The effect of electrical current on premature failures and microstructural degradation in bearing steel

•A custom testing methodology was developed to apply electrical current to a rolling/sliding contact.•The level of applied current, and lubricant chemistry were varied.•Tests performed at above 75 mA showed a significant decrease in macro-pitting fatigue life.•Lubricant chemistry had a drastic effect on time to failure, suggesting that electrotribochemistry plays a role in failure.