The designations of most SKF bearings follow a system that consists of a basic SKF designation with or without one or more prefixes and suffixes. Prefixes and suffixes provide additional information about SKF bearing.
- Prefixes are mainly used to identify components of a bearing. They can also identify bearing variants.
- Suffixes identify designs or variants, which differ in some way from the original design or from the current basic design. The suffixes are divided into groups.
1: Prefixes
2: Basic designation
3: Suffix - Internal design
4: Suffix - External design (seals, snap ring groove, etc.)
5: Suffix - Cage design
6.1: Suffix - Materials, heat treatment
6.2: Suffix - Tolerance, clearance, preload, quiet running
6.3: Suffix - Bearing sets, matched bearings
6.4: Suffix - Stabilization
6.5: Suffix - Lubrication
6.6: Suffix - Other variants
SKF bearing prefixes
D/W
Stainless steel, inch dimensions
ICOS-
Oil sealed bearing unit
W
Stainless steel, metric dimensions
WBB1
Stainless steel, metric dimensions, not in accordance with ISO dimension series
ALS
Inch bearing
AMS
Inch bearing
L
Separate inner or outer ring of a separable bearing
R
Inner or outer ring with roller and cage assembly of a separable bearing
R
Bearing without an inner ring
J
Metric bearing following the ABMA designation system (ANSI/ABMA Std. 19.1)
T
Metric bearing in accordance with ISO 355
BS2-..
Bearing, designated by a drawing number
ZE
Bearing with SensorMount feature
GS
Housing washer
K
Cylindrical roller and cage thrust assembly
WS
Shaft washer
SKF bearing suffixes
SKF suffix - Internal design
E, EC
Optimized internal design
A
30° contact angle
AB
20° contact angle (inch bearing)
AC
25° contact angle
B
40° contact angle
A
No filling slots (for SKF double row angular contact ball bearing)
D
Two-piece inner ring
CV
Modified internal design, full complement roller set
B
Steep contact angle (for SKF tapered roller bearing)
BC
Bearing for wind turbine main shafts with roller-guided cast iron cage
CA, CAC
Retaining flanges on the inner ring, guide ring centred on the inner ring, machined brass cage
CC(J), CJ
Flangeless inner ring, guide ring centred on the inner ring, two stamped steel cages
CCJA, EJA
Flangeless inner ring, guide ring centred on the outer ring raceway, two stamped steel cages
SKF suffix - External design
N
Snap ring groove in the outer ring
NR
Snap ring groove in the outer ring, with snap ring
N1
One locating slot (notch) in one outer ring side face
N2
Two locating slots (notches) in one outer ring side face, 180° apart
R
Flanged outer ring
-RS1, -2RS1
Contact seal, NBR, on one or both sides
-RS2, -2RS2
Contact seal, FKM, on one or both sides
-RS5, -2RS5
Contact seal, HNBR, on one or both sides
-RSF, -2RSF
Contact seal, NBR, on one or both sides
-RSH, -2RSH
Contact seal, NBR, on one or both sides
-RSH2, -2RSH2
Contact seal, FKM, on one or both sides
-RSL, -2RSL
Low-friction seal, NBR, on one or both sides
-RZ, -2RZ
Non-contact seal, NBR, on one or both sides
-Z, -2Z
Shield on one or both sides
-2ZS
Shield on both sides, held in place by a retaining ring
-2LS
Contact seal on both sides
-CS, -2CS
Contact seal, NBR, on one or both sides
-CS2, -2CS2
Contact seal, FKM, on one or both sides
-CS5, -2CS5
Contact seal, HNBR, on one or both sides
ADA
Modified internal design and standard PUR seal (for NNF 50 series)
ADB
Modified internal design and seal (for NNF 50 series)
DA
Modified internal design and standard PUR seal (for 3194.. series)
X
Boundary dimensions changed to conform to ISO
CA
Bearing for universal matching. Two bearings arranged back-to-back or face-to-face have axial internal clearance smaller than Normal (CB).
