There is disclosed an improved circular sliver knitting machine having increased carding capacity for increasing the amount of sliver which can be carded and fed into the knitting machine. A mounting ring (14) is fixed on an upper bed plate (20) fixed to the sliver knitting machine frame. A plurality of sliver feed assemblies (10) are supported on a sliver feed mounting plate secured to the upper bed plate. The sliver feed assemblies interconnect to a ring gear (16) mounted in surrounding spaced relation to the mounting ring (14). The sliver feed assemblies (10) card and feed sliver yarn to the knitting needles (36) as the ring gear (16) is turned. A bearing assembly (12) for allowing rotation of the ring gear (16) relative to the mounting ring (14) while withstanding radial and tangential loads imparted on the ring gear includes at least one wire race extending along the outer surface of the mounting ring (14) and at least one wire race extending along the inner surface of the ring gear (16). A plurality of ball bearings engage the wire races for rolling along the wires as the ring gear is turned.