Sliding bearings should be preferred to rolling bearings whenever mounting space is limited or in environments that require good resistance to impacts, shocks and vibrations. If very large or very small dimensions are needed, sliding bearings are less expensive and allow to reach higher rotational speeds with minimum friction when lubricants are used.
One of the main disadvantages of sliding bearings that often leads to opt for rolling components is the risk of stick-slip motion due to the insufficient formation of a lubricant film. Moreover, as sliding bearings are not standardised, they are not always easy to replace.
