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Bearing Retention
Methods
A comparison of the aerospace bearing retention methods American Precision Assembly performs, and how the applicable method is determined for a given application.
What are common aerospace bearing retention methods?
Aerospace bearing retention methods secure an installed bearing within its housing so it does not shift, rotate, or loosen under vibration and operating loads. Bearing installation seats the bearing itself; swaging methods (bearing swaging, roller swaging, and anvil swaging) form surrounding material around the bearing; staking methods (bearing staking, chisel staking, and ball staking) displace material to create localized retention points.
Which method applies to a given assembly depends on the housing material, load conditions, and the requirements of the controlling customer drawing or specification. This page provides orientation and comparison; it does not replace that controlling documentation.
How do these methods differ?
Seating, forming, and displacement approaches
Bearing Installation
Places a bearing into a housing or onto a shaft with controlled force, alignment, and seating depth. This is typically the first step before a retention method such as swaging or staking is applied.
Bearing Swaging
Forms material around the outer diameter of an installed bearing to lock it into position, without relying on traditional fasteners.
Roller Swaging
Uses rotating hardened rollers to gradually compress and shape material around a bearing, producing smooth, uniform deformation.
Anvil Swaging
Compresses material against a fixed anvil surface using a forming tool to create a retention feature around the installed component.
Bearing Staking
Displaces material immediately surrounding an installed bearing to create localized retention points that lock the bearing into the housing.
Chisel Staking
Uses a chisel-shaped tool to displace material against a component, creating retention points with minimal structural impact.
Ball Staking
Uses a rounded tool to form small depressions in surrounding material, creating retention points without damaging nearby components.
Which retention method is right for an application?
Method selection is governed by the applicable customer drawing, specification, or engineering requirement, not by preference alone. Factors such as housing material, expected vibration and load, available clearance, and whether the assembly must be serviceable all influence which method is specified.
American Precision Assembly's technicians can review a drawing or specification and confirm which retention method applies, along with the tooling and standards required to perform it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not sure which method applies?
Send us your drawing or specification and our team will confirm the correct retention method and tooling for your assembly.
Contact Information
Huntington Beach, CA 92649