Bearings may be discontinued for several reasons:
Discontinued products often create sourcing challenges for maintenance, repair, and legacy equipment programs.
A bearing interchange is an equivalent bearing produced by another manufacturer that matches the original bearing's dimensions, load ratings, and performance requirements. Interchange options can help extend equipment life when the original bearing is obsolete or unavailable.
The best way to locate a discontinued bearing is to provide:
A bearing specialist can often identify interchange numbers, replacement options, or manufacturing alternatives. At Bearing & Drive Systems (BDS) we specialize in just that. We have a wide selection of bearings; including new, discontinued, and hard-to-find brands:
Yes. When an obsolete bearing is no longer available through existing inventory, custom manufacturing may be a practical solution. Bearings can often be produced to original dimensions and performance requirements to support legacy equipment and ongoing operations.
Bearing & Drive Systems (BDS) offers bearing manufacturing services designed to help customers obtain the bearings they need without unnecessary quantity requirements. We specialize in the manufacture of ball bearings and cylindrical roller bearings, along with a variety of other bearing solutions.
Whether you need a replacement for a discontinued bearing or a custom-manufactured solution, BDS can help keep your equipment operating and reduce costly downtime.
Yes. In many cases, obsolete, discontinued, and hard-to-find bearings can be relubricated with fresh grease or oil to help restore performance and extend service life. Relubrication can be especially valuable when replacement bearings are difficult to source or when existing inventory has been in storage for an extended period.
BDS stocks more than 200 types of bearing greases and oils from leading manufacturers, including:
Grease remains the most common lubricant used in rolling element bearings because it stays in place, helps prevent contamination, improves sealing performance, and requires less monitoring than oil lubrication.
Benefits of grease lubrication include:
NLGI Grade 2 grease is the most commonly used bearing lubricant and is frequently found in electric motor and general industrial applications.
For aerospace and other specialized applications, synthetic lubricants are often selected to support extreme temperatures, low torque requirements, and demanding operating environments.
BDS operates an on-site clean room capable of removing aged or degraded lubricants and replacing them with customer-specified greases and oils. This process can help bring stored inventory up to current lubrication requirements while maintaining cleanliness and traceability.
Major bearing manufacturers trust BDS Relubrication Services, including:
Whether you need a single bearing or a larger production run, BDS can provide relubrication services with complete traceability, flexible order quantities, and documented quality workmanship.
When a bearing is discontinued, the first step is to determine whether existing inventory, an interchange solution, relubrication service, or custom manufacturing option is available. In many cases, obsolete bearings can still be sourced or reproduced, allowing equipment to remain in service without costly redesigns.
Bearing & Drive Systems (BDS) works with customers across a wide range of industries to locate hard-to-find bearings, identify suitable replacements, provide relubrication services, and manufacture bearings when inventory is no longer available.
If you're searching for an obsolete or discontinued bearing, our team can help you evaluate available options and develop a solution that minimizes downtime and supports long-term equipment reliability.