CB
Bearing for universal matching. Two bearings arranged back-to-back or face-to-face have Normal axial internal clearance.
CC
Bearing for universal matching. Two bearings arranged back-to-back or face-to-face have axial internal clearance greater than Normal (CB).
B
Bearing for universal matching. Two bearings arranged back-to-back or face-to-face have axial internal clearance.
GA
Bearing for universal matching. Two bearings arranged back-to-back or face-to-face have light preload.
GB
Bearing for universal matching. Two bearings arranged back-to-back or face-to-face have moderate preload.
GC
Bearing for universal matching. Two bearings arranged back-to-back or face-to-face have heavy preload.
CB
Controlled axial internal clearance (for SKF double row angular contact ball bearing)
K
Tapered bore, taper 1:12
K30
Tapered bore, taper 1:30
AS..
Outer ring with lubrication hole(s), the number following indicates the number of holes
ASR..
Outer ring with annular groove and lubrication hole(s), the number following indicates the number of holes
IS..
Inner ring with lubrication hole(s), the number following indicates the number of holes
ISR..
Inner ring with annular groove and lubrication hole(s), the number following indicates the number of holes
Z
Combined needle roller bearing, factory greased thrust bearing with a cover without lubrication holes over the outside diameter
R
Flanged outer ring (for SKF tapered roller bearing)
SKF suffix - Cage design
J
Stamped steel cage, ball/roller centred
JA
Sheet steel cage, outer ring centred
JB
Sheet steel cage, inner ring centred
M
Machined brass cage, ball/roller centred; different designs or material grades are identified by a number following the M, e.g. M2
MA(S)
Machined brass cage, outer ring centred. The 'S' indicates a lubrication groove in the guiding surface.
MB(S)
Machined brass cage, inner ring centred. The 'S' indicates a lubrication groove in the guiding surface.
TN
PA66 cage, ball centred
TN9
Glass fibre reinforced PA66 cage, ball/roller centred
TNH
Glass fibre reinforced PEEK cage, ball/roller centred
F
Machined steel cage, ball centred
F3
Machined spheroidal cast iron cage, shaft washer centred
FA
Machined steel cage, outer ring centred
FR
Pin-type steel cage, pierced rollers
P
Glass fibre reinforced PA66 cage, ball/roller centred
PA
Glass fibre reinforced PA66 cage, outer ring centred
PH
Glass fibre reinforced PEEK cage, ball/roller centred
PHA
Glass fibre reinforced PEEK cage, outer ring centred
Y
Stamped brass cage, ball centred
L
Machined light alloy cage, roller centred
LA
Machined light alloy cage, outer ring centred
LB
Machined light alloy cage, inner ring centred
LL
Machined light alloy cage, window-type, inner or outer ring centred
ML
Machined brass cage, window-type, inner or outer ring centred
MP
Machined brass cage, window-type, inner or outer ring centred
MR
Machined brass cage, window-type, roller centred
MH
Machined brass cage, inner ring raceway centred
V
Full complement of rollers (no cage)
VH
Full complement of rollers (no cage), self-retaining
SKF suffix - Materials, heat treatment
HA1
Case-hardened inner and outer rings
HA2
Case-hardened outer ring
HA3
Case-hardened inner ring
HA4
Case-hardened inner and outer rings and rollers
HA5
Case-hardened rollers
HA6
Case-hardened outer ring(s) and rollers
HA7
Case-hardened inner ring(s) and rollers
HB1
Bainite-hardened inner and outer rings
HB2
Bainite-hardened outer ring(s)
HB3
Bainite-hardened inner ring
HN1
Inner and outer rings with special surface heat treatment
HN3
Inner ring with special surface heat treatment
L4B
Bearing rings and rollers black oxidized
L5B
Rollers black oxidized
L7B
Inner ring and rollers black oxidized
235220
Case-hardened inner ring with a helical groove in the bore
SKF suffix - Tolerance, clearance, preload, quiet running
P5
