NU356 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The NU356 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 280 x 580 x 108 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | NTN |
| Bore diameter d | 280 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 580 mm |
| Width B | 108 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 2010 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 2540 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 200 kN |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 1100 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 139000 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NTN NU356 |
| 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 & NU300-series range
| Bore d | 11.024 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 22.835 in |
| Width B | 4.252 in |
| ISO bore code | 56 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 150 mm |
| Smallest bore in NU300-series | 17 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in NU300-series | 620 mm |
| Width range across NU300-series | 14–109 mm |
| Bore position in NU300-series (smallest first) | 33 of 34 |
| Bore above smallest NU300-series size | 263 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| NU356 | ISO 15 | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | ISO 15 boundary-dimension envelope; brand-specific OEM equivalents (NSK/FAG/NTN) pending multi-source data. |
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 NU356 model number is decoded
NU356 is the standard section of the NTN NU300 dimension series for a 280 mm shaft — 2010 kN of basic dynamic capacity in a 139000 g, 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 280 mm, with 580 mm OD and 108 mm width from the ISO 15 general plan. Minimum radial load matters: an unloaded NU356 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 2010 kN C assumes clean oil and adequate film; the 200 kN Pu floor means contamination derating — not the C rating alone — governs adjusted life in dusty gearboxes. 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
- mining SAG/ball-mill drive shafts
- offshore drawworks and winch drums
- heavy press and large gearbox main shafts
- rolling-mill work-roll and backup-roll positions
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
- hard-particle indentation of raceways in unfiltered oil or open arrangements
- rolling-contact fatigue after the catalogue L10 life is exceeded
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At 280 mm bore, oil-lubricated arrangements toward 1,200 r/min need positive flow and drain design; the 139000 g NU356 ring stores enough heat that grease-only duty needs a careful relubrication calculation.
- Minimum radial load is frequently missed in oversized motor and fan selections: an underloaded NU356 skids at 1,100 r/min and fails by smearing long before L10 fatigue.
- The 150.0 mm section at 280 mm bore leaves a narrow oil path; with the standard cage the relubrication groove and oil-level design must keep grease from churning in the 108 mm-wide cavity.
- Do not replace NU356 with a deep-groove ball bearing on rating alone: line contact gives 2010 kN radial capacity but the bearing cannot carry the thrust duty a ball bearing can and misalignment tolerance is only 3–4 arc-minutes.
- Do not replace NU356 with a deep-groove ball bearing on rating alone: line contact gives 2010 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 2010/2540 kN ratings, 200 kN Pu and 139000 g mass are NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E values for NU356 (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.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of NU356?
NU356 is an NTN NU single-row cylindrical roller bearing to ISO 15: 280 mm bore, 580 mm OD and 108 mm width (11.024 × 22.835 × 4.252 in). From NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E: C 2010 kN, C0 2540 kN, Pu 200 kN, grease limiting speed 1,100 r/min, oil 1,200 r/min, mass about 139000 g. It is open, with a 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. NU356 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. NU356 is supplied in the standard open execution shown in the table.
Can NU356 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 NU356?
Fw is the inner sub-assembly raceway/roller-set envelope diameter and Ew the outer-ring raceway diameter printed for geometric checks: Fw 362 mm, Ew 498 mm. The nominal bore/OD remain 280/580 mm; Fw/Ew describe the rolling-contact path, and speeds still run to 1,100 r/min grease / 1,200 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.