BEARING ASSEMBLY FOR A FLUID PUMP

A bearing assembly (50) for a drive shaft (25) of a fluid pump such as a diesel fuel pump, the bearing assembly (50) comprising a bearing component (52) which defines a bearing surface which cooperates with the drive shaft (25), in use, to support the drive shaft (25) within a pump housing (22), the drive shaft (2) and the bearing surface together defining a fluid volume (54, 54a, 54b) for receiving lubricating fluid, in use, to lubricate contact between the bearing surface and the drive shaft (25), the bearing assembly further comprising a temperature modification device (60) for varying the temperature of fluid in the fluid volume (54, 54a, 54b) so as to vary the viscosity of the fluid in the fluid volume (54, 54a, 54b) and thereby to vary the friction between the bearing surface and the drive shaft (25).