Solving Motor Manufacturer Issues: How To Select Bearing Cages

  Motor manufacturers: Have you experienced batch failures where new motors fail with noise/jamming? Post-mortem reveals the root cause: bearing cage defects.

  An ill-fitting bearing retainer increases friction with rolling elements and raceways at high speeds, causing noise, overheating, and rapid wear. This leads to bearing lockup and motor failure—often within weeks of use. The result? High recall costs, lost customers, and damaged brand trust.

  Bearing retainer selection is a small but critical detail for motor manufacturers—it defines motor reliability and brand trust. Ignoring it can lead to costly failures.

  High-temperature applications (e.g., EV motors) demand specialized retainers. A cost-cutting attempt with standard nylon retainers led to catastrophic failures: shattered retainers scratched raceways, forcing a recall and costing millions in lost revenue.

  The right retainer solves all: phenolic for standard motors (cost-effective, quiet), alloy for extreme conditions (heat-resistant, durable), and modified nylon for appliances (lightweight, ultra-quiet)