6308-FAG bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 6308-FAG is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 40 x 90 x 23 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | FAG |
| Bore diameter d | 40 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 90 mm |
| Width B | 23 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 47 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 25 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 9900 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 11800 rpm |
| Mass | 596 g |
| Manufacturer designation | FAG 6308-C |
| 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 & 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-FAG
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
Open execution: the application supplies lubrication. Use the grease relubrication chart for this bearing — pitch diameter dm = 65 mm, so the speed factor at the 11,800 r/min limiting speed is 767,000 mm·r/min. Intervals shorten steeply as that factor rises.
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 = 47.0 kN → L10h ≈ 42,726 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6308-2RS-NSK | NSK | 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-RSR-NSK | NSK | 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-NSK | NSK | 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-NSK | NSK | 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-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. |
| 6308-2RS-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-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 | 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-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-FAG model number is decoded
In the 6300-series (diameter series 3 of ISO 15) the last two digits encode the bore: 6308 carries bore code 08 = 40 mm. Outside diameter 90 mm and width 23 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 40 mm shaft, typical catalogue practice is a k5 shaft seat with an H7 housing bore — verify against the actual load direction and magnitude. 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
Common applications
- electric motors
- centrifugal pumps
- small gearboxes
- conveyors and drives
Known failure patterns
- contamination wear from dust and dirt ingress through the open arrangement
- lubricant starvation when no regreasing interval is maintained
- 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.
- The open 6308-FAG has no lubricant retention: grease escapes and contaminants migrate straight into the 40×90×23 mm raceway, so specify a sealed arrangement for dusty or washdown duty.
- 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 6308 units.
- The housing bore for the 90 mm OD should be round within IT7; an oval bore pinches the outer ring of 6308-FAG and shows up later as two-point loaded raceway wear.
- Grease compatibility is not guaranteed between fills: mixing lithium and polyurea thickeners in a 6300-series position can soften the mixture and leak — clean out the old fill before switching grease types.
- The open 6308 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.
- At 11800 r/min mechanical limiting speed (thermal reference speed 9900 r/min), 6308 covers general-purpose motor and pump duty; keep grease fill at 25–35% of free volume and verify the housing can dissipate the frictional heat at the thermal reference speed.
- The 40 mm bore puts 6308 in Schaeffler's general-purpose industrial range; the standard cage and CN clearance cover most electric-motor and 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.
- FAG rates 6308 at 47 kN dynamic (C) and 25 kN static (C0); this upper-medium rating covers conveyor and gearbox drives, but under shock the pressed steel cage can become the limiting element — consider the machined brass cage (suffix M) for impact duty.
- At 596 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 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 47/25 kN load ratings, mass 596 g here are Schaeffler HR 1 Rolling Bearings (Jan 2020) catalogue figures for 6308-C 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. 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.
- Schaeffler's medias/eKatalog is the live source for the current execution of 6308: cage material, seal lip design and ratings can be revised between catalogue generations without any designation change.
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a 6308-FAG bearing?
A 6308-FAG 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 an open bearing with no seals or shields.
Are 6308 bearings from different brands interchangeable?
For boundary dimensions, yes: every brand's 6308 uses the same ISO 15 envelope (40×90×23 mm). Load ratings, limiting speeds, clearance, precision class and sealing design can differ, so verify those in the supplier catalogue when substituting.
What internal clearance does 6308-FAG have?
Unless a clearance suffix says otherwise, 6308-FAG is manufactured to normal (CN) radial internal clearance. Tight fits and hot shafts consume clearance in service — for those conditions order the C3 execution of 6308 and verify the residual clearance after mounting.
What is the FAG order number for an open 6308?
FAG lists the open 6308 under the bare designation 6308-C; protected versions use suffixes 2Z (steel shields), 2RZ (non-contact rubber seals) and 2RSR (lip-contact rubber seals) on the same 40 mm bore envelope.
What is the difference between FAG 2RZ and 2RSR seals?
2RZ is a non-contact rubber seal: minimal drag, speed close to the open bearing, not liquid-tight. 2RSR is a lip-contact seal: better protection against moisture and fine dust at the cost of speed and torque. Both keep the ISO 15 envelope of 6308-C.
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.