A rotor journal support system, comprising: at least one aligning ring forming at least a portion of a cylindrical opening through which a rotor journal may extend; at least one first retaining plate extending radially inward further than a radially inward surface of the at least one aligning ring; at least one second retaining plate extending radially inward further than the radially inward surface of the at least one aligning ring, and wherein the at least one second retaining plate is offset axially from the at least one first retaining plate; at least one bearing shoe positioned radially inward from the inward surface of the at least one aligning ring; at least one bearing shoe support extending from the at least one bearing shoe radially outward to the at least one aligning ring, wherein the at least one bearing shoe support includes an outer bearing surface having at least a partial spherical shape configured to bear against a radially inward surface of the at least one aligning ring, characterised in that at least one first retaining pin extending outwardly from a first side surface of the at least one bearing shoe and generally axially relative to the at least one aligning ring, wherein the at least one first retaining pin is offset circumferentially along the at least one bearing shoe from a pivot axis of the at least one bearing shoe; and at least one second retaining pin extending outwardly from a second side surface of the at least one bearing shoe and generally axially relative to the at least one aligning ring, wherein the at least one second retaining pin extends in a generally opposite direction from the at least one bearing shoe than the at least one first retaining pin, and wherein the at least one second retaining pin is offset circumferentially along the at least one bearing shoe from the pivot axis of the at least one bearing shoe. at least one aligning ring forming at least a portion of a cylindrical opening through which a rotor journal may extend; at least one first retaining plate extending radially inward further than a radially inward surface of the at least one aligning ring; at least one second retaining plate extending radially inward further than the radially inward surface of the at least one aligning ring, and wherein the at least one second retaining plate is offset axially from the at least one first retaining plate; at least one bearing shoe positioned radially inward from the inward surface of the at least one aligning ring; at least one bearing shoe support extending from the at least one bearing shoe radially outward to the at least one aligning ring, wherein the at least one bearing shoe support includes an outer bearing surface having at least a partial spherical shape configured to bear against a radially inward surface of the at least one aligning ring, characterised in that at least one first retaining pin extending outwardly from a first side surface of the at least one bearing shoe and generally axially relative to the at least one aligning ring, wherein the at least one first retaining pin is offset circumferentially along the at least one bearing shoe from a pivot axis of the at least one bearing shoe; and at least one second retaining pin extending outwardly from a second side surface of the at least one bearing shoe and generally axially relative to the at least one aligning ring, wherein the at least one second retaining pin extends in a generally opposite direction from the at least one bearing shoe than the at least one first retaining pin, and wherein the at least one second retaining pin is offset circumferentially along the at least one bearing shoe from the pivot axis of the at least one bearing shoe.