16038 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

The 16038 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 190 x 290 x 31 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.

Dual-source verified Boundary dimensions and basic load ratings cross-checked against the FAG and NTN catalogues: d/D/B agree within 0.5 mm, dynamic/static ratings within 7.7%. Checked 2026-09-25.
Bearing dimension schematic Front view shows outer diameter D and bore d; side section shows width B. D = 290 mm d = 190 B = 31 mm side section front view
Principal dimensions: bore d 190 mm, outer diameter D 290 mm, width B 31 mm. Schematic, not to scale.

Specification table

ParameterValue
Brand FAG
Bore diameter d 190 mm
Outer diameter D 290 mm
Width B 31 mm
Material GCr15
Seal / shield open
Internal clearance CN
Tolerance class P0
Cage steel
Basic dynamic load rating C 158 kN
Basic static load rating C0 168 kN
Reference speed (thermal) 2650 rpm
Limiting speed (mechanical) 3100 rpm
Mass 7040 g
Manufacturer designation FAG 16038
Standard ISO 15
Catalog version HR 1 Rolling Bearings (Jan 2020)
Last verified 2026-09-25

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.

Dimensions in inches & 16000-series range

Bore d 7.48 in
Outer diameter D 11.417 in
Width B 1.22 in
ISO bore code 38
Radial section height (D−d)/2 50 mm
Smallest bore in 16000-series 12 mm
Largest outer diameter in 16000-series 540 mm
Width range across 16000-series 7–57 mm
Bore position in 16000-series (smallest first) 29 of 38
Bore above smallest 16000-series size 178 mm

Cross references & equivalents

Equivalent modelBrandMatch levelNote
16038 ISO-INTERCHANGE full
Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange.
ISO 15 boundary-dimension interchange; ratings above are FAG HR 1 values and differ by brand — verify per 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 16038 model number is decoded

In the 16000-series (the narrow extra-light section of ISO 15) the last two digits encode the bore: 16038 carries bore code 38 = 190 mm. Outside diameter 290 mm and width 31 mm come from the ISO 15 boundary-dimensions general plan. With no seal suffix the bearing is open: no shields or seals are fitted and lubrication is supplied by the application. For normal-load mounting with a rotating inner ring on a 190 mm shaft, typical catalogue practice is a m6 shaft seat with an H7 housing bore — verify against the actual load direction and magnitude. FAG catalogue order number: 16038.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Common applications

  • medium and heavy industrial drives
  • large gearboxes
  • industrial fans and blowers
  • hoists and winches

Known failure patterns

  • contamination wear from dust and dirt ingress through the open arrangement
  • lubricant starvation when no regreasing interval is maintained
  • electrical pitting in VFD-driven motors without grounding protection
  • raceway smearing under marginal lubrication at start-up

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

  • Mount this 190 mm bore bearing by heating the inner ring (induction heater, max 120 °C) — never drive it home through the outer ring or balls, that brinells the raceways.
  • 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.
  • The open 16038 has no lubricant retention: grease escapes and contaminants migrate straight into the 190×290×31 mm raceway, so specify a sealed arrangement for dusty or washdown duty.
  • 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.
  • Assign fits by which ring rotates: an interference shaft fit for a rotating inner ring; if the outer ring rotates instead, reverse the logic — a loose rotating ring creeps and frets its seat.
  • The open 16038 has no integral sealing; in the FAG catalogue the protected variants carry suffixes -2Z (shields), -2RSR (contact seals) and, on Generation-C sizes, -2HRS (high-precision contact seals). The -C suffix marks FAG's Generation-C internal design, not a seal.

Frequently asked questions

What are the dimensions of a 16038 bearing?

A 16038 deep-groove ball bearing has a 190 mm bore, 290 mm outer diameter and 31 mm width (7.48 × 11.417 × 1.22 in), per ISO 15 boundary dimensions. It is an open bearing with no seals or shields.

How does the 16038 bore code work?

The last two digits of 16038 are bore code 38, giving 38 × 5 = 190 mm bore. The 290 mm outside diameter and 31 mm width follow the ISO 15 diameter series, not the bore code alone.

What does no suffix on 16038 mean?

A bare 16038 designation means open: no shields or seals, normal CN radial clearance and P0 normal tolerance unless further suffixes are ordered. The application must supply and retain the lubrication.

How does the 16000 compare with other series at the same 190 mm bore?

160 is the narrow extra-light section: 290×31 mm with a 50.0 mm radial section at 190 mm bore. It has the same bore and outside diameter as the 6038 but a narrower ring, so the two are not width-interchangeable; in the catalogues used on this site it appears in the FAG HR 1 range.

What is the FAG designation and catalogue data for 16038?

In the Schaeffler FAG Rolling Bearings catalogue (HR 1, Jan 2020) this size is listed as 16038 — the open (unsealed) execution, 190×290×31 mm per ISO 15. Quoted values: C 158 kN, C0 168 kN, mass 7040 g. Limiting speed 3100 rpm, reference speed 2650 rpm. The industry-neutral page spelling 16038 follows the seal-suffix convention used across this site, not FAG order-number spelling.

Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog HR 1 Rolling Bearings (Jan 2020) on 2026-09-25. Read our editorial & correction policy.