Sounds like the radius is too large for the amount of chamfer on the bearings. The bearings are riding on the chamfer which pushes the rods together and giving you the exact problem you are seeing. There will be a clearance at the radius side of the rod but they are forced together and no clearance between them. Here's a crude drawing that shows what's going on.
Either you have to have the radius reduced by re-grinding or the bearings will have to be scraped to fit.