NU232E bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The NU232E is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 160 x 290 x 48 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | NTN |
| Bore diameter d | 160 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 290 mm |
| Width B | 48 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 555 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 665 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 63.5 kN |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 2100 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Manufacturer designation | NTN NU232E |
| 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 & NU200-series range
| Bore d | 6.299 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 11.417 in |
| Width B | 1.89 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 65 mm |
| Smallest bore in NU200-series | 15 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in NU200-series | 580 mm |
| Width range across NU200-series | 11–92 mm |
| Bore position in NU200-series (smallest first) | 26 of 36 |
| Bore above smallest NU200-series size | 145 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| NU232E | 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 NU232E model number is decoded
NU232E is the standard section of the NTN NU200 dimension series for a 160 mm shaft — 555 kN of basic dynamic capacity in a open bearing. The leading NU defines the rib arrangement (outer ring ribbed, inner ring ribless); the dimension-series digits and the two-digit bore code resolve to 160 mm, with 290 mm OD and 48 mm width from the ISO 15 general plan. Minimum radial load matters: an unloaded NU232E at high speed skids its rollers and smears the raceway; spring preload or the rotor weight typically covers the requirement in motors and pumps. Rating life at 555 kN C assumes clean oil and adequate film; the 63.5 kN Pu floor means contamination derating — not the C rating alone — governs adjusted life in dusty gearboxes. 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 NU232E.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- large turbine and generator rotor bearings
- wind-turbine gearbox planet and rotor shafts
- ship propulsion line shafts and reduction gears
- mining SAG/ball-mill drive shafts
Known failure patterns
- roller smearing (microwelding) at start-up before the oil film builds under insufficient radial load
- 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
- brinelling from static overload or impact during handling
- edge loading from shaft deflection beyond the 3–4 arc-minute alignment limit
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At 160 mm bore, oil-lubricated arrangements toward 2,400 r/min need positive flow and drain design; the NU232E 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.
- Do not replace NU232E with a deep-groove ball bearing on rating alone: line contact gives 555 kN radial capacity but the bearing cannot carry the thrust duty a ball bearing can and misalignment tolerance is only 3–4 arc-minutes.
- Minimum radial load is frequently missed in oversized motor and fan selections: an underloaded NU232E skids at 2,100 r/min and fails by smearing long before L10 fatigue.
- Do not replace NU232E with a deep-groove ball bearing on rating alone: line contact gives 555 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 555/665 kN ratings, 63.5 kN Pu are NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E values for NU232E (E high-capacity 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 NU232E?
NU232E is an NTN NU single-row cylindrical roller bearing to ISO 15: 160 mm bore, 290 mm OD and 48 mm width (6.299 × 11.417 × 1.89 in). From NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E: C 555 kN, C0 665 kN, Pu 63.5 kN, grease limiting speed 2,100 r/min, oil 2,400 r/min. It is open, with the high-capacity pressed-steel cage of the E execution.
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. NU232E is two integral ribs on the outer ring and a ribless, separable inner ring — a non-locating bearing that lets the shaft float axially.
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. NU232E is supplied in the standard open execution shown in the table.
Can NU232E take axial load and locate a shaft?
the NU design carries no axial load and floats axially on both sides. 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 NU232E?
Fw is the inner sub-assembly raceway/roller-set envelope diameter and Ew the outer-ring raceway diameter printed for geometric checks: Fw 195 mm. The nominal bore/OD remain 160/290 mm; Fw/Ew describe the rolling-contact path, and speeds still run to 2,100 r/min grease / 2,400 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.