The friction performance of water lubricated bearing depends on the lubricated conditions, hardness, dynamic viscoelasticity of rubber, and so forth. After the surface was modified with silane coupling agent KH 550, palygorskite (AT) nano powder was added to NBR rubber to prepare AT/NBR rubber liner vulcanizate sample and AT/NBR water lubricated bearing sample. Proved by testing results, the comprehensive mechanical properties and the hardness of AT/NBR rubber liner vulcanizate sample were enhanced. Detected by dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), the loss factor values at 0 ℃ of NBR and AT/NBR rubber liner vulcanizate samples were approximately the same, and the wet sliding properties almost remained unchanged. When tested with friction wear test machine of bearing, the water lubricated friction coefficient of AT/NBR bearing sample decreased. Those experiments have shown that the performance index of AT/NBR bearing sample is better than that of the NBR bearing sample and meets the requirements of MIL DTL 17901C (SH) specification.