NU2218EA bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The NU2218EA is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 90 x 160 x 40 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 | 40 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 286 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 315 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 35.5 kN |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 3500 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 3200 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NTN NU2218EA |
| 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 & NU2200-series range
| Bore d | 3.543 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 6.299 in |
| Width B | 1.575 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 35 mm |
| Smallest bore in NU2200-series | 17 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in NU2200-series | 1030 mm |
| Width range across NU2200-series | 16–272 mm |
| Bore position in NU2200-series (smallest first) | 16 of 39 |
| Bore above smallest NU2200-series size | 73 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| NU2218EA | 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 NU2218EA model number is decoded
The NTN order number NU2218EA denotes a 90×160×40 mm (3.543 × 6.299 × 1.575 in) cylindrical roller bearing in the NU2200 family, the EA high-capacity pressed sheet-steel cage. Numbering ties NU2218EA to its envelope: type code NU, series NU2200, 90 mm bore; the 160×40 mm outline therefore swaps dimensionally with other ISO 15 bearings of the same code, though rib arrangements differ by prefix. With C 286 kN and C0 315 kN (C0/C ≈ 1.10) the bearing is proportioned for heavy radial load; the NU design carries no axial load and floats axially on both sides. Thermal planning around the 3,500 r/min grease ceiling should include the cage type (the EA high-capacity pressed sheet-steel cage) and oil-flow option to 4,900 r/min for continuously high-duty 90 mm positions. On NU arrangements confirm which ring is separable before heating: forcing the ribbed ring off over the roller complement damages the cage and rib faces.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- heavy industrial gearbox and reducer shafts
- large pump, turbine and compressor rotors
- rolling-mill auxiliary drive shafts
- crusher and vibrating-screen 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
- electrical pitting on VFD-driven motor shafts without grounding protection
- hard-particle indentation of raceways in unfiltered oil or open arrangements
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.
- 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 40 mm-wide cavity.
- The NU rib arrangement is not interchangeable with another prefix on the same 90 mm seat: outer ring ribbed, inner ring ribless. Swapping NU for NJ changes axial location behaviour even though the 160×40 mm envelope matches.
- The EA high-capacity roller complement changes the load figure versus the basic execution of the same number; the 286/315 kN pair here belongs to NU2218EA as printed, not to the bare size.
- Minimum radial load is frequently missed in oversized motor and fan selections: an underloaded NU2218EA skids at 3,500 r/min and fails by smearing long before L10 fatigue.
- The 286/315 kN ratings, 35.5 kN Pu and 3200 g mass are NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E values for NU2218EA (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 NU2218EA?
NU2218EA is an NTN NU single-row cylindrical roller bearing to ISO 15: 90 mm bore, 160 mm OD and 40 mm width (3.543 × 6.299 × 1.575 in). From NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E: C 286 kN, C0 315 kN, Pu 35.5 kN, grease limiting speed 3,500 r/min, oil 4,900 r/min, mass about 3200 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. NU2218EA 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. This page's bearing carries the EA pressed-steel-cage execution.
Can NU2218EA 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 NU2218EA?
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 3,500 r/min grease / 4,900 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.