32204 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 32204 is a ISO 355 radial bearing sized 20 x 47 x 19.25 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | FAG |
| Bore diameter d | 20 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 47 mm |
| Width B | 19.25 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 40.5 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 36.5 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 5.5 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 9700 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 20200 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 165 g |
| Manufacturer designation | 32204-XL |
| Standard | ISO 355 |
| Catalog version | Schaeffler HR1 (2022 ed.), Tapered roller bearings DIN/ISO 355 |
| Last verified | 2026-09-26 |
Source: catalog reference (Schaeffler HR1 (2022 ed.), Tapered roller bearings DIN/ISO 355) · extracted 2026-09-26
Parameters extracted from the official FAG Rolling Bearings catalogue (Schaeffler HR1 (2022 ed.), Tapered roller bearings DIN/ISO 355); FAG® is a trademark of Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized FAG/Schaeffler distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at schaeffler.com.
Dimensions in inches & 32200-series range
| Bore d | 0.787 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 1.85 in |
| Width B | 0.758 in |
| ISO bore code | 04 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 13.5 mm |
| Smallest bore in 32200-series | 17 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 32200-series | 580 mm |
| Width range across 32200-series | 17.25–159 mm |
| Bore position in 32200-series (smallest first) | 2 of 36 |
| Bore above smallest 32200-series size | 3 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; standard interchange — confirm clearance class and precision with the supplier. |
| 32204-NTN | NTN | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Identical ISO 15 envelope, seal and ratings band — standard interchange; re-verify precision class and clearance per 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 32204 model number is decoded
32204 is a single-row tapered roller bearing in the ISO 32200 dimension series: a separable cone-and-cup design for combined radial and one-direction axial load, listed by FAG in Schaeffler HR1 (2022 edition).Digit by digit, 32204 reads as bearing type 3 (single-row tapered roller), heavy section series 2, and bore reference 04 resolving to 20 mm; 47 mm OD and 19.25 mm width are the matching ISO 355 boundary values. In Schaeffler notation 32204-XL is the basic X-life execution; B-suffix variants have a steeper contact angle and are not interchangeable with the base bearing. At 9,700 r/min reference speed the 13.5 mm-section 32204 is governed thermally by preload and lubricant flow; grease or oil selection should be made against that value, with 20,200 r/min as the mechanical ceiling. Specify pairs rather than single units wherever thrust reverses: the tapered contact of 32204 generates an induced axial load under radial force, and an unpaired bearing on a reversing shaft will run slack and fret its seat.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- power-tool gear heads
- small automotive wheel hubs and trailer axles
- light-duty gearbox input/output shafts
- electric-motor pinion shafts
Known failure patterns
- cup or cone misalignment when the separable rings are not seated square during mounting
- loose cup rotation in the housing when the specified press fit is not achieved
- thermal preload runaway in an O-arrangement pair when inner-ring heat expands the setting
- uneven load sharing in a pair when spacer faces are not parallel to the bore
- pressed-steel cage wear or fracture after prolonged running above the limiting speed
- rib-roller contact scoring from loss of the EP additive film
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 32204 shows up as gearbox vibration long before it fails.
- The 322 series at 20 mm bore (47×19.25 mm) is a wider, higher-capacity section than 30204; do not substitute without re-checking shaft shoulder diameters and pair setting.
- O (back-to-back) pairs are stiffer against moments, X (face-to-face) pairs tolerate misalignment and thermal growth better; choosing the arrangement from the 2D drawing rather than the actual shaft thermal expansion is a common 32204 mounting error.
- A single 32204 cannot locate the shaft axially in both directions; mounting it singly on a reversing-thrust shaft leaves one direction uncontrolled — always use an O or X matched pair for bidirectional location.
- Open 32204 units need application-supplied sealing and a defined EP lubricant supply; the roller-rib contact is the first to fail when the additive film breaks down.
- The 40.5/36.5 kN ratings are Schaeffler HR1 values for the X-life execution; the -XL suffix denotes the premium grade and is part of the order designation, so quote it in full when purchasing.
- Schaeffler lists 32204 in the X-life basic execution; variant executions with -B or other suffixes are separate order numbers and are not interchangeable with the basic X-life bearing.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of 32204?
The 32204-XL is a single-row tapered roller bearing with 20 mm bore, 47 mm outer diameter and 19.25 mm width (0.787 × 1.85 × 0.758 in) per ISO 355. From Schaeffler HR1 (2022 edition): basic dynamic load rating C 40.5 kN, C0 36.5 kN, fatigue load limit Pu 5.5 kN, reference speed 9,700 r/min, limiting speed 20,200 r/min, mass about 165 g. It is an open, separable bearing with a pressed-steel cage.
How does the 32204 bore code work?
The last two digits of 32204 are bore code 04, so 04 × 5 = 20 mm bore. The 47 mm OD and 19.25 mm width come from the ISO 355 dimension-series plan, shared with other tapered bearings of the same code.
What do the 32204 series and X-life execution designations mean?
The leading 3 marks a single-row tapered roller bearing; the second digit 2 is the ISO 355 series (heavy section). The FAG -XL suffix denotes X-life premium grade; the ISO 355 series code is interchangeable with other brands. A steeper-contact-angle variant (B suffix) is a different order number and is not interchangeable with the basic execution.
Can a single 32204 take axial load in both directions?
No — one single-row tapered roller bearing reacts thrust in one direction only, and under radial load its contact angle induces an axial force. Use two bearings as a matched pair: O (back-to-back) for a rigid, moment-resisting arrangement, X (face-to-face) where thermal expansion must be tolerated, or tandem where one-direction thrust is shared.
How does 32204 compare with a ball bearing of the same bore?
A tapered roller bearing has line contact and a steep contact angle: much higher combined axial-plus-radial capacity and shock resistance than a ball bearing of the same bore, at the cost of speed, one-direction thrust, mandatory pairing for reversing loads and a minimum axial load requirement. A ball bearing cannot be dropped into a combined-load 32204 position and vice versa — verify load direction, Fa/Fr ratio and speed before substituting.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog Schaeffler HR1 (2022 ed.), Tapered roller bearings DIN/ISO 355 on 2026-09-26. Read our editorial & correction policy.