A system for operating a turbo machine to maintain bearing engagement, the system including a bearing assembly; a first displacement device adjacent a bearing race; a second displacement device disposed adjacent the bearing race opposite of the first displacement device; an effort supply system disposed adjacent to the first and/or second displacement devices; and one or more controllers configured to perform operations. The operations include generating a first effort input at the first and/or second displacement devices; adjusting a thrust loading at the bearing assembly; generating a second effort input at the first displacement device greater than the first effort input; and displacing the bearing race opposite of the thrust loading at the bearing assembly via the generated second effort input at the first displacement device.