6308-2RS-NSK bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 6308-2RS-NSK is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 40 x 90 x 23 mm (bore x OD x width) with 2RS sealing. Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | NSK |
| Bore diameter d | 40 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 90 mm |
| Width B | 23 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | 2RS |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 45 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 24 kN |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +150 °C |
| Mass | 636 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NSK 6308DDU |
| Standard | ISO 15 |
| Catalog version | NSK Rolling Bearings E1103 Part C |
| Last verified | 2026-09-24 |
Source: catalog reference (NSK Rolling Bearings E1103 Part C) · extracted 2026-09-24
Dimensions in inches & 6300-series range
| Bore d | 1.575 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 3.543 in |
| Width B | 0.906 in |
| ISO bore code | 08 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 25 mm |
| Smallest bore in 6300-series | 2 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 6300-series | 500 mm |
| Width range across 6300-series | 3–95 mm |
| Bore position in 6300-series (smallest first) | 15 of 40 |
| Bore above smallest 6300-series size | 38 mm |
Mounting, lubrication & life for 6308-2RS-NSK
Recommended fits & mounting
- Rotating inner ring on a 40 mm shaft: k5; housing bore H7 for normal stationary-load outer rings. Reverse the logic if the outer ring rotates.
- Fit by induction heating (max 120 °C) where practical — never drive the ring home through the rolling elements.
- Keep shaft and housing fillet radii below the bearing chamfer so the 23 mm-wide ring seats square on its shoulder.
Lubrication strategy
Contact-sealed execution: greased and sealed for life, no relubrication path. Grease life — not steel fatigue — usually sets the replacement interval; rising running temperature or noise near the end of service is the practical trigger.
Worked L10 life example (illustrative duty)
For ball bearings, L10h = (C/P)3 · 106 / (60·n). Taking an example radial equivalent load P = 3 kN at n = 1,500 r/min (a small belted motor duty — substitute the real equivalent load from the application calculation):
C = 45.0 kN → L10h ≈ 37,500 hours
Choosing a section at the same 40 mm bore
| Series | Open execution | OD × width | C (kN) | Limiting speed (r/min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60xx | 6008-FAG | 68 × 15 | 17.8 | 14,600 |
| 62xx | 6208-FAG | 80 × 18 | 31.5 | 13,600 |
| 63xx | 6308-FAG | 90 × 23 | 47.0 | 11,800 |
| 64xx | 6408-FAG | 110 × 27 | 68.0 | 9,500 |
| 618xx | 61808-FAG | 52 × 7 | 4.9 | 19,300 |
| 619xx | 61908-FAG | 62 × 12 | 14.5 | 15,800 |
| 160xx | 16008 | 68 × 9 | 12.6 | 15,200 |
A larger section is not a drop-in swap — OD and width change — and same-envelope seal variants are compared on the 40×90×23 envelope page. Match meaning, not the size chart alone: see what the cross-reference levels mean.
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6308-FAG | FAG | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 40×90×23 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6308-2RS-FAG | FAG | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same 40×90×23 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6308-ZZ-FAG | FAG | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 40×90×23 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6308-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 40×90×23 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6308-2RS-NTN | NTN | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same 40×90×23 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6308-RSR-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 40×90×23 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6308-ZZ-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 40×90×23 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6308 | SKF | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 40×90×23 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6308-ZZ | SKF | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 40×90×23 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6308-2RS | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same 40×90×23 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6308-RSR | SKF | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 40×90×23 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 308 | SKF | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 40×90×23 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 308-ZZ | SKF | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 40×90×23 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
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 6308-2RS-NSK model number is decoded
6308-2RS is closed by two contacting elastomer lips over a lifetime grease fill; the lips add friction, so the speed ceiling sits below the open execution. Within the medium 63xx section (diameter series 3 of ISO 15), multiplying bore code 08 by five gives the 40 mm bore; the 90 mm outside diameter and 23 mm width follow the same boundary-dimension plan. For a rotating inner ring on a 40 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. NSK's contact-seal catalogue number is 6308DDU (suffix DDU), mapped here from the industry-neutral -2RS spelling; it is greased for life and the contacting lip lowers the speed ceiling versus the open bearing.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- electric motors
- centrifugal pumps
- small gearboxes
- conveyors and drives
Known failure patterns
- seal-lip hardening and loss of pre-grease in sustained high-temperature service
- grease-life expiry in the sealed-for-life cavity (no relubrication path)
- false brinelling from vibration while the shaft is stationary
- fretting corrosion on a loose shaft seat
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- A 40 mm shaft for 6308 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 series gains rating at 40 mm bore through a 90 mm OD and 23 mm width; the heavier rolling elements also trade away some speed versus a 6208.
