For machinery comprising rotary components attached to at least one drive shaft, at least one rotary bearing to position the drive shaft with a rotational freedom of movement about a drive shaft axis and associated stationary components, apparatus that comprises: a rotary backup bearing sleeve attached to the drive shaft proximate the bearing comprising a rotary radial surface relative to the drive shaft axis and a rotary axial surface relative to the drive shaft axis; and a stationary backup bearing collar mounted to one of the stationary components proximate the rotary backup bearing sleeve comprising a stationary radial surface relative to the drive shaft axis proximate the rotary radial surface with a predetermined axial clearance and a stationary axial surface relative to the drive shaft axis proximate the rotary radial surface with a predetermined axial clearance.