By considering the now in a slider bearing to be a nearly viscometric flow we have examined the effects of variation in viscosity, and normal stress differences on the total resistance and total normal force. We have found that under certain conditions the normal stress differences may be neglected compared with the variation in viscosity. We have found that the effects of variation in viscosity are to reduce the total resistance, and to increase or decrease the total normal force depending on the ratio of the thickness of the liquid at the entry and exit.