AXW15 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The AXW15 is a ISO 3031 radial bearing sized 15 x 31 x 3.2 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 15 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 31 mm |
| Width B | 3.2 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 10.4 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 37.5 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 4.3 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 4800 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 9500 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 10 g |
| Manufacturer designation | AXW 15 |
| Standard | ISO 3031 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 12.2 needle roller thrust bearings with a centring flange |
| Last verified | 2026-09-27 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 12.2 needle roller thrust bearings with a centring flange) · extracted 2026-09-27
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 12.2 needle roller thrust bearings with a centring flange); SKF® and SKF Explorer® are trademarks of AB SKF, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized SKF distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at skf.com.
Dimensions in inches & AXW-series range
| Bore d | 0.591 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 1.22 in |
| Width B | 0.126 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 8 mm |
| Smallest bore in AXW-series | 10 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in AXW-series | 68 mm |
| Width range across AXW-series | 3.2–4.2 mm |
| Bore position in AXW-series (smallest first) | 3 of 9 |
| Bore above smallest AXW-series size | 5 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the AXW15 model number is decoded
In the AXW needle roller thrust bearings with centring flange, AXW 15 denotes the spigot-centred execution: the flange seats in a matching housing register so the needle set stays concentric without piloting on the shaft, and the opposite raceway is a separate LS/AS washer or a hardened machine face. In AXW 15 the 15 selects the shaft clearance, while the built-in 21 mm spigot (B1 3.5 mm high) locates in a housing register; the opposing raceway stays a separately ordered LS/AS washer. The integrated washer carries a 21 mm centring spigot (3.5 mm flange height) that locates the whole unit in a matching housing register bore — the 15 mm bore clears the shaft and does no radial piloting. One direction only: AXW 15 cannot be reversed to take opposite thrust — mirror a second bearing for reversing shafts, and keep housing and shaft seats square within the ISO 104 tolerances. Mounting: locate the 21 mm spigot in the housing register bore (at least 3.5 mm deep), pass the 15 mm bore over the shaft without forcing a pilot fit, and fit a separate LS/AS washer or a hardened 58–64 HRC face on the opposite side.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- material-handling swivel joints using the spigot as a built-in housing pilot
- transmission shafts where a one-piece spigot-centred thrust unit replaces a loose cage-and-washer stack at the housing register
- automotive selector and shift mechanisms needing a pre-centred flanged thrust support in a shallow housing bore
- agricultural gear drives assembled through a housing cover, where the spigot keeps the needle set concentric until the cover is bolted
Known failure patterns
- opposing-track scoring when the separate LS/AS washer or hardened 58–64 HRC face is missing or undersized
- roller skidding and raceway glazing once the thrust falls below the catalogue minimum axial load (factor A)
- instant raceway scoring when the assembly runs against a face below 58 HRC or with a rough finish
- hard-particle indentation where oil or grease filtration is inadequate
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At 15 mm bore the 21 mm spigot lip is thin enough to bend with pliers — handle AXW 15 by the washer face, never by the flange.
- AXW is not an ISO-standardized interchangeable outline for every maker — check the 31×3.2 mm envelope and the 21 mm spigot before cross-brand substitution.
- The 10.4 kN rating still requires a hardened opposing face: the integrated washer is one raceway only, and the other track is a separate LS/AS washer or a 58–64 HRC machine face.
- The spigot pilots in the housing register, not on the shaft: turning the 15 mm bore into a tight pilot fit, or omitting the 21 mm register bore, defeats the centring function of AXW 15.
- the 4,800 r/min reference speed is the thermal criterion under load, limiting speed 9,500 r/min; the open needle set needs the housing to keep grit out.
- The 10.4/37.5 kN ratings and 10 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 12.2 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 912); mounting data — Ea/Eb raceway diameters, the flange register and the load factor — appears in the running text because the structured record carries the boundary envelope only.
Frequently asked questions
How is the AXW 15 designation read?
AXW marks the spigot-flanged needle roller thrust bearing and 15 is the bore in millimetres; the series plan fixes the 31 mm OD and 3.2 mm overall height, D1 21 mm is the spigot, and the AXK 1528 needle set runs inside.
Does the AXW 15 still need hardened faces?
The integrated spigot washer is one hardened raceway, but the opposing face is the application's responsibility — fit a separate LS/AS washer or harden it to 58–64 HRC over Ea 17–Eb 27 mm.
How is an AXW bearing mounted?
Locate the 21 mm spigot in the housing register bore, pass the 15 mm bore over the shaft without a pilot fit, fit a separate LS/AS washer or a 58–64 HRC face on the opposite side, and press via the washer back only.
What are the dimensions and ratings of the AXW 15?
A AXW 15 measures 15 mm bore × 31 mm outside diameter × 3.2 mm width (0.591 × 1.22 × 0.126 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: dynamic C 10.4 kN, static C0 37.5 kN, fatigue limit Pu 4.3 kN, reference speed 4,800 r/min, limiting speed 9,500 r/min, mass about 10 g. Centring spigot D1 21 mm, spigot height B1 3.5 mm, contact band Ea 17–27 mm.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 12.2 needle roller thrust bearings with a centring flange on 2026-09-27. Read our editorial & correction policy.