33208 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 33208 is a ISO 355 radial bearing sized 40 x 80 x 32 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 40 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 80 mm |
| Width B | 32 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 128 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 132 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 15 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 6300 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 8500 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 730 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 33208 |
| Standard | ISO 355 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.1 metric single-row TRB |
| Last verified | 2026-09-26 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.1 metric single-row TRB) · extracted 2026-09-26
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.
Dimensions in inches & 33200-series range
| Bore d | 1.575 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 3.15 in |
| Width B | 1.26 in |
| ISO bore code | 08 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 20 mm |
| Smallest bore in 33200-series | 25 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 33200-series | 180 mm |
| Width range across 33200-series | 22–63 mm |
| Bore position in 33200-series (smallest first) | 6 of 18 |
| Bore above smallest 33200-series size | 15 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33208 | ISO 15 | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | ISO 355 boundary-dimension envelope; brand-specific OEM equivalents (NSK/FAG/NTN) pending multi-source data. |
| 33208-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 40×80×32 mm envelope per ISO 15; catalogue load ratings differ by >10% — re-rate the application before substituting. |
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 33208 model number is decoded
In SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000, 33208 appears as SKF 33208: an open, single-row tapered roller bearing in the medium wide section of the 33200 dimension series, supplied with a pressed-steel cage as standard.On the SKF nameplate, 33208 follows the ISO 355 convention: 3 for the tapered-roller type, 32 for the medium wide section, final digits 08 for the 40 mm bore. In SKF suffix language a bare 33208 is the standard execution; B marks a larger contact angle and Q or J2 mark clearance/cage variants, all quoted separately. At 6,300 r/min reference speed the 20.0 mm-section 33208 is governed thermally by preload and lubricant flow; grease or oil selection should be made against that value, with 8,500 r/min as the mechanical ceiling. Because the contact line is tapered, one 33208 reacts thrust in a single direction; bidirectional shafts need an O or X pair, and a rotating cone on a 40 mm shaft typically takes a k5 seat with an H7 housing bore.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- axle-boxes in material-handling equipment
- automotive and light-truck wheel hubs
- industrial gearbox shafts and reducers
- differential and pinion drives
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
- axial overload spalling at the roller-rib contact beyond the single-row thrust rating
- preload loss as the mounted pair relaxes, letting rollers skid and smear the raceways
- cage pocket scoring when the bearing starts cold with grease of too-high base-oil viscosity
- mounting score marks when the cone is cocked over the shaft keyway or a burr
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 33208 pair heats, loses setting control and smears the roller-rib contact.
- The 332 series at 40 mm bore (80×32 mm) is the wide medium-section choice — more capacity than 30208 in the same OD class but a wider footprint; re-check housing width and pair setting before substituting.
- The tapered contact angle creates an induced axial load under pure radial force; include it in the 33208 rating calculation (and account for it in both bearings of a pair) or the unloaded bearing skids its rollers.
- The tapered contact angle creates an induced axial load under pure radial force; include it in the 33208 rating calculation (and account for it in both bearings of a pair) or the unloaded bearing skids its rollers.
- The 730 g mass and 32 mm width mean spacer and abutment faces must be square to the axis within the bearing's own P0 tolerance; a tilted spacer tilts the contact angle and concentrates load on one rib of 33208.
- The 128/132 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 33208 (basic, B steeper angle, Q/J2 clearance variants); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full SKF 33208 designation when purchasing and match the execution to the mounting arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of 33208?
The SKF 33208 is a single-row tapered roller bearing with 40 mm bore, 80 mm outer diameter and 32 mm width (1.575 × 3.15 × 1.26 in) per ISO 355. From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: basic dynamic load rating C 128 kN, C0 132 kN, fatigue load limit Pu 15 kN, reference speed 6,300 r/min, limiting speed 8,500 r/min, mass about 730 g. It is an open, separable bearing with a pressed-steel cage.
How does the 33208 bore code work?
The last two digits of 33208 are bore code 08, so 08 × 5 = 40 mm bore. The 80 mm OD and 32 mm width come from the ISO 355 dimension-series plan, shared with other tapered bearings of the same code.
What do the 33208 series and basic execution designations mean?
The leading 3 marks a single-row tapered roller bearing; the second digit 32 is the ISO 355 series (medium wide section). The SKF catalogue lists the ISO 355 dimension-series code after the bare number. A steeper-contact-angle variant (B suffix) is a different order number and is not interchangeable with the basic execution.
Can a single 33208 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 33208 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 33208 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 SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.1 metric single-row TRB on 2026-09-26. Read our editorial & correction policy.