Elevator braking systems. The elevator braking system comprises a wedge having a curved wedge bearing race and a clamping jaw having a curved jaw bearing race. The elevator braking system includes a roller bearing assembly. The assembly has two cages and a spacer maintains a space between the two cages. A plurality of rollers is rotatably coupled to the two cages. Each of the plurality of rollers is barrel shaped. A first side of the roller bearing assembly is configured to be coupled to the wedge via the curved wedge bearing race. A second side of the roller bearing assembly is configured to be coupled to the clamping jaw via the curved jaw bearing race.