Wear-indicating bearing and method

A bearing having a fatigue-indication therein, the bearing comprising:

• a bearing stack having a first end and a second end with a longitudinal axis defined between said first and second ends, said bearing stack including a plurality of elastomeric layers wherein each elastomeric layer is sandwiched between at least two non-elastomeric shim layers, wherein each elastomeric layer is concentric about the longitudinal axis, wherein at least one elastomeric layer is a marker layer configured to indicate fatigue of said bearing, wherein said marker layer includes a first inner material having a first optical characteristic ingredient and an outer material coplanar with and enveloping said first inner material, said outer material having a second optical characteristic ingredient, wherein said first and second optical characteristic ingredients are different, wherein said first inner material is detectable when said bearing is fatigued.

The bearing of 17, wherein said marker layer further includes a second inner material having a third optical characteristic ingredient different from said first and second optical characteristic ingredients, said second inner material coplanar with said first inner material and said outer material, said second inner material surrounded by and proximate to said first inner material, and said second inner material is detectable when said bearing is fatigued.