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Significant advances in bearing material quality, resulting in measurably cleaner steels, have provided increased ratings and extended performance in The Timken Company standard product tapered roller bearings. Using a sizable database of test results collected over the past years, along with appropriate analysis methods, it has been possible to identify those advances needed to provide additional improved bearing performance. New advances in bearing design and manufacturing technology, as exemplified by enhanced internal bearing geometry and advanced finish processing, indicate improved bearing performance can be achieved in smaller bearing designs or increased reliability or extended life within existing bearing sizes. Such advances culminated in the new Performance 900™ bearings announced by The Timken Company in February 1988.

Over the last ten years fatigue tests or wear tests, with and without debris present, have been performed on at least 11 different bearings including five sizes of ball bearings, five sizes of tapered roller bearings and one cylindrical bearing. After evaluating these tests, which include two series that were conducted in the author's laboratory, six factors have been identified that influence bearing performance when debris is present. These factors are debris (size and distribution), lubricant system, lubricant film thickness, levels of filtering, bearing materials and contact size. The results are summarized in table form.