NU252 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 NU252 model number is decoded

For pure radial duty on a 260 mm shaft NTN supplies NU252: two integral ribs on the outer ring and a ribless, separable inner ring; the open execution is rated 1,300 r/min on grease and 1,600 r/min on oil. On the NTN nameplate NU states which ring carries the ribs, which determines whether NU252 floats or locates; the numeric remainder is the ISO 15 series and 260 mm bore reference, not a fit or clearance instruction. Line contact between rollers and raceways gives NU252 high radial capacity but no tolerance for misalignment: beyond roughly 3–4 arc-minutes the roller ends edge-load and fatigue accelerates. The 4.9 kN-per-mm-bore figure (1270 kN over 260 mm) lets a NU252 interchange candidate be screened quickly against the same-envelope ball or roller alternatives. After mounting verify the outer ring slides axially by hand at ambient temperature; a stuck float ring in a NU252 non-locating position preloads the bearing when the shaft grows.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• At 260 mm bore, oil-lubricated arrangements toward 1,600 r/min need positive flow and drain design; the 65600 g NU252 ring stores enough heat that grease-only duty needs a careful relubrication calculation.
• Do not replace NU252 with a deep-groove ball bearing on rating alone: line contact gives 1270 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 EA high-capacity roller complement changes the load figure versus the basic execution of the same number; the 1270/1660 kN pair here belongs to NU252 as printed, not to the bare size.
• Wide (22/23) and light (10/49) executions at 260 mm bore share bore but not OD/width; check the full NU200 series code before substituting, because housing and shoulder geometry will not interchange.
• Wide (22/23) and light (10/49) executions at 260 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 1270/1660 kN ratings, 137 kN Pu and 65600 g mass are NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E values for NU252 (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.