N218EA bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The N218EA is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 90 x 160 x 30 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | NTN |
| Bore diameter d | 90 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 160 mm |
| Width B | 30 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 215 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 217 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 24.7 kN |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 3900 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 2370 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NTN N218EA |
| Standard | ISO 15 |
| Catalog version | NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E |
| Last verified | 2026-10-01 |
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.
Dimensions in inches & N200-series range
| Bore d | 3.543 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 6.299 in |
| Width B | 1.181 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 35 mm |
| Smallest bore in N200-series | 17 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in N200-series | 580 mm |
| Width range across N200-series | 12–92 mm |
| Bore position in N200-series (smallest first) | 16 of 35 |
| Bore above smallest N200-series size | 73 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| N218EA | ISO 15 | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | ISO 15 boundary-dimension envelope; standard interchange — confirm clearance class and precision with the supplier. |
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 N218EA model number is decoded
The NTN order number N218EA denotes a 90×160×30 mm (3.543 × 6.299 × 1.181 in) cylindrical roller bearing in the N200 family, the EA high-capacity pressed sheet-steel cage. On the NTN nameplate N states which ring carries the ribs, which determines whether N218EA floats or locates; the numeric remainder is the ISO 15 series and 90 mm bore reference, not a fit or clearance instruction. The 35.0 mm radial section ((160−90)/2) frames the roller complement; capacity per millimetre of bore is about 2.4 kN/mm before application factors. Thermal planning around the 3,900 r/min grease ceiling should include the cage type (the EA high-capacity pressed sheet-steel cage) and oil-flow option to 5,500 r/min for continuously high-duty 90 mm positions. Housing and shaft fillets must clear the ring chamfers of N218EA; an oversized radius locks the ring on its face and tilts the 30 mm-wide seat.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- cement and mining conveyor drive pulleys
- heavy industrial gearbox and reducer shafts
- large pump, turbine and compressor rotors
- rolling-mill auxiliary drive shafts
Known failure patterns
- inner-ring raceway spalling from overload in the line-contact Hertzian zone
- cage wear accelerated when the EA high-capacity roller complement runs continuously above its thermal balance
- roller-end and raceway scoring from inadequate oil flow under heavy radial load
- rolling-contact fatigue after the catalogue L10 life is exceeded
- false brinelling on standby machines exposed to external vibration
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.
- Do not replace N218EA with a deep-groove ball bearing on rating alone: line contact gives 215 kN radial capacity but the bearing cannot carry the thrust duty a ball bearing can and misalignment tolerance is only 3–4 arc-minutes.
- Never press either ring through the roller complement when fitting: mounting force goes through the ring faces, or the 160 mm race brinells and releases as vibration within hours.
- The N rib arrangement is not interchangeable with another prefix on the same 90 mm seat: inner ring ribbed, outer ring ribless. Swapping NU for NJ changes axial location behaviour even though the 160×30 mm envelope matches.
- The 35.0 mm section at 90 mm bore leaves a narrow oil path; with the EA pressed-steel-cage cage the relubrication groove and oil-level design must keep grease from churning in the 30 mm-wide cavity.
- The 215/217 kN ratings, 24.7 kN Pu and 2370 g mass are NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E values for N218EA (EA pressed-steel-cage 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.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of N218EA?
N218EA is an NTN N single-row cylindrical roller bearing to ISO 15: 90 mm bore, 160 mm OD and 30 mm width (3.543 × 6.299 × 1.181 in). From NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E: C 215 kN, C0 217 kN, Pu 24.7 kN, grease limiting speed 3,900 r/min, oil 5,500 r/min, mass about 2370 g. It is open, with the EA high-capacity pressed sheet-steel cage.
What is the difference between NU, NJ, NUP, N and NF cylindrical roller bearings?
The prefix states the rib arrangement: NU has two outer-ring ribs and a ribless inner ring (float, no axial load); NJ adds ribs for one-direction location; NUP adds a loose L-ring to locate both directions; N has two inner-ring ribs and a separable outer ring; NF has one rib per ring for one-direction guidance. N218EA is two integral ribs on the inner ring and a ribless separable outer ring — equivalent float behaviour with the separable ring on the housing side.
What do the EA, E and ＊ suffixes mean on NTN cylindrical roller bearings?
EA is NTN's high-capacity design with a pressed sheet-steel cage and optimised roller complement in the same ISO 15 envelope; E marks the high-capacity design at the larger bores; the ＊ symbol printed before the code in the NTN catalogue marks the ULTAGE new-generation specification and is not typed as part of the order number. This page's bearing carries the EA pressed-steel-cage execution.
Can N218EA take axial load and locate a shaft?
the N design is non-locating like NU but floats with the separable outer ring in the housing. Provide axial location with an adjacent locating bearing (angular-contact, deep-groove or a paired NJ/NUP set).
What do Fw and Ew mean for N218EA?
Fw is the inner sub-assembly raceway/roller-set envelope diameter and Ew the outer-ring raceway diameter printed for geometric checks: Fw 107 mm, Ew 145 mm. The nominal bore/OD remain 90/160 mm; Fw/Ew describe the rolling-contact path, and speeds still run to 3,900 r/min grease / 5,500 r/min oil.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E on 2026-10-01. Read our editorial & correction policy.