3203-A-2Z bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

Specification table

Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018)) · extracted 2026-09-27

Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018)); SKF® and SKF Explorer® are trademarks of AB SKF, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized SKF distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at skf.com.

Cross references & equivalents

Interchange levels: full standard interchange · partial verify parameters · verify manual confirmation required. Links resolve to the equivalent model's specification page where available.

How the 3203-A-2Z model number is decoded

3203 A-2Z is the capped double-row angular-contact ball bearing for a 17 mm shaft, 17×40×17.5 mm, greased and sealed (or shielded) for life at the SKF works. A on this double-row bearing means no filling slots, so both ball rows retain their full complement. -2Z marks a sheet-metal shield on each side: non-contacting, grease-retention and dust protection with negligible drag, the bearing remaining open-style relubricatable only through the shield clearance. Envelope 17×40×17.5 mm (0.669×1.575×0.689 in), 11.5 mm radial section height, C 14.3 kN, C0 8.8 kN, Pu 0.365 kN.SKF publishes only the 16,000 r/min limiting speed for this execution, catalogue mass 100 g. Envelope economics: the 17.5 mm width over a 11.5 mm section yields 1.52 mm of ring width per section millimetre, and the bearing weighs 100 g for 14.3 kN of dynamic capacity — about 7 g per rated kN. At the printed limiting speed of 16,000 r/min the mean pitch diameter dm ≈ 28.5 mm implies a dn value around 456k mm·r/min; only the limiting speed is published for this execution. Bore-to-OD planning: OD 40 over bore 17 is a 2.35× step for this size, and the 17.5 mm width gives a bore/width ratio of 0.97; use these ratios when housing space around the 17 mm shaft is the first constraint. Shielded execution note: the two sheet-metal -2Z covers clip into the outer ring without contacting the inner ring, giving grease retention and coarse-dust protection at virtually no friction; the cavity is factory-greased and the shield arrangement suits dry, moderately dusty positions rather than wash-down duty, where the A-2RS1 contact-seal order number is the alternative.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• Never wash 3203-A-2Z in solvent: the lifetime grease fill cannot be replaced once flushed out.
• The capped speed ceiling is 16,000 r/min — seal drag and grease life govern, which is why SKF publishes no thermal reference speed for A-2Z.
• The shields/seals do not make the bearing waterproof under immersion or pressure washing; select external sealing for wet or wash-down duty.
• Never wash 3203-A-2Z in solvent: the lifetime grease fill cannot be replaced once flushed out.
• Catalogue ratings are SKF PUB BU/P1 17000 figures for 3203 A-2Z as the double shielded execution; the other order numbers of the 3203 size are different products and may carry different ratings — always quote the full designation when purchasing.