Bearing maintenance and proper analysis are the keys to keeping equipment up and running, optimizing performance and decreasing downtime. Damage in use is caused by: insufficient maintenance practices, mishandling, improper installation and adjustment practices, and inadequate lubrication. The purpose of this course is to help identify some of the more common types of non-rolling element bearing damage, explain possible causes, and discuss corrective actions in relation to the list above. Damage analysis is always confounded by the fact that there may be more than one type of damage mode. Damage will be discussed in four areas; mechanical, chemical, thermal, and electrical and will cover these and other topics: wear from foreign material, fatigue, overload, handling and installation damage, misalignment, corrosion and inadequate lubrication. Discussion areas on "non-rolling" elements will include plain bearings, journal bearings and sliding contact bearings. The discussion may also include other lubricated contact applications: sliding guides, shafts, seals, and ball joints.