Dimensional and geometrical tolerances (tolerances of run-out and orientation) to class P5
P6
Dimensional and geometrical tolerances (tolerances of run-out) to class P6
C1
Radial internal clearance smaller than C2
C2
Radial/Axial internal clearance smaller than Normal
C3
Radial/Axial internal clearance greater than Normal
C4
Radial/Axial internal clearance greater than C3
C5
Radial internal clearance greater than C4
CA
Matched bearing set with small axial internal clearance
GA
Matched bearing set with light preload
CNL
Axial internal clearance in the lower half of the Normal range
C2H
Axial internal clearance in the upper half of the C2 range
C2L
Axial internal clearance in the lower half of the C2 range
CL0
Tolerances to ABMA tolerance class 0 (SKF inch tapered roller bearing)
CL00
Tolerances to ABMA tolerance class 00 (SKF inch tapered roller bearing)
C08
Geometrical tolerances (tolerances of run-out and orientation) to class P5
C083
C08 + C3
C084
C08 + C4
SKF suffix - Bearing sets, matched bearings
DB
Two bearings matched for mounting back-to-back
DF
Two bearings matched for mounting face-to-face
DT
Two bearings matched for mounting in tandem
DR
Set of two matched bearings
TR
Set of three matched bearings
QR
Set of four matched bearings
SKF suffix - Stabilization
S0
Bearing rings heat stabilized for operating temperatures ≤ 150 °C (300 °F)
S1
Bearing rings heat stabilized for operating temperatures ≤ 200 °C (390 °F)
S2
Bearing rings heat stabilized for operating temperatures ≤ 250 °C (480 °F)
S3
Bearing heat stabilized for operating temperatures ≤ 300 °C (570 °F)
SKF suffix - Lubrication
W64
Solid Oil
W33
Annular groove and three lubrication holes in the outer ring
W33X
Annular groove and six lubrication holes in the outer ring
W20
Lubrication holes in the outer ring
SM..
Special grease, two numbers following identify the grease
GEM9
Filled to 70 - 100% with SKF LGHB 2 grease
VT143
Filled to 25 - 45% with SKF LGEP 2 grease
SKF suffix - Other variants
VA947
SKF Food Line bearing made of bearing steel: Blue contact seal made of FDA and EC approved NBR and lubricant (GFQ) registered by NSF as category H1
VP311
SKF Food Line bearing made of stainless steel: Blue contact seal made of FDA approved NBR and lubricant (GFJ) registered by NSF as category H1
VQ658
Quiet running properties
309829
Larger balls
PEX
SKF Explorer bearing, used only when same-sized conventional and SKF Explorer bearings are available
VA301
Bearing for railway vehicle traction motors
VA305
VA301 + special inspection routines
VA350
Bearing for railway axleboxes
VA380
Bearing for railway axleboxes in accordance with EN 12080, class 1
VA3091
VA301 + external surfaces of the outer ring are coated with aluminium oxide
VC025
Bearing with special wear-resistant raceways for applications in heavily contaminated environments
VQ015
Inner ring with crowned raceway for increased permissible misalignment
VA907
Sealed bearing
VJ202
Set of two matched double row bearings
CL7A
Pinion bearing, superseded by CL7C
CL7C
High-performance design
CLN
Tighter tolerances for ring widths and total (abutment) width in accordance with ISO tolerance class 6X
VA405
Bearing for vibratory applications, surface-hardened stamped steel cages
VA406
Same as VA405, but PTFE coated cylindrical inner ring bore
VA944
Bearing for food and beverage applications
VA991
Bearing for high-speed applications
VA9B1
Bearing for continuous caster applications
VG114
Surface-hardened stamped steel cages
VG127
Two separate cages
VE447(E)
Shaft washer with three equally-spaced threaded holes to accommodate hoisting tackle. The E indicates that appropriate eye bolts are supplied with the bearing.
VE710(E)
Housing washer with three equally-spaced threaded holes to accommodate hoisting tackle. The E indicates that appropriate eye bolts are supplied with the bearing.
VU029
Shaft washer modified for applications with small axial clearance