Thrust ball bearings

A thrust ball bearing is built for axial load. It has a shaft washer, a housing washer and a ball-and-cage assembly, and it must not take radial load. Single-direction bearings carry thrust one way; double-direction bearings carry it both ways. Selection depends on shaft and housing diameter, how large the load is and which way it acts, speed and available mounting space.

The 511, 512, 513 and 514 series are single-direction; for the same bore, outside diameter and height grow from one series to the next, as in NTN 51120, 51220, 51320 and 51420. Multiply the last two digits by 5 for the bore: 51120 has a 100 mm bore and FAG 51104 a 20 mm bore, with 51100 as the exception at 10 mm. Double-direction bearings start with 52, such as NSK 52232 X. SKF BTM 100 ATN9/P4CDBA and BTW 100 CTN9/SP are high-precision angular contact thrust ball bearings for machine tool spindles, and TN9 denotes a polyamide cage.

Typical uses are spindles, rotary tables, lathe chucks, vertical pumps and gearboxes where thrust is the main load. Their speed limit is lower than that of a radial bearing, and they need a minimum axial load so the balls roll instead of sliding. If the thrust changes direction, use a double-direction bearing.

We carry thrust ball bearings from NSK, NTN, SKF and FAG. Send the full part number, or shaft diameter, outside diameter and height, by WhatsApp or email. Add the load and RPM if you would like help choosing, and we will quote promptly.