A lift check in an assembled machine can be difficult. Depending on the lifting method and the location of the dial indicator, the reading could be false high or false low. Did you verify the fit of the bearing within the housing? Excessive crush can reduce the installed clearance. Incorrect alignment between the upper and lower halves of the housing can alter the lift results. How are the two halves of the bearing connected? Are they bolted together? What type of pivots are used? Spherical, point contact, line contact? We need more information.
Johnny Pellin