N218 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

Specification table

Source: catalog reference (NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E) · extracted 2026-10-01

Parameters extracted from the official NTN Ball and Roller Bearings catalogue (NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E); NTN® is a trademark of NTN Corporation, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized NTN distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at ntnglobal.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 N218 model number is decoded

For pure radial duty on a 90 mm shaft NTN supplies N218: two integral ribs on the inner ring and a ribless separable outer ring; the open execution is rated 4,300 r/min on grease and 5,000 r/min on oil. Numbering ties N218 to its envelope: type code N, series N200, 90 mm bore; the 160×30 mm outline therefore swaps dimensionally with other ISO 15 bearings of the same code, though rib arrangements differ by prefix. the bare number is the standard-capacity open execution with the normal pressed-steel cage; the ＊ symbol printed before the number in 2203E marks the ULTAGE new-generation specification — upgraded material/geometry and longer rating life, not part of the order code; quote the full N218 designation when purchasing. Equivalent-load planning treats N218 as a pure radial bearing: keep P below 169 kN at the required L10, and let a paired angular-contact or thrust part carry any sustained axial component. Mount the separable inner ring + roller assembly on the shaft first and slide the outer ring into the housing; never press the outer ring through the rollers of N218.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• Induction-heat the 90 mm inner ring (max 120 °C) and mount it before fitting the outer ring; the ring mass makes square guidance essential — driving through the rollers brinells the 160 mm raceway.
• If the shaft must be located both ways, do not use N218 alone: pair it with a locating bearing or specify the NUP execution with the matching loose rib ring from the 2203E table.
• Wide (22/23) and light (10/49) executions at 90 mm bore share bore but not OD/width; check the full N200 series code before substituting, because housing and shoulder geometry will not interchange.
• The 30 mm width and abutment faces must be square to the axis; a tilted spacer concentrates load across the roller set and shows as uneven raceway polish on the 90 mm inner ring.
• The 30 mm width and abutment faces must be square to the axis; a tilted spacer concentrates load across the roller set and shows as uneven raceway polish on the 90 mm inner ring.
• The 169/178 kN ratings, 20.3 kN Pu and 2250 g mass are NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E values for N218 (standard execution); other makes sharing the ISO 15 envelope revise internal geometry without changing the order number, so keep the 2203E reference with the specification for critical drives.