A vertical pump features stationary bowl assembly, a rotating power transmission shaft, impellers and bottom wear-ring bearings. The stationary bowl assembly includes bowls, each bowl having a respective bowl bottom inside surface. The rotating power transmission shaft is configured to extend through the stationary bowl assembly. The impellers are arranged on the rotating power transmission shaft to rotate and draw material through the stationary bowl assembly, each impeller having a respective impeller bottom outside surface. Each bottom wear-ring bearing is arranged between the respective impeller bottom outside surface of each impeller and the respective bowl bottom inside surface of each bowl, made from a non-galling bearing material, and configured to maintain the alignment of the rotating power transmission shaft in relation to the stationary bowl assembly.