Buy Ball Bearings Online in Australia
Ball Bearing Selection — Quick Reference
Ball bearings are the most widely used bearing type — selection turns on load type (radial vs axial vs combined), shaft size, RPM, sealing requirement, and clearance class. Wrong type = premature failure, vibration, or shaft scoring.
| Bearing Type | Load Direction | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Deep Groove Ball (Conrad — 6000 series) | Primarily radial + modest axial both directions | Motors, gearboxes, fans, pumps, conveyors — general workshop default |
| Angular Contact Ball (7000 series, 15°/25°/40°) | Combined radial + significant axial — one direction | Spindles, precision positioning — paired DB/DF/DT |
| Self-Aligning Ball (1200/2200 series) | Radial — tolerates misalignment up to 4° | Long shaft drives, agriculture, where alignment is rough |
| Thrust Ball (51100 series) | AXIAL ONLY — no radial capacity | Lazy susans, light axial positioning, low-load thrust |
| Double Row Ball | Higher radial + axial than single row | Heavier loads same envelope as deep groove |
| Open (Unshielded) | Per type | Re-lubrication required — sealed bearing housings |
| ZZ (Metal Shield) | Per type | Retains grease, excludes coarse dirt — standard workshop |
| 2RS (Rubber Contact Seal) | Per type | Excludes fine contamination + moisture — preferred for industrial |
Clearance: C0 standard | C3 increased clearance (high temp, interference fit) | C4 even more clearance. Bore reference: last two digits × 5 mm = bore for 6000+ series (e.g. 6204 = 20mm bore). Brands: FYH, Nachi, FAG, SKF, NSK, Koyo, NTN. Companion: deep groove, angular contact, all bearings, deep groove guide, bearing maintenance guide.
Ball Bearings
AIMS Industrial stocks ball bearings for industrial machinery, drive systems, motors and equipment — deep groove ball bearings and angular contact ball bearings in metric and imperial sizes from FYH, Nachi and FAG. Ball bearings are the most widely used bearing type across industrial applications, providing low-friction rotational support for shafts under radial and moderate axial loads. Selecting the correct bearing type, size and sealing arrangement for the application determines load capacity, speed capability, service life and required maintenance interval.
Deep Groove Ball Bearings
Deep groove ball bearings (also referred to as Conrad or single-row ball bearings) are the standard general-purpose bearing for the majority of rotating shaft applications. The deep raceway groove geometry handles radial loads as the primary duty and accommodates modest axial loads in both directions, making the deep groove ball bearing suitable for most motors, gearboxes, fans, pumps, conveyors and general industrial machinery drives. Deep groove ball bearings are available in open (unshielded), shielded (ZZ) and sealed (2RS) configurations. Open bearings require external lubrication access. ZZ bearings have pressed steel shields that retain grease and exclude coarse contamination. 2RS bearings have rubber contact seals for better exclusion of fine contamination and moisture — the preferred choice for most workshop and industrial applications where bearing life is a priority.
Angular Contact Ball Bearings
Angular contact ball bearings are designed for combined radial and axial loading where the axial load component is significant — spindle applications, angular thrust applications and precision positioning drives. The contact angle (typically 15°, 25° or 40°) determines the ratio of axial to radial load capacity. Angular contact bearings are commonly used in pairs or sets — back-to-back (DB), face-to-face (DF) or tandem (DT) arrangements — to manage axial load in both directions and to provide the preload required for precision spindle applications.
Bearing Codes and Selection
Bearing designation codes describe the series (load capacity relative to bore size), bore size, sealing arrangement, internal clearance and special features in a standardised international numbering system. Common series include the 6000 (extra light), 6200 (light) and 6300 (medium) families across the most widely used bore sizes from 10mm to 100mm. AIMS stocks bearings across the most common sizes and series in both open and sealed variants.
Matching Bearing to Application
The key parameters for bearing selection are shaft and housing bore dimensions, operating speed, radial and axial load requirements, operating temperature, and contamination environment. Correct sizing ensures that the bearing is not overloaded and achieves its rated service life. For help identifying the right ball bearing for your shaft size and application, contact our team. AIMS Industrial has been supplying bearings to Australian industry since 1988.
People Also Ask — Ball Bearings
Q: What's the difference between deep groove and angular contact ball bearings?
Deep groove (Conrad, 6000 series) bearings handle radial loads as the primary duty with modest axial capacity in both directions — the general-purpose choice for motors, gearboxes, fans, pumps and conveyors. Angular contact (7000 series, 15°/25°/40° contact angle) bearings handle combined radial and significant axial load in one direction, used in spindle and precision-positioning applications, typically paired in back-to-back (DB), face-to-face (DF) or tandem (DT) arrangements.
Q: What do the ZZ and 2RS suffixes mean on a ball bearing?
ZZ means metal-shielded — pressed steel shields that retain grease and exclude coarse contamination. 2RS means rubber contact seals, giving better exclusion of fine contamination and moisture, the preferred choice for most workshop and industrial applications where bearing life matters. Open (unshielded) bearings have neither and need external lubrication access, suited to sealed bearing housings.
Q: Is there a quick way to work out a bearing's bore size without a catalogue?
For the 6000-series family, multiply the last two digits of the bearing number by 5mm to get the bore diameter — so a 6204 works out to a 20mm bore. It's a fast sanity check before ordering, though it's still worth confirming against the full designation for series outside the standard 6000 range.
Q: What does bearing clearance class (C0, C3, C4) mean?
C0 is standard clearance. C3 is increased clearance, used for high-temperature applications or an interference fit. C4 carries even more clearance again. Match the clearance class to the fit and operating temperature of the application.
Q: What's the difference between a thrust ball bearing and a standard ball bearing?
A thrust ball bearing (51100 series) carries axial load only, with no radial load capacity — suited to lazy susans, light axial positioning and low-load thrust applications. Standard deep groove and angular contact bearings carry radial load as their primary duty (with some axial capacity), which is why they suit the vast majority of rotating-shaft applications like motors, gearboxes and pumps.