32204 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 32204 is a ISO 355 radial bearing sized 20 x 47 x 19 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Bore diameter d | 20 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 47 mm |
| Width B | 19 mm |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN available |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Operating temperature | -30 to +120 °C |
| Mass (geometry estimate) | 138 g |
| Standard | ISO 355 |
| Catalog version | iso355-geometry |
| Last verified | 2026-09-24 |
Source: ISO 15 boundary-dimensions standard · extracted 2026-09-24
Standard-interchange bearing: dimensions per ISO 15; CN clearance, P0 tolerance and a stamped-steel cage are catalogue defaults unless the supplier states otherwise, and mass is a geometry-derived estimate. Brand catalogue load ratings and limiting speeds for 32204 are being backfilled — use the inquiry form for certified values.
Dimensions in inches & 32200-series range
| Bore d | 0.787 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 1.85 in |
| Width B | 0.748 in |
| ISO bore code | 04 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 13.5 mm |
| Smallest bore in 32200-series | 20 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 32200-series | 200 mm |
| Width range across 32200-series | 19–56 mm |
| Bore position in 32200-series (smallest first) | 1 of 19 |
| Bore above smallest 32200-series size | 0 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32204 | 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 32204 model number is decoded
In the 32200-series the last two digits of 32204 encode the bore: code 04 = 20 mm (code × 5 from 04 upward). The ISO 355 envelope is 47 mm outside diameter and 19 mm total assembly width T over the separable cone and cup — 0.787 × 1.85 × 0.748 in, with a 13.5 mm radial section height. Tapered rollers carry combined radial and single-direction axial load; bidirectional thrust needs an opposed pair (X face-to-face or O back-to-back) adjusted at fit-up. With a rotating cone on a 20 mm shaft, typical catalogue practice is a k5 shaft seat with an H7 housing bore, EP lubrication and a defined end-play setting — verify against the load direction and magnitude.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- light differential pinions
- steering knuckles
- small gearbox shafts
- agricultural implement wheels
- passenger-car wheel hubs
Known failure patterns
- over-preload heat: a shim stack cut too thin drives contact stress up and seizes the cone on the seat
- under-preload end play that lets the rollers skid, producing noise and false brinelling
- water and grit pitting in unsealed hubs where the cup-cone joint acts as a debris entry path
- false brinelling from vibration while the axle is stationary during transport
- fretting corrosion on a loose shaft seat when the cone is pressed to an interference that relaxes with wear
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At 20 mm bore the small 32204 is commonly factory-adjusted in a hub unit; an after-market fit-up must reproduce the specified end play (a typical starting range of 0.02–0.10 mm at the 20 mm shaft) or the wheel runs hot within the first hundred kilometres.
- The 322 medium series at 20 mm bore (47×19 mm) gains roller length and load over the 30204 on the same OD; the wider 19 mm assembly needs a wider housing shoulder and changes the pinion offset in a differential.
- Before fitting 32204, machine the 20 mm shaft seat and 47 mm housing bore with a relief or small fillet so nothing bridges the bearing chamfer; the 19 mm-wide cone and cup only load correctly when the full faces abut, and a large radius pinches the 13.5 mm radial section.
- The 32204 cup drives into the 47 mm housing bore with a sleeve against its outer face only; pressure on the inner ring or cage transfers through the rollers and leaves indentations that become spalls within the 19 mm load zone.
- Relubrication for 32204 must reach the rib-roller end contact, not just the 20 mm bore; in a hub repack, work EP grease through the roller set until it exudes at both faces of the 19 mm-wide assembly or the sliding rib contact starves first.
- Do not swap a 32200 row for a ball bearing of the same bore: tapered rollers are heavier, slower (sliding rib contact caps the speed) and must be adjusted, but they outperform ball bearings on combined load and shock in gear and hub duty.
- Assign fits by which ring rotates: an interference shaft fit for a rotating cone; if the cup rotates instead, reverse the logic — a loose rotating ring creeps and frets its seat.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a 32204 tapered roller bearing?
A 32204 single-row metric tapered roller bearing per ISO 355 has a 20 mm bore, 47 mm outer diameter and 19 mm total assembly width (0.787 × 1.85 × 0.748 in), a 13.5 mm radial section and roughly 138 g geometry-based estimated mass; catalogue masses vary with roller and cage design.
How does the 32204 bore code work?
The last two digits of 32204 are bore code 04, giving 04 × 5 = 20 mm bore — the same convention as 6xx ball bearings, starting at code 04 (20 mm). The 47 mm OD and 19 mm width come from the ISO 355 diameter and width series, not the bore code alone.
What is the cone and cup of 32204?
Tapered roller bearings are separable: the cone is the inner ring with the tapered rollers and cage, the cup is the outer ring. 32204 denotes a matched cone-and-cup set. They are fitted separately — cone pressed on the shaft, cup in the housing — and adjusted against each other.
How is the preload or clearance of 32204 set?
At fit-up the 20 mm-bore cone is tightened against the cup while the hub is rotated, seated, then backed off to the specified end play — a typical starting range of 0.02–0.10 mm for a 20 mm bore — and locked with shims, a locknut or a spacer. Too tight overheats and seizes the rib; too loose causes skid, noise and early wear. Confirm the exact figure in the hub or axle-maker procedure.
Can 32204 take axial load in both directions?
A single 32204 takes thrust in one direction only — the roller large ends bear against the inner-ring rib under load. Bidirectional axial load requires an opposed pair: X (face-to-face) tolerates misalignment slightly better, O (back-to-back) gives a wider load centre and more moment stiffness.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog iso355-geometry on 2026-09-24. Read our editorial & correction policy.