Fluid dynamic bearing systems produced by specified methods are provided. In one example, a method for designing a fluid dynamic bearing system includes determining a first stability ratio for a first journal bearing configuration. The method further includes determining a second stability ratio for a second journal bearing configuration. In a further example system, the first configuration has two sub-journal bearings and the second configuration has three sub-journal bearings. The method may comprise comparing the two stability ratios to determine whether adding a sub-journal increases the stability ratio of the bearing system.