- Contact seals add drag and heat: 6308-2RS-NSK runs slower and cooler-limited than the open 6308; rubber lips are generally limited to roughly 80–110 °C continuous depending on grease, and C3 clearance is the common hot-duty choice.
- Never wash a sealed 6308-2RS-NSK in solvent or press it home via the outer ring; solvent destroys the grease thickener and mounting force through the seal deforms the lip.
- Deep-groove ball bearings tolerate only minutes of misalignment; if the 90 mm housing cannot be aligned, switch to a self-aligning type rather than shimming 6308-2RS-NSK.
- The housing bore for the 90 mm OD should be round within IT7; an oval bore pinches the outer ring of 6308-2RS-NSK and shows up later as two-point loaded raceway wear.
- NSK catalogues the contact-sealed version as 6308DDU (suffix DDU), mapped here from the industry-neutral -2RS spelling; it is greased for life and the contacting lip lowers the speed ceiling versus the open bearing. NSK's DDU lip design is single-lip contact, so grease life is longer than VV but drag torque is higher.
- The 40 mm bore puts 6308 in NSK's general-purpose industrial range; the standard pressed-steel cage and CN clearance cover most electric-motor and pump duty. NSK's VV non-contact seal is the high-speed choice here — DDU contact seal costs roughly 30–40% of the open-bearing speed ceiling.
- NSK rates 6308 at 45 kN dynamic (C) and 24 kN static (C0); this upper-medium rating covers conveyor and gearbox drives, but at these loads the pressed-steel cage can be the limiting factor under shock — consider the machined brass cage (suffix M) for impact duty.
- At 636 g, 6308 requires a soft-jaw vise or arbor press for mounting — never hammer it onto the shaft, and support the opposite ring to avoid brinelling the raceways.
- The 40×90×23 mm envelope of 6308 gives a D/d ratio of 2.25 and 25.0 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 45/24 kN load ratings, mass 636 g here are NSK Rolling Bearings E1103 Part C catalogue figures for 6308DDU on the 40×90×23 mm ISO 15 envelope; internal geometry and ratings legitimately differ between brands, so re-verify before substituting another manufacturer's 6308 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.
- NSK does not recommend washing new shielded or sealed bearings; the rust-preventive film on open units is compatible with standard lithium greases and needs no removal unless the application demands a special fill.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a 6308-2RS-NSK bearing?
A 6308-2RS-NSK deep-groove ball bearing has a 40 mm bore, 90 mm outer diameter and 23 mm width (1.575 × 3.543 × 0.906 in), per ISO 15 boundary dimensions. It is fitted with two contact rubber seals and is normally pre-greased.
What lubrication does 6308-2RS-NSK need?
6308-2RS-NSK is supplied pre-greased for life and is not designed to be opened for relubrication; where a relubrication path is required, specify the open 6308 with a housing grease fitting instead.
How does the 6308 bore code work?
The last two digits of 6308 are bore code 08, giving 08 × 5 = 40 mm bore. The 90 mm outside diameter and 23 mm width follow the ISO 15 diameter series, not the bore code alone.
What is the NSK suffix for a sealed 6308?
NSK uses suffix DDU for the contact rubber seal (catalogue number 6308DDU), VV for the non-contact rubber seal, and ZZ for steel shields. The industry-neutral spellings on this page (-2RS / -RSR / -ZZ) map to those NSK suffixes while keeping the 40×90×23 mm ISO 15 envelope.
Does NSK offer 6308 with C3 clearance?
NSK lists C3 (and C4) internal-clearance options for most deep-groove sizes under the same base designation; the clearance is fixed at manufacture, so specify it at order time rather than planning to adjust later.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog NSK Rolling Bearings E1103 Part C on 2026-09-24. Read our editorial & correction policy.