Abstract: A controlled crown roll utilizes a crown support piston with a glide shoe with a cavity in the face of the glide shoe centered under the nip loading line. The cavity is surrounded by a land area, the majority of which is located away from the nip load. Use of a low viscosity hydraulic fluid, for example, 15.6 cP, with a hydraulic film thickness of 0.002 inches, results in significantly lower friction between the glide shoe and the interior surface of the rotating mantle. Recesses in the piston sides form hydrostatic thrust bearings which perform the centering function for the piston and the glide shoe.