CHAOS Report #11 - Side Bearings - May 9, 2016

Mechanical Liaison Officer's report by: Paul L. DeVerter II

The purpose of side bearings are to absorb part of the load of a car when it is on uneven track or when it tilts going around a curve. The side bearings also act to prevent oscillation of the truck at certain speeds and it does this by absorbing part of the load of the car, if the car has constant contact (rather than non constant contact) side bearings.​

This report shows a constant contact side bearing that is no longer doing its job. The particular side bearing is a Stucki brand with polymer parts that have expired after many years of service. The failure of the polymer parts is quite noticeable.​

A project such as this is not to be undertaken lightly, and caution must be exercised injacking, blocking, and replacing the various parts.

Paul DeVerter

(Photographs courtesy of Al Dykes)