6003-ZZ-NSK bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

Specification table

Source: catalog reference (NSK Rolling Bearings E1103 Part C) · extracted 2026-09-24

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 6003-ZZ-NSK model number is decoded

6003-ZZ carries two non-contact sheet-steel shields that hold the factory grease in and keep coarse debris out; they do not seal against liquids. Within the extra-light 60xx section (diameter series 0 of ISO 15), multiplying bore code 17 by five gives the 17 mm bore; the 35 mm outside diameter and 10 mm width follow the same boundary-dimension plan. For a rotating inner ring on a 17 mm shaft under normal load, catalogue practice seats it on a j5 shaft fit with an H7 housing bore — confirm against the actual load direction and magnitude before committing. NSK catalogue order number: 6003ZZ (suffix ZZ), two non-contact steel shields, mapped here from the industry-neutral -ZZ spelling.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• Mount this 17 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 60xx extra-light section at 17 mm bore uses a smaller 35 mm OD than a 6217; load ratings are lower, so do not replace a failed 62-series bearing with a 60-series without re-rating the load.
• Do not wash 6003-ZZ-NSK in solvent before mounting: the grease inside the shielded cavity is the service fill, and solvent creeping past the shield gap strips it out.
• Shielded 6003-ZZ-NSK units are typically greased for life; prying the shields out for regreasing usually bends them and leaves a gap that throws grease in service.
• Never mix components between two 6003-ZZ-NSK units: rings, cage and balls are factory-matched and are not field-interchangeable, even between identical designations.
• Axial location must clamp the ring face, not the seal area: a shoulder or circlip bearing on the seal side of the 10 mm-wide ring of 6003-ZZ-NSK drags the lip and overheats it.
• NSK catalogues the shielded version as 6003ZZ — suffix ZZ, two non-contact steel shields. The industry-neutral page spelling is -ZZ; quote the NSK order number when buying through an NSK channel.
• At 17 mm bore the 6003 sits in NSK's small-bore range; NSK ships these sizes with a pressed-steel cage and P0 tolerance as standard, and NSK's EA (extra-precision) or P5 class is a special-order upgrade for spindle duty — do not assume catalogue P0 figures hold for instrument use without an NSK engineering check.
• NSK rates 6003 at 6.6 kN dynamic (C) and 3.25 kN static (C0); this light-to-medium rating suits fractional-horsepower drives and instruments — for conveying or gearbox duty with shock loads, verify the equivalent dynamic load stays well below C.
• At only 41 g, 6003 is a lightweight NSK bearing that can be handled by hand; still, press it onto the shaft with a sleeve against the inner ring — never through the balls or outer ring.
• The 17×35×10 mm envelope of 6003 gives a D/d ratio of 2.06 and 9.0 mm radial section height — a heavy NSK section built for high-load, lower-speed duty; specifying it in a high-rpm motor generates excess heat and shortens grease life, so prefer a 62/63-series there.
• The 6.6/3.25 kN load ratings, mass 41 g here are NSK Rolling Bearings E1103 Part C catalogue figures for 6003ZZ on the 17×35×10 mm ISO 15 envelope; internal geometry and ratings legitimately differ between brands, so re-verify before substituting another manufacturer's 6003 in a rated drive. NSK does not tabulate reference or limiting speeds in the E1103 Part C dimension tables used for this page — consult NSK's separate speed-rating tables before high-speed service.
• Standard P0 runout from NSK is adequate up to the catalogue limiting speed on ground shaft seats; spindle or instrument positions should specify P6/P5 accuracy explicitly — it is a different order code, not a sorting of standard stock.
• Keep NSK bearings in the original packaging until fitting: the wrapper carries the production lot, and the unopened shelf life of greased sealed units is typically quoted at three to five years in dry, vibration-free storage.