most respected race suspension brands in the UK.
i had originally selected the own brand version because...
the LS factory confirmed today that their spherical bearings are always marked with "lS" stamped on the outer race
the replacements are marked like that - but the originals did not have this marking - so were of some other origin.....
so its becoming clear they are of some other manufacture...
here is the more detailed construction description too http://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=671b4beb-5e52-4525-89a0-19bd39f1dd57&file=Capture2.JPG
another update
the replacement bearings i have received are marked GEG15C and branded "LS" on the outer race
i will attach the actual catalog pages
i have an inquiry with the manufacturer to see if their product is always marked
it will be interesting to see if all the originals are...
thanks for the contribution Skogs - but thankfully no - the vehicle is internal combustion engine powered
no major electrical current spikes / noise anywhere near the joints that i know of
interesting case you mention thou - bet that took a bit of figuring out
thanks Mike
that's interesting - there is something weave/grid like on the inner surface
i took a photo - see my post above dated - 13 Nov 14 19:00 - its obviously degraded - but looked like there was something there
Thanks for your Post Mike
i now have a replacement full set of bearings and am in the process of replacing all 16 on the car
i note the replacement set came with a noticeable layer of grease on the ball - semi transparent - yellowish
don't recall seeing this on the originals - but then...
still no proper answer from the manufacturer - but have a bit more information
bearing is GEG-15ES type - per below
manufacturer is LS -
china's largest spherical bearing exporter - seems they have had a successful trading relationship with people like caterpillar
Design...
Report back from the place i purchased the bearings and the bearings have now gone back to manufacturer for analysis
who have inspected and pressed the ball out to inspect further - the factory say the marks on the ball were pick-up and they were easily polished off with some scotchbright...
i don't have a spare unfortunately
the picture is pretty close up so with the naked eye the surface doesn't look quite so dramatic
the main thing i took from them is that you can see the teflon surface is breaking up and the coating is coming off exposing the substrate underneath - which i...
hi
@ Compositepro
the o-rings are in perfect condition - they sit on the aluminium spacers about 5mm away from the bearing surface at the closest point - so v unlikely they have been deformed into the bearing - but thanks for your suggestion - all observations and ideas are welcome...
@goodguy -
when you say "Definately a breakdown there. Somehow either trash got into the system or poor material or loading. My guess"
just to clarify - do you mean trash got into the manufacturing process - or something since
similarly - do you mean loading during the manufacturing...
hi
thanks very much for your replies - will try to answer your questions as thoroughly as i can
@ Tmoose- the bearing is of unknown brand - no markings on the race at all - a sample has been returned to the point of sale - they will not say who the manufacturer is - but have forwarded it to...
hi
thanks for your reply
they are teflon /kevlar lined spherical bearings so i was advised not to use any lubricant
we used a v small amount of grease on the o-rings to ease assembly but were careful to keep it off the bearing itself
Hello
Can you help at all with this issue - I am having unexpected issues with spherical bearings premature wear/damage and locking up/becoming very stiff after very little use
The application is automotive suspension – bearing is a 15mm ID spherical PTFE lined plain spherical (rose joint)...
