Strut Bearing Steel Selection: Why GCr15 Dominates
What Bearing Steel Must Deliver
Strut bearings face high-frequency steering and axial impact loads. The steel must offer high hardness, contact fatigue strength and dimensional stability.
Mainstream: GCr15
GCr15 (high-carbon chromium bearing steel, about 1.0%C and 1.5%Cr) is the standard strut bearing material.
- Hard: HRC60-64 after hardening
- Fatigue resistant: For repeated raceway load
- Cost-effective: Mature supply for volume
Alternatives
- Carburizing steel (20CrMnTi): Hard case, tough core - high impact
- Stainless (440C): Corrosion resistance for humid or sea-export use
- Plain carbon (65Mn): Low speed and light load only
How to Choose
- Load type: axial thrust dominant - high-carbon chromium
- Environment: humid or coastal export - stainless or enhanced protection
- Cost and volume: GCr15 for mainstream models
Huami Material Control
Huami runs spectral composition recheck and hardness sampling on incoming steel, matching OE drawings.
Right steel is step one - heat treatment and grease matter just as much.