Intensive research, performed over the last five decades, focuses on fault diagnosis of bearings. TQ investigate the generation of these fault symptoms, this paper discusses the development of a multibody model of a bearing. Localized faults are introduced in the model, aiming to analyse vibration signals of damaged bearings. The paper compares different possibilities to implement these defects. Simultaneously, a test rig is built to validate the model. The rig allows applying a fully controlled multi-axial static and dynamic load on different types of bearings. Therefore, it is a powerful tool to load a bearing as built into a real machine, and measure its response.