32208 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 32208 is a ISO 355 radial bearing sized 40 x 80 x 24.75 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | FAG |
| Bore diameter d | 40 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 80 mm |
| Width B | 24.75 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 94 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 94 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 15 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 5300 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 11200 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 550 g |
| Manufacturer designation | 32208-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 | 1.575 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 3.15 in |
| Width B | 0.974 in |
| ISO bore code | 08 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 20 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) | 7 of 36 |
| Bore above smallest 32200-series size | 23 mm |
Mounting, setting & life for 32208
Fits & mounting
- Tapered bearings are separable: press the cup square into the housing and fit the cone on the shaft — usually an interference fit on both seats in wheel/hub positions.
- Mount the cone by induction heating (max 120 °C); never strike the cage or rollers directly.
- Shaft and housing shoulders must clear the ring chamfers so the cone and cup seat fully against their faces.
Setting — the step deep-groove bearings never need
- After seating, set the assembly to a defined end play or preload with the locknut/shim arrangement; locknut torque seats the parts — it is not the final adjustment.
- General free-running positions: back the nut off while measuring with a dial indicator to a small end play (commonly around 0.05–0.15 mm for medium metric hubs — follow the OEM value).
- Pinions and stiff arrangements run a controlled preload; too much preload is the classic cause of early spalling and heat.
- Sealed factory-set units exist for specific designations — the open 32208 assumes the application sets and lubricates it.
Lubrication
Open TRBs are lubricated by the application. Fill the bearing with grease (typically around one third to one half of the free cavity — overpacking a TRB causes churning heat) and provide a relubrication path; intervals depend on contamination and temperature, not on catalogue rating alone.
Why the equivalent load matters more here
TRBs carry combined radial and axial loads, so the dynamic equivalent load P is computed with the bearing's e, X and Y factors for the actual thrust ratio — using the radial load alone over-estimates life badly.
Worked L10 life example (illustrative duty)
For roller bearings the life exponent is p = 10/3: L10h = (C/P)10/3 · 106 / (60·n). Taking an example equivalent load P = 18.8 kN (20% of C) at n = 1,500 r/min — substitute the real P from the X/Y calculation:
C = 94.0 kN → L10h ≈ 2,375 hours
Choosing a series at the same 40 mm bore
| Series | Open execution | OD × width T | C (kN) | C0 (kN) | Limiting speed (r/min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 320xx | 32008 | 68 × 19 | 63.0 | 71.0 | 12,800 |
| 302xx | 30208 | 80 × 19.75 | 75.8 | 68.0 | 8,500 |
| 322xx | 32208 | 80 × 24.75 | 94.0 | 94.0 | 11,200 |
| 332xx | 33208 | 80 × 32 | 128.0 | 132.0 | 8,500 |
| 303xx | 30308C | 90 × 25.25 | 92.0 | 87.0 | 4,200 |
| 323xx | 32308C | 90 × 35.25 | 122.0 | 140.0 | 4,200 |
| 313xx | 31308 | 90 × 25.25 | 91.1 | 81.5 | 7,500 |
Different series at the same bore are not drop-in swaps — OD, width and contact angle all change — and a cone number alone never identifies a complete set. Verify matches per the cross-reference levels guide; envelope variants are on the 40×80×24.75 envelope page.
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32208 | 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. |
| 32208-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. |
| 32208-SKF | SKF | 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 32208 model number is decoded
For a 40 mm shaft carrying combined load, FAG lists 32208 under catalogue execution 32208-XL: one open single-row tapered roller bearing in the heavy section of the 32200 family.Reading the designation: the leading 3 marks a single-row tapered roller bearing, the 2 is the ISO 355 diameter/width series (heavy section), and the last two digits encode the 40 mm bore; the 80 mm OD and 24.75 mm width follow the ISO 355 general plan. In Schaeffler notation 32208-XL is the basic X-life execution; B-suffix variants have a steeper contact angle and are not interchangeable with the base bearing. Selection arithmetic: the C0/C ratio is about 1.00 (static 94 kN against dynamic 94 kN), typical of a tapered roller sized for axial capacity, and the 15 kN fatigue load limit Pu is the equivalent-load floor used in the life calculation. Fit selection follows the rotating ring — interference on a rotating cone — and two 32208 units are required to take reversing thrust; keep the induced axial load inside the rated capacity when calculating the pair.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- automotive and light-truck wheel hubs
- industrial gearbox shafts and reducers
- differential and pinion drives
- pump and compressor 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
- roller large-end smearing against the cone rib after EP lubricant film failure
- false brinelling on idle paired sets exposed to machine vibration
- pressed-steel cage wear or fracture after prolonged running above the limiting speed
- fretting corrosion on a loose rotating shaft seat
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- On this 40 mm bore, interference and temperature rise consume clearance inside a preloaded pair; calculate the residual clearance after mounting and at operating temperature — an over-tight 32208 pair heats, loses setting control and smears the roller-rib contact.
- The 322 series at 40 mm bore (80×24.75 mm) is a wider, higher-capacity section than 30208; do not substitute without re-checking shaft shoulder diameters and pair setting.
- At the 94 kN rating of 32208, preload class changes stiffness by tens of percent but also heat generation; select light preload for the 11,200 r/min speed end and heavier preload only where moment stiffness dominates.
- 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 32208 mounting error.
- Never press both rings through the wrong element during fitting: force for an interference shaft seat goes through the cone only, or brinell marks on the 80 mm cup race release as noise within the first running hours.
- The 94/94 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 32208 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 32208?
The 32208-XL is a single-row tapered roller bearing with 40 mm bore, 80 mm outer diameter and 24.75 mm width (1.575 × 3.15 × 0.974 in) per ISO 355. From Schaeffler HR1 (2022 edition): basic dynamic load rating C 94 kN, C0 94 kN, fatigue load limit Pu 15 kN, reference speed 5,300 r/min, limiting speed 11,200 r/min, mass about 550 g. It is an open, separable bearing with a pressed-steel cage.
How does the 32208 bore code work?
The last two digits of 32208 are bore code 08, so 08 × 5 = 40 mm bore. The 80 mm OD and 24.75 mm width come from the ISO 355 dimension-series plan, shared with other tapered bearings of the same code.
What do the 32208 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 32208 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 32208 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 32208 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.