Abstract: A bearing assembly comprises a plurality of bearing shoes positioned to engage a slide member or a journal in supporting relation thereto, each bearing shoe having a bearing face conforming to the surface of the member to be supported. Each shoe is a composite member comprising a main shoe portion and a pair of auxiliary end shoe portions which are articulately connected to the main shoe portion and displaceable therefrom to disengage the member being supported. Each bearing shoe is symmetrically mounted with respect to a pivot, and the auxiliary shoe portions are selectively displaceable between operative and inoperative positions so as to establish an effective bearing face positioned to engage the member being supported, which bearing face is asymmetrically disposed in relation to the pivotal mounting. The geometry of the bearing assembly is thus reversible.