Excavator slewing bearing solutions | LTZC Slewing Bearing Manufacturer

In the grand arena of construction, mining, and infrastructure development, excavators are indispensable workhorses. Every precise dig, powerful lift, and smooth rotation depends on a crucial and often overlooked component—the swing bearing (also known as a slewing ring). This precision component, located between the upper and lower bodies of the excavator, bears the entire weight and working load of the upper structure and enables continuous, smooth 360-degree rotation. Its performance directly determines the equipment's operating efficiency, safety, and service life.

As a leading global manufacturer of swing bearings, LTZC has been deeply rooted in the heavy engineering machinery sector for decades, dedicated to providing comprehensive bearing solutions ranging from standard slewing bearing products to highly customized bearing solutions.

What is a swing bearing on an excavator？

The excavator slewing bearing (also known as a slewing ring or turntable bearing) is a core, large diameter bearing component that connects the upper and lower bodies of the excavator. Its main function is to simultaneously withstand axial force, radial force, and overturning moment, enabling the upper body to rotate smoothly through 360°, which is crucial for the excavator's 360° working range.

The core components include:

Inner and outer rings: Forged from high-strength alloy steel and subjected to carburizing and quenching treatment, with precision-machined raceways.

Rolling elements: High-purity, high-hardness steel balls or cylindrical rollers.

Spacer/cage: Ensures even distribution of rolling elements, reducing friction and wear.

Sealing system: Multi-lip seal design for protection against water, dust, and other contaminants.

Mounting holes and gears: Integrated gear ring on the inner or outer ring, meshing with the pinion of the slewing drive to transmit power.

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What are the types of excavator slewing bearings?

LTZC Excavator Slewing Bearing Solution Case Study

Customer Challenge: A large open-pit coal mine's hydraulic excavators were operating continuously 24 hours a day in extreme environments with high dust and high impact loads. The original slewing bearings had an average service life of only about 8000 hours. Frequent failures resulted in high downtime and maintenance costs, severely impacting mining efficiency.

LTZC Solution:

On-site Engineering Survey: Collected load spectrum data, analyzed complex working conditions, and created on-site drawings.

Customized Design:

Material Upgrade: Used LTZC alloy steel and optimized the carburizing and quenching process, increasing toughness by 20% and controlling surface hardness to the optimal range (HRC 58-62), significantly improving fatigue and impact resistance.

Raceway Optimization: Redesigned the raceway curvature and contact angle to ensure more even load distribution and reduce friction between the rollers and the raceway.

Enhanced Sealing: Adopted LTZC's patented triple-lip sealing system and selected wear-resistant, anti-aging special fluororubber materials to effectively block dust.

Lubrication Scheme: Recommended a dedicated wide-temperature range, high-adhesion extreme-pressure lithium-based grease, and designed improved grease channels to ensure sufficient lubrication of the bearing raceway.

Results: After the customized slewing bearings were put into use, the first bearing achieved a service life exceeding 15,000 hours, without requiring additional lubrication during this period. The customer's overall equipment uptime increased by 18%, and single-machine maintenance costs decreased by more than 40%. This project led the customer to sign a bearing replacement and long-term supply agreement with LTZC.

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How to check swing bearing on excavator?

Check the outer ring, inner ring, and raceway surfaces of the bearing for cracks, spalling, corrosion, deformation, or severe wear.

Check if the seals are intact, free from damage, aging, or detachment, to prevent dust and impurities from entering.

Start the excavator and run it at idle speed. Operate the slewing mechanism to rotate it left and right, and observe for any sticking, abnormal noises, or looseness.

Check if the grease nipples are unobstructed and regularly add the specified lubricant. Observe whether the expelled old grease contains metal shavings or impurities; if so, it indicates severe internal wear.

After prolonged operation, touch the outer ring of the bearing. If localized overheating occurs, it may indicate poor lubrication or damage to the raceway.

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