32004-SKF bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

Specification table

Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.1 metric single-row TRB) · extracted 2026-09-28

Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.1 metric single-row TRB); 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.

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 32004-SKF model number is decoded

SKF 32004 X belongs to the SKF single-row tapered roller range — the 20 mm bore entry in the 32000 series, dimensioned 42 mm OD and 15 mm wide to the ISO 355 boundary plan.On the SKF nameplate, 32004 follows the ISO 355 convention: 3 for the tapered-roller type, 20 for the low-friction section, final digits 04 for the 20 mm bore. In SKF suffix language a bare 32004 is the standard execution; B marks a larger contact angle and Q or J2 mark clearance/cage variants, all quoted separately. Speed planning uses two different ceilings: 13,000 r/min thermal reference and 16,000 r/min mechanical limiting speed. Specify pairs rather than single units wherever thrust reverses: the tapered contact of 32004 generates an induced axial load under radial force, and an unpaired bearing on a reversing shaft will run slack and fret its seat. Load system: the 29.7 kN basic dynamic rating C and 27 kN static rating C0 give a C0/C balance of 0.91, and dividing C by the 20 mm bore yields 1.48 kN per millimetre of journal — a density metric that compares across families; the 2.65 kN fatigue limit Pu is the floor beneath which the adjusted-life calculation drops below acceptable L10 hours for a 20 mm shaft carrying variable duty.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• At a 20 mm bore the thin cone and cup are easily distorted by an over-tight shaft nut; check seat runout (target Ra ≤ 0.8 µm) and torque the locknut progressively — a pinched 32004 shows up as gearbox vibration long before it fails.
• The 320 series at 20 mm bore (42×15 mm) is the low-friction, higher-speed section; it carries less thrust than a 30204 of the same bore, so verify the axial load share before swapping.
• Do not mix brands or executions inside one 32004 pair — matched sets are ground for a specific setting, and pairing a SKF basic unit with a different suffix variant will not share the setting evenly.
• The tapered contact angle creates an induced axial load under pure radial force; include it in the 32004 rating calculation (and account for it in both bearings of a pair) or the unloaded bearing skids its rollers.
• Shaft and housing fillets must clear the bearing chamfer so the 15 mm-wide cup seats square; use an undercut or withdrawal groove rather than an oversized radius that locks on the ring face.
• The 29.7/27 kN ratings are SKF catalogue 17000 values for the basic execution; SKF can revise internal geometry without changing the order number, so keep the catalogue version (PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN, 2018) with the specification and re-verify for critical drives.
• SKF lists several executions of 32004 (basic, B steeper angle, Q/J2 clearance variants); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full SKF 32004 X designation when purchasing and match the execution to the mounting arrangement.