NU232 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 NU232 model number is decoded

The NTN order number NU232 denotes a 160×290×48 mm (6.299 × 11.417 × 1.89 in) cylindrical roller bearing in the NU200 family, a pressed sheet-steel cage. Numbering ties NU232 to its envelope: type code NU, series NU200, 160 mm bore; the 290×48 mm outline therefore swaps dimensionally with other ISO 15 bearings of the same code, though rib arrangements differ by prefix. Minimum radial load matters: an unloaded NU232 at high speed skids its rollers and smears the raceway; spring preload or the rotor weight typically covers the requirement in motors and pumps. Selection arithmetic: Pu 54.5 kN is the fatigue load limit feeding the adjusted-life equation, and the C0/C ratio of 1.20 (570/475 kN) shows the high-static-capacity proportioning of this 160 mm bore. Heat the inner ring to max 120 °C for the 160 mm interference fit and support the ring face square during fitting; cocking over a keyway brinells the raceway before first rotation.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• At 160 mm bore, oil-lubricated arrangements toward 2,700 r/min need positive flow and drain design; the 13400 g NU232 ring stores enough heat that grease-only duty needs a careful relubrication calculation.
• Wide (22/23) and light (10/49) executions at 160 mm bore share bore but not OD/width; check the full NU200 series code before substituting, because housing and shoulder geometry will not interchange.
• The 48 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 160 mm inner ring.
• If the shaft must be located both ways, do not use NU232 alone: pair it with a locating bearing or specify the NUP execution with the matching loose rib ring from the 2203E table.
• Do not replace NU232 with a deep-groove ball bearing on rating alone: line contact gives 475 kN radial capacity but the bearing cannot carry the thrust duty a ball bearing can and misalignment tolerance is only 3–4 arc-minutes.
• The 475/570 kN ratings, 54.5 kN Pu and 13400 g mass are NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E values for NU232 (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.