Tapered roller bearings carry combined radial and axial load in one direction with high stiffness - mounted in facing pairs so each bearing takes axial load in one direction.
Typical in automotive wheel hubs, gearboxes and any shaft rigidly located under combined load, with clearance or preload set at mounting.
Process Overview
Tapered roller bearings use conical rollers between tapered raceways so the extended contact lines converge on the axis — carrying combined radial and axial load in one direction with high stiffness. They are almost always mounted in facing pairs (direct or indirect) so each bearing takes axial load in one direction.
Typical applications are automotive wheel hubs, gearboxes, and any shaft that must be rigidly located under combined load, where the clearance or preload of the pair is set at mounting.
Matériaux
Bearing steel (GCr15 / 52100); case-carburizing grades for high-impact duties on request.
| Material / grade | Standard | Key property | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome steel GCr15 / 52100 | GB/T 18254 / ASTM A295 (edition per certificate) | Through-hardening ~1% carbon steel; carries the most load of the three; continuous service to about 120 °C, hardness drops above it (supplier-reported) | The default for standard and OEM positions - motors, pumps, gearboxes - where corrosion and temperature are not the constraint |
| Stainless 440C (on request) | 16-18% chromium martensitic stainless | Chromium oxide passivation film; about 90% of GCr15 wear resistance at HRC 58-62; special heat treatment holds HRC 58 to 260 °C (supplier-reported) | Humid, wet or washdown duty; verify the temperature figure on the certificate rather than assuming it |
| Ceramic hybrid, ceramic balls with steel rings (on request) | - | Balls 3-5x harder than steel and about 50% lighter: lower friction and centrifugal load at speed; brittle under impact or overload | High-speed spindles and marginal-corrosion upgrades; not a substitute for chrome steel where load or shock dominates |
Finitions
Standard finishing per product standards; anti-corrosion packaging for export.
| Finish | What it does | Specify it when |
|---|---|---|
| Open (no seal) | Leaves the bearing relubricable in operation, so degraded grease can be purged and L10 life extended in heavy duty | Clean, lubricated environments with maintenance access - the only variant that is not sealed-for-life |
| ZZ metal shields | Blocks coarse ingress without lip contact, so the speed penalty is small (about 10,000 rpm published for small frames, supplier-reported) | Dry, dusty positions at moderate speed where relubrication is impractical |
| 2RS contact seals | Elastomer lip on the inner ring retains grease and blocks ingress, but adds drag: maximum speed drops 20-30%, and on self-aligning types misalignment tolerance falls from about 3 to 1.5 degrees (supplier-reported) | Wet, contaminated or washdown positions - accepting a sealed-for-life replacement schedule, since both 2RS and ZZ are non-relubricable |
Tolérances
Dimensional and running tolerances to ISO precision classes P0-P6 as standard (P5/P4 on request for applicable types).
| Callout | What it needs | Effect on cost and lead time |
|---|---|---|
| P0 (normal class) | Boundary dimensions and running accuracy only - the class sets no noise, speed or clearance property; below about 3,000 rpm tighter classes are not measurable in service | Standard catalogue price and stock; stated to serve about 90% of industrial applications (supplier-reported) |
| P6 | First step of tighter runout bands, for duties between general machinery and precision spindles | Marginal improvement at a small premium - the cheap end of the step-up curve |
| P5 | Low-vibration, high-speed duty such as machine tool spindles in the 10,000-30,000 rpm band; usually supplied as angular contact, so paired mounting and defined preload come with it | Specialised grinding and matched sets: a significant premium plus mounting expertise on your side |
| P4 | The highest runout accuracy, individually serialized with inspection certificates showing measured values rather than class bands | The expensive end of the curve; quote- and lead-time-critical, confirm before the RFQ goes out |
FAQ
What is your MOQ?
50 pieces per model for standard catalog bearings; custom and OEM bearings are quoted per drawing and volume.
What is the lead time?
5-10 business days for standard samples, 15-30 business days for bulk standard bearings, 30-60 business days for custom OEM bearings.
Which payment terms do you accept?
T/T 30% deposit and 70% balance before shipment; L/C for qualified orders; agreed terms for repeat customers.
Which incoterms do you ship under?
EXW, FOB, CFR, CIF and DAP.
Capability commitments on this page are owner-confirmed .