7218 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

Specification table

Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 3.1 single-row ACBB) · extracted 2026-09-26

Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 3.1 single-row ACBB); 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 7218 model number is decoded

The SKF 7218 BEP is a 90×160×30 mm single-row angular-contact ball bearing — the light (7200) series of the SKF 7xxx line, built on the ISO 15 envelope shared with the 6218 deep-groove size but cut for combined radial and one-direction axial load.Digit by digit, 7218 reads as bearing type 7 (single-row angular contact), light section diameter series 2, and bore reference 18 resolving to 90 mm; 160 mm OD and 30 width are the matching ISO 15 boundary values. In SKF suffix language B sets the steep 40° angle for high axial capacity, E is the optimised internal design, and P is the polymer cage; variants with seals (BE-2RZP), 25° angles (A/ACC) or brass cages (BECBM) are separate order numbers. Selection arithmetic: the C0/C ratio is about 0.89 (static 96.5 kN against dynamic 108 kN), typical of a 40° angle sized for axial capacity, and the 3.65 kN fatigue load limit Pu is the equivalent-load floor used in the SKF life calculation. A single 7218 locates the shaft in one axial direction only; for bidirectional location order a matched pair — DB for moment stiffness, DF for tolerance of thermal expansion — and size the preload against the real load and speed of the position.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• Mount the 90 mm bore 7218 by induction heating of the inner ring (max 120 °C — the PA66 cage sets the ceiling, not the steel); driving it home through the outer ring or balls brinells the asymmetric raceway.
• The 72xx light section at 90 mm bore is the general-purpose angular-contact envelope (160×30 mm); stepping up to a 7318 changes OD, width and heat generation — it is not a drop-in swap when the housing and speed are fixed.
• The 40° contact angle creates an induced axial load under pure radial force; include it in the 7218 rating calculation (and account for it in both bearings of a pair) or the unloaded bearing skids its balls.
• Do not mix execution classes inside one 7218 pair — universal-matchable (CB) bearings are ground for arbitrary pairing, but a CB unit paired with an unmatched basic BEP bearing will not share preload evenly.
• The 2300 g mass and 30 mm width mean locknut and spacer faces must be square to the axis within the bearing's own P0 tolerance; a tilted spacer tilts the contact angle and concentrates load on one shoulder of 7218.
• The 108/96.5 kN ratings are SKF catalogue 17000 values for the 7218 BEP execution; SKF can revise internal geometry without changing the order number, so keep the catalogue version (PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN, 2018) with the specification and re-verify for critical drives.
• SKF lists several executions of 7218 (BEP basic, BECBP universally matchable, BE-2RZP sealed, BECBM brass-cage, ACC-series at 25°); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full 7218 BEP designation when purchasing and match the execution to the mounting arrangement.
• A plain 7218 BEP is a single open bearing, not a universally matchable one; to mount a defined DB/DF pair order the BECBP (CB) execution — pairing two unmatched basic units gives uncontrolled preload because the side faces are not ground for set mounting.