---
title: "Understanding Bearing Preload: Ensuring Precision and Longevity | TFC Europe"
description: Discover the importance of bearing preload and how wave springs can optimise your high-precision applications.
image: https://blog.afceur.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/tfc-ltd-news-Wave-Springs-for-Bearing-Preload-1.webp
---
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/)
- [ About Us ](https://www.afceur.com/about-us/)
- [ Contact Us ](https://www.afceur.com/contact/)
- [ Careers ](https://www.afceur.com/careers/)
- [ Quality ](https://www.afceur.com/quality-standards/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/de/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/pl/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/cz)
This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached.
- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.
- [ About Us ](https://www.afceur.com/about-us/)
- [ Contact Us ](https://www.afceur.com/contact/)
- [ Careers ](https://www.afceur.com/careers/)
- [ Quality ](https://www.afceur.com/quality-standards/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/de/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/pl/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/cz)
This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached.
- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.
- [ Our Companies ](https://www.afceur.com/our-companies/)
- [ AFC Europe Ltd ](https://www.afceur.com/our-companies/#tfc)
- [ Forward Industrial Products Ltd ](https://www.afceur.com/our-companies/#forward-industrial-products-ltd)
- [ AFC Seals & O-Rings Division ](https://www.afceur.com/our-companies/#tfc-sales)
- [ EAP Seals ](https://tfc.eu.com/our-companies/#tfc-sales)
- [ SupaSeals ](https://tfc.eu.com/our-companies/#tfc-sales)
- [ AFC Industries ](https://www.afceur.com/our-companies/#afc-industries)
- [ Vendor Managed Inventory ](https://www.afceur.com/vmi/)
- [ Vendor Managed Services ](https://www.afceur.com/vmi/#managedinventory)
- [ Inventory Management ](https://www.afceur.com/vmi/#easysteps)
- [ Smart Vending Solutions ](https://www.afceur.com/vmi/#vendingsolutions)
- [ Product Sourcing ](https://www.afceur.com/product-projects-sourcing/)
- [ Kitting ](https://www.afceur.com/product-projects-sourcing/#kitting)
- [ Technical Products ](https://www.afceur.com/our-companies/#)
- [ Smalley Wave Springs ](https://www.afceur.com/technical/wavesprings/)
- [ Smalley Retaining Rings ](https://www.afceur.com/technical/smalley-wave-springs-retaining/)
- [ ARaymond Quick Connectors ](https://www.afceur.com/technical/araymond-quick-connectors/)
- [ O’Rings, Seals & Gaskets ](https://www.afceur.com/products/afc-seals-o-rings/)
- [ Custom Engineered Components ](https://www.afceur.com/products/custom-engineered-components-cec/)
- [ Resources ](https://blog.afceur.com/#)
- [ VMI Brochure ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AFC-VMI-Brochure-Digital.pdf)
- [ Blog ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025?hsLang=en)
- [ Case Study ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025?hsLang=en)
- [ Technical Products ](https://www.afceur.com/technical/)
- [ Smalley Wave Springs ](https://www.afceur.com/technical/wavesprings/)
- [ Smalley Retaining Rings ](https://www.afceur.com/technical/smalley-wave-springs-retaining/)
- [ ARaymond Quick Connectors ](https://www.afceur.com/technical/araymond-quick-connectors/)
- [ O-Rings, Seals & Gaskets ](https://www.afceur.com/products/afc-seals-o-rings/)
- [ Custom Engineered Components ](https://www.afceur.com/products/custom-engineered-components-cec/)
- [ Resources ](https://blog.afceur.com/#)
- [ Catalogue ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-afc-europe/application-spotlight-wave-springs-for-bearing-preload-2#)
- [ Download our Catalogue ](https://www.afceur.com/download-catalogue/)
- [ Order our Catalogue ](https://www.afceur.com/catalogue-landing-page/)
- [ Technical Brochure ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AFC-Europe-UK-Tech-Leaflet-Digital.pdf)
- [ Blogs ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025?hsLang=en)
- [ Case Studies ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025?hsLang=en)
- [ E-Books ](https://blog.afceur.com/#)
- [ Ask The Expert – Wave Spring FAQ ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025/ask-the-expert-wave-spring-faq?hsLang=en)
- [ Ask The Expert – Retaining Rings FAQ ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025/ask-the-expert-retaining-rings-faq?hsLang=en)
- [ Smalley Technical Guide on High Rotational ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025/high-rpm-retaining-solutions?hsLang=en)
- [ Revolox Self-Locking Ring Product Guide ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025/revolox-self-locking-ring-product-guide?hsLang=en)
- [ Company News ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025?hsLang=en)
- [ News ](https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-tfc-europe-2025?hsLang=en)
- [ Company Brochure ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AFC-Company-Brochure-Digital.pdf)
# Understanding Bearing Preload: Ensuring Precision and Longevity
Simon Ward
### Simon Ward
Simon leads the UK technical team and specialises in the design and development of Smalley wave springs and spiral retaining rings. With over 25 years of experience, Simon develops bespoke parts for major clients around the world and across a wide range of industry sectors. He is now widely considered the leading authority on Smalley products.
March 14, 2019
## ~Discover the importance of bearing preload and how wave springs can optimize your high-precision applications~
#### What is bearing preload?
When assembling individual bearing components, the outer race, inner race, balls, and retainer all work together so that there is a controlled amount of internal clearance between the rings and balls. This radial play is necessary for proper operation, however, in most applications, it is also necessary to help reduce or eliminate the internal clearance to maintain correct functionality.
