32968-DF bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 32968-DF is a ISO 355 radial bearing sized 340 x 460 x 152 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 340 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 460 mm |
| Width B | 152 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 1995 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 4800 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 390 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 700 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 1200 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 73000 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 32968/DF |
| Standard | ISO 355 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.3-8.8 TRB variants |
| Last verified | 2026-09-29 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.3-8.8 TRB variants) · extracted 2026-09-29
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.3-8.8 TRB variants); 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 & matched-df-series range
| Bore d | 13.386 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 18.11 in |
| Width B | 5.984 in |
| ISO bore code | 68 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 60 mm |
| Smallest bore in matched-df-series | 25 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in matched-df-series | 540 mm |
| Width range across matched-df-series | 34.5–280 mm |
| Bore position in matched-df-series (smallest first) | 34 of 35 |
| Bore above smallest matched-df-series size | 315 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32968 | 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 32968-DF model number is decoded
Dividing the pair C 1995 kN by the 340 mm bore gives 5.87 kN per millimetre of journal for the complete arrangement — a density metric that compares matched sets across the face-to-face (X) matched pair family. Cross-section geometry: the 60.0 mm half-section ((460−340)/2) places the roller pitch diameter near 400 mm, and the 152 mm axial width sets the abutment depth — geometry that fixes the contact angle behaviour of 32968-DF. Thermal behaviour of the pair: heat generated in the 340 mm bore cones flows along the shaft and changes the setting; the /DF clearance class is chosen for the catalogue speed range 700–1,200 r/min, so re-select the clearance class if the application runs hotter. A matched /DF set needs no setting adjustment at mounting: the clearance is built in; the assembler's job is clean seats, correct fits (m6 on a 340 mm rotating shaft) and square abutments.32968-DF (SKF 32968/DF) is the face-to-face (X) matched pair matched-set choice for a 340 mm shaft: a pair of tapered roller bearings whose combined envelope is 460×152 mm, delivered ready to mount with controlled internal clearance.Numbering ties the set to its envelope: base 32968 fixes the 340 mm bore and 460 mm OD of each bearing, the /DF suffix fixes the arrangement and setting, and the catalogue 152 mm width is the combined pair dimension. Face-to-face matching puts the small rib ends outward, so the pressure cones cross inside the pair; 32968-DF therefore runs cooler where the shaft expands axially, at the price of lower moment stiffness than an O-arrangement of the same 340 mm bore.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- large industrial mixer shafts
- offshore winch and drawworks drums
- rolling-mill roll-neck bearings
- marine propulsion gearboxes
Known failure patterns
- uneven load sharing in a pair when spacer faces are not parallel to the bore
- preload loss as the mounted pair relaxes, letting rollers skid and smear the raceways
- pressed-steel cage wear or fracture after prolonged running above the limiting speed
- brinelling from pressing the cone or cup home through the rollers
- mounting score marks when the cone is cocked over the shaft keyway or a burr
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- A matched /DF set is ground as one system: never separate the two bearings of 32968-DF or swap the spacer — the factory clearance is lost the moment the set is broken.
- Setting is built into 32968-DF; the classic field error is re-adjusting a matched pair as if it were two loose single bearings, which destroys the /DF clearance class.
- Setting is built into 32968-DF; the classic field error is re-adjusting a matched pair as if it were two loose single bearings, which destroys the /DF clearance class.
- The 1995/4800 kN ratings are SKF catalogue 17000 values for this 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.
- Quote the full SKF 32968/DF designation when purchasing — base-number-only orders are ambiguous across executions and variants.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of 32968-DF?
The SKF 32968/DF is a matched pair of single-row tapered roller bearings in face-to-face (X) matched pair arrangement with 340 mm bore, 460 mm outer diameter and 152 mm overall width (13.386 × 18.11 × 5.984 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: basic dynamic load rating C 1995 kN, C0 4800 kN, fatigue load limit Pu 390 kN, reference speed 700 r/min, limiting speed 1,200 r/min, mass about 73.00 kg.
What does the /DF suffix on 32968-DF mean?
The base 32968 is the ISO 355 single-row bearing; the /DF suffix marks the matched-set execution — the arrangement (face-to-face (X)), the ground spacer and the factory-set axial clearance class. A matched set cannot be assembled from loose single bearings; quote the full designation when ordering.
Are the C and C0 ratings of 32968-DF for one bearing or the pair?
They are for the complete matched pair: C 1995 kN dynamic and C0 4800 kN static already include load sharing between the two bearings. Do not halve them for single-bearing checks, and do not compare them directly with the single-row 32968 table values.
Can 32968-DF be adjusted like two loose tapered bearings?
No — the axial clearance is set at the factory by selective spacer grinding. Mounting work is limited to clean seats, correct fits (m6 on a rotating 340 mm shaft) and axial clamping through the cones; re-setting in the field destroys the matched clearance class.
When should a face-to-face (X) matched set be chosen?
Choose the face-to-face (X) set where the shaft grows thermally or alignment is imperfect — the converging load lines tolerate deflection. It is the default choice for wheel hubs and general gearbox shafts at the 340 mm bore.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 8.3-8.8 TRB variants on 2026-09-29. Read our editorial & correction policy.