EARTH-BORING TOOLS INCLUDING BEARING ELEMENT ASSEMBLIES, AND RELATED METHODS

An earth-boring tool includes a body comprising a pocket in a leading end thereof for accepting at least a portion of a bearing element assembly. A bearing element assembly may be disposed within the pocket, and the bearing element assembly may include a retaining element at least partially disposed in a groove in a sidewall of the pocket and a bearing element. The bearing element may include a distal end having a bearing surface, a proximal end, and a side surface between the distal end and the proximal end, the side surface comprising a feature configured to abut the retaining element, wherein mechanical interference between the feature and the retaining element axially retains the bearing element within the pocket. Methods include disengaging a mechanical retention device retaining a bearing element within a pocket in a body of the earth-boring tool, and removing the bearing element from the pocket.