6304-FAG 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 6304-FAG model number is decoded

6304 is supplied open, without shields or seals, so the arrangement around it must supply and retain the lubricant. Within the medium 63xx section (diameter series 3 of ISO 15), multiplying bore code 04 by five gives the 20 mm bore; the 52 mm outside diameter and 15 mm width follow the same boundary-dimension plan. For a rotating inner ring on a 20 mm shaft under normal load, catalogue practice seats it on a k5 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

• A 20 mm shaft for 6304 should be finished to Ra ≤ 1.6 µm with square seating faces; at this bore a scored or oval journal shows up directly as running noise and early raceway damage.
• The 63xx medium section at 20 mm bore gains dynamic rating through larger rolling elements on a 52 mm OD; the penalty is mass and a lower limiting speed than the 6204 — do not specify it for speed-critical shafts.
• Storage matters for open bearings: 6304-FAG 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 6300-series but need a defined regreasing interval; run-to-failure lubrication is the dominant cause of early failure in open 6304 units.
• Shaft and housing fillets must clear the bearing chamfer so the 15 mm-wide ring seats square; provide an undercut or withdrawal groove instead of relying on an oversized radius.
• The housing bore for the 52 mm OD should be round within IT7; an oval bore pinches the outer ring of 6304-FAG and shows up later as two-point loaded raceway wear.
• The open 6304 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 rates 6304 at 19800 r/min mechanical limiting speed (thermal reference speed 14400 r/min) — a high-speed range where the thermal reference speed governs continuous duty; use low-viscosity turbine oil or high-speed grease and avoid lip-contact seals entirely.
• The 20 mm bore puts 6304 in Schaeffler's light industrial range; the standard cage and CN clearance cover most fractional-horsepower motor and small-pump duty, and FAG's X-life generation of these sizes carries higher ratings than legacy HR 1 printings — check the current eKatalog listing before reordering.
• At 16.9 kN dynamic load rating (C) and 7.9 kN static (C0), 6304 is a medium-load FAG bearing for most electric-motor and pump duty; check the static safety factor against C0 for preloaded or thrust-loaded arrangements.
• At 144 g, 6304 is light enough for hand assembly but should be pressed on with a fitting sleeve against the inner ring; do not strike the outer ring or cage with a hammer.
• The 20×52×15 mm envelope of 6304 gives a D/d ratio of 2.60 and 16.0 mm radial section height — a heavy FAG section 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 16.9/7.9 kN load ratings, mass 144 g here are Schaeffler HR 1 Rolling Bearings (Jan 2020) catalogue figures for 6304-FAG on the 20×52×15 mm ISO 15 envelope; internal geometry and ratings legitimately differ between brands, so re-verify before substituting another manufacturer's 6304 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.
• For hot shafts above roughly 100 °C continuous, consult Schaeffler about seal material and grease options for the 2RSR execution of 6304; the standard NBR lip is the economical general-duty choice, not the high-temperature one.
• 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.