To remove this internal clearance, an axial load can be placed on a bearing race independently of the external load placed on it. This is called preloading, and it ensures constant contact – reducing or eliminating any play that may occur between components. This becomes a critical factor in most high-precision and high-speed applications.
There are two types of bearing preload: fixed and spring. In fixed bearing preload, the position of the inner and outer races of each bearing is mechanically fixed using either a dead weight (adhesive based) or through building in an axial adjustment that puts pressure on the bearings. Spring loading provides a constant load that can accommodate slight misalignments and is less expensive than fixed preloading.
#### **Why is it important?**
| Benefits of preloading a bearing include: - Extends bearing lifespan - Elimination of ball skidding - Vibration reduction - Noise reduction - Precise shaft positioning - Greater load sharing between bearings - Rotational accuracy - Control and reduction of axial and radial deflection under applied load |  |
| --- | --- |
## **Why use a wave spring for bearing preload?**
A wave spring can provide all the benefits of spring preloading while also taking up dimensional variation from thermal expansion or cyclic loading. we can offer many types of wave springs for the enormous range of applications across many industries.
#### **Which wave spring should I choose for my application?**
Every application is unique, which makes selecting the proper wave spring very important. We have a standard bearing preload wave spring series (SSB), designed for popular bearing sizes. It should be noted that overall tolerances will be a very important factor as placing too much preload on the bearing can reduce longevity, while too little can cause higher noise output in high vibration systems.
Correct material selection will also be vital, as the incorrect material choice can lead to failure in operation. While our wave springs are stocked in both Carbon Steel and 17-7 Stainless Steel, we are able to offer wave springs in a variety of alloys to meet your application’s operating conditions.
#### **What if I have more questions or do not see a standard that fits?**
If one of our standard parts doesn’t work for you, we can help design a custom spring for your preload needs. Standard or custom, our engineers are available to help you choose the best part for your application.
For further information [click here](https://tfc.eu.com/)
Please don’t hesitate to contact our expert team on [01435 866011](tel:01435866011) for further innovative engineering solutions.
[ Contact Us ](https://tfc.eu.com/contact/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1A-RS-10882-ISO-9001-01-EXP-2027-02-23-AFC.pdf)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1C-AS9120-FS-615967-1-001-EXP-24032027-AFC.pdf)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1B-AS9100-FS-615967-2-001-EXP-24032027-AFC.pdf)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/JOSCAR-Certificate-TFC-Limited-2025.pdf)
[ ](https://ist.org.uk/membership/)
[ ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/TFC-Ltd-BIAFD-2024-25-Exec-cert.pdf)
##### Contact us (UK)
- [ AFC Europe Ltd
Hale House
Ghyll Road Industrial Estate
Heathfield East Sussex
TN21 8AW
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1435 866011
Email: enquiries@afceur.com ](mailto:enquiries@afceur.com)
##### Kontaktieren Sie uns (DE)
- [ AFC Deutschland
Technisches Zentrum
Kohlenstrasse 51 – 55
D-44795 Bochum
Deutschland
Tel: +49 0234 923 610
Email: enquiries@afceur.com ](mailto:enquiries@afceur.com)
##### Kontaktujte nás (CZ)
- [ AFC Europe Ltd
CTPark Hranice
Storage Unit A
Olomoucká 306
Hranice na Moravě 753 01
Česká Republika
Tel: +420 581 602 721
Email: enquiries@afceur.com ](mailto:enquiries@afceur.com)
##### AFC Europe Ltd
##### Follow us
-
-
© AFC Europe Ltd | Registered in England and Wales No. 00675195. | Registered Office: Hale House, Ghyll Industrial Estate, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 8AW, UK. | [Privacy Policy ](https://www.afceur.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/TFC-Privacy-Policy-Aug-2024.pdf) [ | Terms of Sale ](https://www.afceur.com/about-us/terms-of-sale/)
```json
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org",
"@type" : "BlogPosting",
"author" : {
"@type" : "Person",
"name" : "Simon Ward",
"url" : "https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-afc-europe/author/simon-ward"
},
"dateModified" : "2025-03-08T06:19:28.727Z",
"datePublished" : "2019-03-14T16:13:57.000Z",
"headline" : "Understanding Bearing Preload: Ensuring Precision and Longevity | TFC Europe",
"image" : [ "https://blog.afceur.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/tfc-ltd-news-Wave-Springs-for-Bearing-Preload-1.webp" ],
"mainEntityOfPage" : {
"@id" : "https://blog.afceur.com/blog-listing-afc-europe/application-spotlight-wave-springs-for-bearing-preload-2",
"@type" : "WebPage"
},
"publisher" : {
"@type" : "Organization",
"logo" : {
"@type" : "ImageObject",
"url" : "https://blog.afceur.com/hubfs/AFC%20Logo%20Positive%20RGB-1.jpg"
},
"name" : "AFC Industries"
}
}
```
```json
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org",
"@type" : "WebSite",
"name" : "AFC Industries",
"potentialAction" : {
"@type" : "SearchAction",
"query-input" : "required name=search_term_string",
"target" : {
"@type" : "EntryPoint",
"urlTemplate" : "https://www.afcind.com/hs-search-results?term={search_term_string}"
}
},
"url" : "https://www.afcind.com"
}
```