The possibility of improving the performances of current aluminiumalloys in the bearings region of lightweight external gear pumps has beeninvestigated. Two different electroless Ni-based coatings, one containing highpercentages of P (10–14%) and the other modified with the addition of 25 wt%PTFE micrometric spheres, deposited on 2011 Al alloy, were characterisedby scratch test and ball-on-disc tests. Comparison with an antifrictionSn-containing Al-alloy was performed. The PTFE-containing coating presentsthe lowest wear rate and friction against steel. However, the presence of PTFEspheres and the hardness mismatch with the substrate tends to favour tensilecracking of the coating.