16038 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

Specification table

Source: catalog reference (HR 1 Rolling Bearings (Jan 2020)) · extracted 2026-09-25

Parameters extracted from the official FAG Rolling Bearings catalogue (HR 1 Rolling Bearings (Jan 2020)); FAG® is a trademark of Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized FAG/Schaeffler distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at schaeffler.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 16038 model number is decoded

16038 is supplied open, without shields or seals, so the arrangement around it must supply and retain the lubricant. Within the narrow 160xx section of the ISO 15 general plan, multiplying bore code 38 by five gives the 190 mm bore; the 290 mm outside diameter and 31 mm width follow the same boundary-dimension plan. For a rotating inner ring on a 190 mm shaft under normal load, catalogue practice seats it on a m6 shaft fit with an H7 housing bore — confirm against the actual load direction and magnitude before committing. In the Schaeffler HR 1 catalogue this open execution carries the bare designation; protected variants are ordered separately with suffixes 2Z (steel shields), 2RZ (non-contact rubber seals) and 2RSR (lip-contact rubber seals).

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• At 190 mm bore the ring mass is significant: heat 16038 on an induction heater (max 120 °C), never over an open flame, and plan puller access or a withdrawal sleeve now for the day it has to come off again.
• The 160xx narrow section at 190 mm bore shares the 290 mm outside diameter of the 6038 but is only 31 mm wide; a 6038 in a 31 mm-wide seat is loose axially and the reverse swap will not fit — match width as well as bore and outside diameter.
• Storage matters for open bearings: 16038 leaves the factory with rust preventive only, so clean it and apply the service grease at assembly even if the rings look oily from the wrapper.
• Open bearings tolerate the highest speeds in the 16000-series but need a defined regreasing interval; run-to-failure lubrication is the dominant cause of early failure in open 16038 units.
• Grease compatibility is not guaranteed between fills: mixing lithium and polyurea thickeners in a 16000-series position can soften the mixture and leak — clean out the old fill before switching grease types.
• A 190 mm bore listing showing the right d/D/B but no standard or precision-class reference may be a loose-tolerance import; measure bore/OD spread before fitting it to a machined shaft.
• The open 16038 has no integral sealing; in the Schaeffler HR 1 catalogue the protected variants carry suffixes 2Z (two steel shields), 2RZ (two non-contact rubber seals) and 2RSR (two lip-contact rubber seals). Do not confuse FAG's 2RZ with a contact seal — the RZ lip does not touch the inner ring, which is why its speed capability stays close to the open bearing.
• FAG lists the mechanical limiting speed at 3100 r/min for 16038 (thermal reference speed 2650 r/min); the thermal reference speed is the binding figure for continuous duty — size the lubrication interval off the reference speed, not the mechanical limit.
• The 190 mm bore places 16038 in Schaeffler's large-size range; at these diameters the pressed steel cage is speed-limited and FAG commonly offers a machined brass cage (suffix M) as an option. Verify cage material and relubrication provision with the distributor, and do not extrapolate small-bore speed ratings to this size.
• FAG rates 16038 at 158 kN dynamic (C) and 168 kN static (C0); this is an extreme-load rating at the top of the HR 1 single-row deep-groove range, where mounting, shaft stiffness and housing alignment dominate achievable life — request a Schaeffler application review rather than relying on catalogue L10 alone.
• At 7040 g (7.0 kg), 16038 is a heavy FAG bearing that requires a crane or hoist for handling; induction-heat the inner ring (max 120 °C) and use a mechanical puller for removal — never apply heat directly to the balls or cage.
• The 190×290×31 mm envelope of 16038 gives a D/d ratio of 1.53 and 50.0 mm radial section height — a thin FAG section that saves space but is sensitive to misalignment and shock; keep the housing round within IT7 and the shaft deflection below the raceway contact envelope.
• The 158/168 kN load ratings, mass 7040 g here are Schaeffler HR 1 Rolling Bearings (Jan 2020) catalogue figures for 16038 on the 190×290×31 mm ISO 15 envelope; internal geometry and ratings legitimately differ between brands, so re-verify before substituting another manufacturer's 16038 in a rated drive. Where FAG has since released an X-life version of this size, its expanded C/C0 ratings supersede the HR 1 print values quoted here.
• FAG standard tolerance for this size is P0 (PN); P6/P5 precision executions exist for spindle-adjacent duty but carry different order numbers in the Schaeffler system — they are not a selectable sorting of standard stock.
• FAG sealed units arrive greased for life with a lithium-soap fill; Schaeffler quotes a shelf life for greased bearings and recommends running stock first-in-first-out rather than re-greasing aged sealed units.