Bearing insert with controlled endplay

A system and method is provided to accommodate positional variations in a bearing assembly, which has a clearance adjustment assembly for setting the roller clearance therein. The bearing assembly has multiple rows of tapered rollers disposed circumferentially between an inner sleeve and the clearance adjustment assembly, which is secured by an outer retaining sleeve. The clearance adjustment assembly has at least one clearance adjustment ring disposed adjacent multiple tapered support rings, which extend circumferentially about the multiple rows of tapered rollers. In the bearing assembly, the at least one clearance adjustment ring forces the multiple tapered support rings against the multiple rows of tapered rollers to set the desired roller clearance. The bearing assembly also may have seals disposed between the inner sleeve and the outer retaining sleeve at opposite sides of the multiple rows of tapered rollers. In operation, the inner sleeve is mountable to a rotatable member, while the outer retaining sleeve is insertable into a desired bearing mount. For example, the inner sleeve may have a screw mount assembly or an adapter mount assembly, such as a compressive fit mechanism. The outer retaining sleeve may be secured within the desired bearing mount via retaining structures disposed about the outer retaining sleeve at a desired spacing, such as a spacing providing a desired range of longitudinal movement. The desired bearing mount also may have a spherical outer structure, which is pivotally mountable in a spherical mount chamber. Accordingly, the bearing assembly can accommodate expansion, contraction, and angular variations in the system.