5201S bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 5201S is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 12 x 32 x 15.9 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | NTN |
| Bore diameter d | 12 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 32 mm |
| Width B | 15.9 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 10.5 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 5.8 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 0.35 kN |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 15000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 60 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NTN 5201S |
| Standard | ISO 15 |
| Catalog version | NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E |
| Last verified | 2026-10-01 |
Source: catalog reference (NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E) · extracted 2026-10-01
Parameters extracted from the official NTN Ball and Roller Bearings catalogue (NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E); NTN® is a trademark of NTN Corporation, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized NTN distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at ntnglobal.com.
Dimensions in inches & 5200S-series range
| Bore d | 0.472 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 1.26 in |
| Width B | 0.626 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 10 mm |
| Smallest bore in 5200S-series | 10 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 5200S-series | 150 mm |
| Width range across 5200S-series | 14.3–49.2 mm |
| Bore position in 5200S-series (smallest first) | 2 of 18 |
| Bore above smallest 5200S-series size | 2 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5201S | ISO 15 | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | ISO 15 boundary-dimension envelope; standard interchange — confirm clearance class and precision with the supplier. |
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 5201S model number is decoded
NTN 5201S belongs to the medium-duty 5200S double-row family: the catalogue boundary dimensions read 12 / 32 / 15.9 mm (bore / OD / width). Reading the code: 52 is the double-row dimension series (medium-duty 5200S double-row family), 01 encodes the 12 mm bore (bore code x 5), and the trailing S marks the current internal design of the family. The oil rating of 20,000 r/min sits 5,000 r/min above the 15,000 r/min grease figure — a 1.33x step that says how much headroom oil cooling buys. When axial load reverses, specify the bearing as a matched pair (DB, DF or DT) instead of two random singles — the catalogue right-hand columns give the paired ratings for exactly this reason. Heat-mounting to 80-90 deg C is the clean route onto a 12 mm shaft; drive-fits through the balls transmit force through the contact ellipse and can brinell it.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- small gearbox pinion shafts with helical gears
- precision instrument and encoder support shafts
- small machine-tool spindle and live-centre positions
- high-speed router, grinder and woodworking spindles
Known failure patterns
- false brinelling on the raceway contact ellipses when a preloaded spindle sits vibrating at standstill — visible as evenly spaced flute-like wear at ball pitch
- loss of preload after housing-fret or shaft creep, leaving the pair loose — ball skidding, cage rattle and a falling natural frequency follow
- pressed-steel cage pocket wear and rivet loosening after repeated ball skid at light load and high speed
- flaking that starts at the raceway shoulder on the thrust-loaded side when axial load repeatedly exceeds the design share
- edge loading and early spalling from housing bores that are out of round or shoulders that are too small for the ring face
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At 12 mm bore the rings are thin-sectioned: press force must go through the ring being fitted, never through the balls, or the first damage is already in the raceway before the machine runs.
- The double-row bearing takes reversing thrust in one envelope, but its two contact lines mean more heat than a single row at the same speed — check the thermal balance before copying a single-row speed figure.
- Catalogue mass and ratings belong to the open execution; shields, seals and resin cages change both the speed ceiling and the thermal behaviour of the same basic size.
- Do not pair two random 5201S bearings from stock and expect catalogue paired ratings — matched-set grinding is what makes DB/DF/DT preload behave, and NTN sells those as separate order numbers.
- Grease rated for deep-groove motor duty is not automatically right at 15,000 r/min with preload; check the grease speed factor against the catalogue figure.
- The 10.5/5.8 kN ratings and 0.35 kN Pu here are NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E figures for 5201S; internal geometry legitimately differs between manufacturers, so re-verify ratings, contact angle and suffix before substituting another make on a rated drive.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue ratings of NTN 5201S?
5201S is a double-row angular contact ball bearing to ISO 15: 12 mm bore, 32 mm outside diameter, 15.9 mm width (0.472 x 1.26 x 0.626 in). From NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E: C 10.5 kN, C0 5.8 kN and a 0.35 kN fatigue load limit Pu; the grease limiting speed is 15,000 r/min and the oil rating 20,000 r/min; mass about 60 g.
How is the 5201S designation structured?
52 is the double-row dimension series (medium-duty 5200S double-row family); 01 encodes the 12 mm bore (bore code x 5), and the trailing S marks the current internal design of the family. The 32 mm OD and 15.9 mm width follow the ISO 15 boundary-dimension plan for that series.
Which axial direction does 5201S support?
5201S is a double-row bearing working like a built-in back-to-back pair: it takes thrust in both directions plus radial load and moment (tilting) load in a single envelope.
What lubrication speeds does NTN print for 5201S?
Per NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E, the grease limiting speed is 15,000 r/min and the oil rating 20,000 r/min. These are catalogue ceilings for a correctly mounted bearing with the stated lubricant; preload, fill quantity, ambient heat and paired arrangements all move the real limit.
What should be checked before substituting another make for 5201S?
The 12/32/15.9 mm envelope is ISO 15 interchangeable, but internal geometry — contact angle, osculation, cage and shoulder details — is maker-specific. Re-verify C 10.5 kN / C0 5.8 kN, the speed figures, contact angle and suffix meaning against the donor catalogue before swapping on a rated drive.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E on 2026-10-01. Read our editorial & correction policy.