6332 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 6332 model number is decoded

6332 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 32 by five gives the 160 mm bore; the 340 mm outside diameter and 68 mm width follow the same boundary-dimension plan. For a rotating inner ring on a 160 mm shaft under normal load, catalogue practice seats it on a m6 shaft fit with an H7 housing bore — confirm against the actual load direction and magnitude before committing. In the NSK catalogue this open execution carries the bare designation; protected variants are ordered separately with suffixes ZZ (steel shields), VV (non-contact rubber seals) and DDU (contact rubber seals).

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• Large bores like the 160 mm of 6332 demand clean, burr-free seats; one raised burr under a ring this size cocks the bearing and concentrates load at the raceway edge, cutting life drastically.
• The 63xx medium section at 160 mm bore gains dynamic rating through larger rolling elements on a 340 mm OD; the penalty is mass and a lower limiting speed than the 6232 — do not specify it for speed-critical shafts.
• The open 6332 has no lubricant retention: grease escapes and contaminants migrate straight into the 160×340×68 mm raceway, so specify a sealed arrangement for dusty or washdown duty.
• Storage matters for open bearings: 6332 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.
• Suffixes stack in a defined order — clearance follows the seal code, e.g. 6332-C3. No clearance suffix means normal CN clearance.
• Do not quieten a noisy bearing by preloading it: the 6300-series is a deep-groove design, not angular-contact; axial preload raises temperature and shortens grease life.
• The open 6332 has no integral sealing; in the NSK E1103 catalogue the protected variants carry suffixes ZZ (non-contact steel shields), VV (non-contact rubber seals) and DDU (contact rubber seals). NSK does not offer a low-torque contact seal equivalent to NTN's LLH in this catalogue — for high-speed sealed duty specify the VV non-contact seal and an external housing labyrinth.
• The 160 mm bore places 6332 at the lower end of NSK's large-size range; at these diameters the pressed-steel cage is speed-limited and NSK commonly supplies a machined brass cage (suffix M) as an option. Verify cage material and relubrication interval with the NSK distributor, and do not extrapolate small-bore speed ratings to this size.
• NSK rates 6332 at 305 kN dynamic (C) and 287 kN static (C0); this is an extreme-load bearing at the top of the E1103 Part C single-row deep-groove range, where mounting, shaft stiffness and housing alignment dominate the achievable life. Consult NSK engineering for a full application review rather than relying on catalogue L10 alone.
• At 26200 g (26.2 kg), 6332 is a very heavy NSK bearing where handling and mounting method directly affect service life; NSK requires induction heating of the inner ring (max 120 °C), a mechanical puller for removal, and a defined lifting procedure to avoid damaging the cage.
• The 160×340×68 mm envelope of 6332 gives a D/d ratio of 2.13 and 90.0 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 305/287 kN load ratings, mass 26200 g here are NSK Rolling Bearings E1103 Part C catalogue figures for 6332 on the 160×340×68 mm ISO 15 envelope; internal geometry and ratings legitimately differ between brands, so re-verify before substituting another manufacturer's 6332 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.
• 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.
• 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.