<p>In addition to <a href="https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/6741/5740">this answer</a> and addressing <code>Anything else I'm not thinking of to worry about?</code> I would like to add that you should take care in installing the plastic bearings in suitable housings. It is best to lower the mass of the carriages by replacing the blocks and the bearings, there are a lot of printable bearing housings to find on the internet (e.g. Thingiverse). When installing plastic bearings, it is quite easy to get problems with bearings that bind, so take care when you install them and make sure the bearings do not bind (before you re-install the belt).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-27T21:02:50.123Z
I found when installing them, to leave everything loose (mounting screws) until the rods were completely back into place. This pretty much prevented binding. Yes, I was worried about that as well.
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-28T06:09:16.190Z
That is exactly how to mount them properly!
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-27T20:52:11.710Z
2018-08-27T20:52:11.710Z
0scar
<p>According to <a href="https://www.igus.eu/wpck/19864/drylin_plasticvsmetal" rel="noreferrer">igus commercial documentation</a>, these bushings:</p>

<ul>
<li>do not need any kind of lubrication,</li>
<li>are not susceptible to humidity (but your steel rods might) </li>
<li>work seamlessly in presence of dust (it gets expelled from the bushing with movements)</li>
</ul>

<p>I've replaced all of my bearings with these, and in my experience, the above claims have been true so far. I must say that I am really pleased with them. Movement is smoother, and the noise is considerably lower.</p>

<p>I did clean the rods to remove any trace of lubrication prior to installing them. I did not dry them.</p>

<p>I believe that igus is also selling rods in a material designed to even further improve the qualities of these bushings, but it starts to become quite an investment.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-26T15:05:22.113Z
one should note, that bushings of this type are possibly "self lubricating" as in the plastic will get *eaten* away with wear.
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-26T18:28:17.580Z
@Trish - They don't self lubricate, they are lubrication free. An analogy would be a hard wearing, non-stick surface such as Teflon. As there is minimal wear, their life expectancy is greater than that of traditional bearings. There is an [online life expectancy calculator](https://www.igus.co.uk/info/linear-guides-lineartable-productfinder).
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-25T14:48:05.260Z
2018-08-25T14:48:05.260Z
Nikkoura
<p>When I purchased my China made Anet A8 printer, it came with the ball bearing style linear bearings for the 8mm guide rods. While pulling parts out of the box and putting them together, I noticed several of the small ball bearings fell out of their respective holders. At the time, I really didn't know what to think of it (ie: were these just <em>extra</em> ball bearings falling out; were they actually needed). I put the printer together anyway and it seems to work okay.</p>

<p>I have noticed while I've been printing, there's a lot of noise during travel of the pieces. I'm not exactly sure where the noise is coming from, but realize it has to be coming from one or more of the bearings. To hopefully fix the issue, I've purchased some Igus Drylin polymer bushings to replace the linear bearings:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/dA0pj.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/dA0pj.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>My questions are:</p>

<ul>
<li>When installing these bushings, should they be completely dry?</li>
<li>Should I at least clean the rods?</li>
<li>Are they completely maintenance free?</li>
<li>Anything else I'm not thinking of to worry about?</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-22T10:40:18.047Z
What was the *exact* model number of the bushing? RJM-01?  RJ4JP-01? Or something else?
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-22T12:43:57.147Z
The ones I bought are shown as [RJ4JP-01-08](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071RSDYW4) on Amazon.com.
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
<maintenance><bearing>
Replacing bearings with Drylin bushings
Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2
# Replacing bearings with Drylin bushings

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-08-25)

When I purchased my China made Anet A8 printer, it came with the ball bearing style linear bearings for the 8mm guide rods. While pulling parts out of the box and putting them together, I noticed several of the small ball bearings fell out of their respective holders. At the time, I really didn't know what to think of it (ie: were these just *extra* ball bearings falling out; were they actually needed). I put the printer together anyway and it seems to work okay.

I have noticed while I've been printing, there's a lot of noise during travel of the pieces. I'm not exactly sure where the noise is coming from, but realize it has to be coming from one or more of the bearings. To hopefully fix the issue, I've purchased some Igus Drylin polymer bushings to replace the linear bearings:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/dA0pj.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/dA0pj.jpg)

My questions are:

* When installing these bushings, should they be completely dry?
* Should I at least clean the rods?
* Are they completely maintenance free?
* Anything else I'm not thinking of to worry about?

**Tags:** maintenance, bearing

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What was the *exact* model number of the bushing? RJM-01?  RJ4JP-01? Or something else?  
> **username_0**: The ones I bought are shown as [RJ4JP-01-08](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071RSDYW4) on Amazon.com.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-08-25. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

According to [igus commercial documentation](https://www.igus.eu/wpck/19864/drylin_plasticvsmetal), these bushings:

* do not need any kind of lubrication,
* are not susceptible to humidity (but your steel rods might)
* work seamlessly in presence of dust (it gets expelled from the bushing with movements)

I've replaced all of my bearings with these, and in my experience, the above claims have been true so far. I must say that I am really pleased with them. Movement is smoother, and the noise is considerably lower.

I did clean the rods to remove any trace of lubrication prior to installing them. I did not dry them.

I believe that igus is also selling rods in a material designed to even further improve the qualities of these bushings, but it starts to become quite an investment.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: one should note, that bushings of this type are possibly "self lubricating" as in the plastic will get *eaten* away with wear.  
> **username_1**: @username_4 - They don't self lubricate, they are lubrication free. An analogy would be a hard wearing, non-stick surface such as Teflon. As there is minimal wear, their life expectancy is greater than that of traditional bearings. There is an [online life expectancy calculator](https://www.igus.co.uk/info/linear-guides-lineartable-productfinder).  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-08-27. Score: 2

In addition to [this answer](https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/a/6741/5740) and addressing `Anything else I'm not thinking of to worry about?` I would like to add that you should take care in installing the plastic bearings in suitable housings. It is best to lower the mass of the carriages by replacing the blocks and the bearings, there are a lot of printable bearing housings to find on the internet (e.g. Thingiverse). When installing plastic bearings, it is quite easy to get problems with bearings that bind, so take care when you install them and make sure the bearings do not bind (before you re-install the belt).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I found when installing them, to leave everything loose (mounting screws) until the rods were completely back into place. This pretty much prevented binding. Yes, I was worried about that as well.  
> **username_2**: That is exactly how to mount them properly!  

---

