7306 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 7306 model number is decoded

SKF 7306 (7306 BEP) is the medium (7300) series angular-contact choice for a 30 mm shaft — one row of balls on a steepened, asymmetric raceway giving a nominal 40° contact angle inside the 72×19 mm ISO 15 envelope.Digit by digit, 7306 reads as bearing type 7 (single-row angular contact), medium section diameter series 3, and bore reference 06 resolving to 30 mm; 72 mm OD and 19 width are the matching ISO 15 boundary values. Here B marks the steep 40° contact angle (the highest-capacity single-row angle), E the modernised internal geometry and P the glass-fibre nylon cage; the same bare size in a 25° A-angle or brass M-cage execution carries a different suffix. Speed planning uses two different ceilings: 12,000 r/min reference (thermal, under representative load) and 12,000 r/min limiting (mechanical cage/ball limit) — for this size the catalogue lists them at the same value. Fit selection follows the rotating ring — interference on a rotating inner ring — and two 7306 units are required to take reversing thrust; keep the induced axial load (0.5·Fr/Y for the 40° angle) inside the rated capacity when calculating the pair.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• On this 30 mm bore, interference and temperature rise consume clearance inside a preloaded pair; calculate the residual clearance after mounting and at operating temperature — an over-tight 7306 pair heats, loses preload control and smears the raceways.
• The 73xx medium section at 30 mm bore (72×19 mm) is heavier-rated than the 7206 but runs hotter at the same speed; do not substitute a 7306 into a 72-series spindle position without re-checking dn, lubricant film and preload.
• The 40° contact angle creates an induced axial load under pure radial force; include it in the 7306 rating calculation (and account for it in both bearings of a pair) or the unloaded bearing skids its balls.
• At the 32.5 kN rating of 7306, preload class changes stiffness by tens of percent but also heat generation; select light preload for the 12,000 r/min speed end and heavier preload only where moment stiffness dominates.
• Catalogue reference speed and limiting speed are different limits: the 12,000 r/min reference is a thermal criterion under load, while the 12,000 r/min limiting value is the mechanical ceiling — observe both.
• The 32.5/19.3 kN ratings are SKF catalogue 17000 values for the 7306 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 7306 (BEP basic, BECBP universally matchable, BE-2RZP sealed, BECBM brass-cage, ACC-series at 25°); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full 7306 BEP designation when purchasing and match the execution to the mounting arrangement.
• A plain 7306 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.