32218 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 32218 is a ISO 355 radial bearing sized 90 x 160 x 42.5 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | FAG |
| Bore diameter d | 90 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 160 mm |
| Width B | 42.5 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 310 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 360 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 56 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 2850 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 5300 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 3430 g |
| Manufacturer designation | 32218-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 | 3.543 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 6.299 in |
| Width B | 1.673 in |
| ISO bore code | 18 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 35 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) | 17 of 36 |
| Bore above smallest 32200-series size | 73 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32218 | 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. |
| 32218-DF | SKF | verify Commonly quoted cross reference; confirm against the target catalog before ordering. | Model-number interchange per ISO 15; confirm dimensions, sealing and ratings in the supplier catalogue. |
| 32218-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 32218 model number is decoded
32218 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).Numbering ties the bearing to its envelope: 32218 means tapered-roller type 3, heavy section series 2, 90 mm bore — which is why the 160×42.5 mm outline swaps dimensionally with other ISO 355 bearings of the same code. In Schaeffler notation 32218-XL is the basic X-life execution; B-suffix variants have a steeper contact angle and are not interchangeable with the base bearing. Speed planning uses two different ceilings: 2,850 r/min thermal reference and 5,300 r/min mechanical limiting speed. Mounting practice for 32218: the rotating cone takes the interference fit (k5 on a 90 mm shaft), the cup slides for axial location, and reversing-thrust duty demands a paired O/X set rather than one bearing.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- large process pump and compressor shafts
- rolling-mill auxiliary drives
- crane sheave and hoist gearboxes
- paper-machine and printing rolls
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
- preload loss as the mounted pair relaxes, letting rollers skid and smear the raceways
- axial overload spalling at the roller-rib contact beyond the single-row thrust rating
- cage pocket scoring when the bearing starts cold with grease of too-high base-oil viscosity
- electrical pitting on VFD-driven shafts without grounding protection
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Mount the 90 mm bore 32218 by induction heating of the cone (max 120 °C — the pressed-steel cage sets the ceiling, not the steel); driving it home through the cup or rollers brinells the tapered raceway.
- The 322 series at 90 mm bore (160×42.5 mm) is a wider, higher-capacity section than 30218; do not substitute without re-checking shaft shoulder diameters and pair setting.
- Do not mix brands or executions inside one 32218 pair — matched sets are ground for a specific setting, and pairing a FAG 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 32218 rating calculation (and account for it in both bearings of a pair) or the unloaded bearing skids its rollers.
- Catalogue reference speed and limiting speed are different limits: the 2,850 r/min reference is a thermal criterion under load, while the 5,300 r/min limiting value is the mechanical ceiling — observe both.
- The 310/360 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 32218 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 32218?
The 32218-XL is a single-row tapered roller bearing with 90 mm bore, 160 mm outer diameter and 42.5 mm width (3.543 × 6.299 × 1.673 in) per ISO 355. From Schaeffler HR1 (2022 edition): basic dynamic load rating C 310 kN, C0 360 kN, fatigue load limit Pu 56 kN, reference speed 2,850 r/min, limiting speed 5,300 r/min, mass about 3430 g. It is an open, separable bearing with a pressed-steel cage.
How does the 32218 bore code work?
The last two digits of 32218 are bore code 18, so 18 × 5 = 90 mm bore. The 160 mm OD and 42.5 mm width come from the ISO 355 dimension-series plan, shared with other tapered bearings of the same code.
What do the 32218 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 32218 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 32218 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 32218 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.