81156-M bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

The 81156-M is a ISO 104 radial bearing sized 280 x 350 x 53 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.

Bearing dimension schematic Front view shows outer diameter D and bore d; side section shows width B. D = 350 mm d = 280 B = 53 mm side section front view
Principal dimensions: bore d 280 mm, outer diameter D 350 mm, width B 53 mm. Schematic, not to scale.

Specification table

ParameterValue
Brand SKF
Bore diameter d 280 mm
Outer diameter D 350 mm
Width B 53 mm
Material GCr15
Seal / shield open
Internal clearance CN
Tolerance class P0
Cage brass
Basic dynamic load rating C 680 kN
Basic static load rating C0 3550 kN
Fatigue load limit Pu 275 kN
Reference speed (thermal) 480 rpm
Limiting speed (mechanical) 950 rpm
Operating temperature -40 to +120 °C
Mass 12500 g
Manufacturer designation 81156 M
Standard ISO 104
Catalog version SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 11.1 cylindrical roller thrust bearings
Last verified 2026-09-27

Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 11.1 cylindrical roller thrust bearings) · extracted 2026-09-27

Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 11.1 cylindrical roller thrust bearings); SKF® and SKF Explorer® are trademarks of AB SKF, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized SKF distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at skf.com.

Dimensions in inches & 81100-series range

Bore d 11.024 in
Outer diameter D 13.78 in
Width B 2.087 in
ISO bore code 56
Radial section height (D−d)/2 35 mm
Smallest bore in 81100-series 15 mm
Largest outer diameter in 81100-series 400 mm
Width range across 81100-series 9–63 mm
Bore position in 81100-series (smallest first) 32 of 34
Bore above smallest 81100-series size 265 mm

Cross references & equivalents

No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.

How the 81156-M model number is decoded

SKF supplies 81156 M as a separable thrust bearing: the 280 mm shaft washer (WS), the machined brass M cage holding short cylindrical rollers, and the 350 mm housing washer (GS) can be ordered and mounted individually. The designation 81156 M states 811 series, 280 mm bore, machined brass M cage; shaft and housing washers are also orderable separately as WS and GS parts of the same size. The bearing takes thrust in one direction only — reverse loads lift the roller set off its track; arrange a mirrored second bearing for reversing duty, and keep the applied load above factor A 1. One direction only: 81156 M cannot be reversed to take opposite thrust — mirror a second bearing for reversing shafts, and keep housing and shaft seats square within the ISO 104 tolerances. Press only on washer backs, never through the roller set; seat both washers against full-area square shoulders, and shim the housing cover so the minimum load (A 1) is present without clamping the rollers.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Common applications

  • slewing and turntable pivots with predominantly axial force
  • crane hook crossheads carrying pure hook thrust while the hook swivels
  • screw jack and lifting screw thrust positions under slow, steady load
  • vertical electric motor and pump shafts whose rotor weight loads one bearing

Known failure patterns

  • roller skidding and raceway glazing once the thrust falls below the catalogue minimum axial load (factor A)
  • washer back-face fretting where the seat is too narrow to support the full ring face
  • oil starvation at the sliding contact zones of large spherical roller thrust bearings on forced-feed trips
  • brinelling of washer raceways from impact or mounting force applied through the rolling elements
  • smearing at roller-raceway contacts during unloaded startup before the oil film or preload is established

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

  • At 280 mm bore the 12.5 kg washer set needs forced lubrication and controlled start-up sequencing; dry first rotation under load is the classic destruction mode for very large thrust bearings.
  • Do not substitute a thrust ball bearing of the same ISO envelope by rating alone: the cylindrical rollers of 81156 M need different minimum load and lubrication despite the shared 280×350 mm outline.
  • The separable washers are not interchangeable across series: an 811 and an 812 washer for the same bore differ in OD and height — order WS/GS parts by the full 81156 M size.
  • the 480 r/min reference speed is the thermal criterion under load, the 950 r/min limiting speed is mechanical and oil lubrication typically raises the usable figure.
  • The 680/3550 kN ratings assume flat, full-support washer seats; a housing face narrower than the 350 mm washer OD invalidates the rating through edge stress.
  • The 680/3550 kN ratings and 12500 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 11.1 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 894); mounting data — Ea/Eb raceway diameters and the minimum load factor A — appears in the running text because the structured record carries the boundary envelope only.

Frequently asked questions

Can the 81156 M take reversing thrust?

No. It carries axial load in one direction only; reversing force unloads and impacts the roller set. Use a mirrored pair of bearings for reversing shafts, with a separate arrangement for radial load.

How should a 81156 M be mounted?

Interference fit for the shaft washer, sliding fit for the housing washer, full-area square shoulders both sides, press on washer backs only, and shim the cover so the rollers turn freely while the factor-A 1 minimum load is present.

What are the dimensions and ratings of the 81156 M?

A 81156 M measures 280 mm bore × 350 mm outside diameter × 53 mm width (11.024 × 13.78 × 2.087 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: dynamic C 680 kN, static C0 3550 kN, fatigue limit Pu 275 kN, reference speed 480 r/min, limiting speed 950 r/min, mass about 12500 g. Raceway diameters Ea 288 mm / Eb 346 mm and minimum load factor A 1 guide the seat design.

How is the 81156 M designation read?

The first three digits 811 give the dimension series (light 811 series); 56 encodes the 280 mm bore (code 56 × 5); the suffix denotes the machined brass M cage. WS and GS washers of the same size can be ordered separately.

Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 11.1 cylindrical roller thrust bearings on 2026-09-27. Read our editorial & correction policy.