A guide bearing system including a pad adjuster to traverse at least one bearing in a direction to adjust a radial clearance. The system can further include a sensor for measuring deviations in the radial clearance. In some embodiments, the guide bearing system includes a controller that receives a distance signal from the sensor measuring the radial clearance and signals the pad adjuster to traverse the at least one bearing to compensate for the deviations in the radial clearance.