CAR - Condition Analysis Reclamation

NES’s industrial bearing CAR (Condition Analysis Reclamation) program provides customers with the highest quality recondition bearings. The CAR process results in a reconditioned bearing that can achieve 87 to 99% of the life of a new bearing. Through NES’s various inspection and reconditioning processes varying levels of reconditioning can be achieved.

Pictured below are before and after images of a bearing that has been through the CAR process.

car3-220x160
car3.1
car4
car4.1-300x220
car5-220x160
car5.1-220x160
car9-195x130
car7.1-195x130

Level I - Reclamation

Processing bearings involves inspecting a used bearing and checking/comparing it with new bearing drawing requirements. This process involves:

  • Demagnetization
  • Cleaning
  • Nondestructive testing, if applicable
  • Visual/microscopic inspection
  • Minor repair: buffing and polishing of inactive and active surfaces, stoning of nicks and gouges in corner radii
  • Dimensional inspection
  • Reassembly (to include retainer riveting or snap-in retention)
  • Dynamic testing (if required): rotation of bearing rings to permit evaluation of noise level, torque characteristics, and/or similar functional parameters
  • Lubrication/preservation
  • Packaging

 

Level II - Refurbishment

Refurbishment of bearings is rework of bearings that goes beyond the scope of reclamation. This encompasses all of the operations of reclamation plus one or more of the following:

  • Replacing rolling elements
  • Reworking/replacing retainers
  • Interchanging used components and/or substituting new components to create a different assembly identity
  • Grinding or polishing and/or plating of mounting surfaces as necessary to return to original drawing dimensions
  • Honing (superfinishing) raceways not to exceed 0.0005 in. total metal removal per surface

 

Level III - Restoration

Restoration of bearings involves the removal of material by grinding operation. This term encompasses all of the operations of reclamation and refurbishment plus one or more of the following operations:

  • Grinding races up to 0.003 in. per surface
  • Installing oversize rolling elements
  • Installing original or replacement retainer when required

 

Level IV - Remanufacture

Remanufacturing of bearings involves rework of bearings, where new components beyond the rolling elements and retainers are manufactured. This term encompasses all processing operations and may involve either refurbishing or regrinding of the old parts, which are reused, and one or more of the following:

  • Manufacturing of a new ring
  • Manufacturing of a new retainer