Buy Deep Groove Bearings Online in Australia
Deep Groove Ball Bearing Series — Quick Reference (ISO 15 / AS 2729)
Deep groove ball bearings (6000-series) are the most-used bearing type — radial loads primary, modest axial both directions, high speeds. Selection by ISO series (envelope dimensions), bore size, sealing, and clearance.
| Series | Envelope | Common Bore Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6000 (Extra-Light) | Smallest OD + thinnest section per bore | 10mm – 30mm | Small motors, power tools, instruments, compact assemblies |
| 6200 (Light) | Medium envelope | 10mm – 100mm | General industrial — motors, gearboxes, fans — workshop default |
| 6300 (Medium) | Heavier envelope — higher load + life | 10mm – 100mm | Higher load + longer life same bore — heavy industrial |
| 6400 (Heavy) | Heaviest envelope | 15mm – 100mm | Heavy machinery + reduced replacement frequency |
| Open (no suffix) | — | — | Sealed housing required — needs external lubrication |
| 2Z (Metal Shield) | — | — | Retains grease + excludes coarse dirt — workshop standard |
| 2RS (Rubber Seal) | — | — | Excludes fine contamination + moisture — preferred |
| C3 Clearance | — | — | High-temp + interference fits — slightly more clearance |
Bore code: Last 2 digits × 5 = bore (mm) for sizes 04+ (e.g. 6204 = 20mm bore). Sizes 6000-6003 are direct nominal (6000=10mm, 6001=12mm, 6002=15mm, 6003=17mm). Clearance: C0 (standard) | C3 (high temp/press-fit) | C4 (highest). Brands: NACHI, Koyo, NSK, NTN, FAG, SKF. Companion: all ball bearings, all bearings, deep groove guide, bearing maintenance guide.
Deep Groove Ball Bearings — 6000, 6200 & 6300 Series
Deep groove ball bearings are the most universally used bearing type — versatile, compact, suitable for high speed with moderate radial and axial load capability. AIMS Industrial stocks deep groove ball bearings from NACHI, Koyo, NSK and NTN — 6000 (extra-light), 6200 (light) and 6300 (medium) series in open, 2Z (shielded) and 2RS (sealed) variants across the most common industrial bore sizes. Manufactured to AS 2729 / ISO 15 dimensional standards.
For complete coverage of selection, installation, lubrication and failure diagnosis, see our deep groove ball bearing guide.
Deep groove bearings we stock
6000 series (extra-light, 10–30 mm bore) — for small motors, power tools and instrumentation, providing a compact, lightweight bearing with high speed capability in a small envelope. NACHI and Koyo 6000 series are stocked in open and 2RS sealed variants.
6200 series (light, 10–110 mm bore) — the most widely stocked metric ball bearing series, covering the most common bore sizes for electric motors (IEC frame sizes), centrifugal pumps, conveyors and general industrial equipment. NACHI and Koyo 6200 series bearings are the benchmark for motor and pump maintenance replacement across Australian industry.
6300 series (medium, 10–115 mm bore) — wider and heavier than 6200 in the same bore, providing higher radial load capacity. Used where 6200 life rating is insufficient for the application load.
NSK & NTN deep groove ball bearings — available across selected 6200 series sizes for direct-replacement applications where the OEM bearing specification is NSK or NTN. Both brands meet the same ISO dimensional and tolerance standards as NACHI and Koyo.
Deep groove bearing selection
Matching bearing to motor frame — IEC-frame electric motor bearing sizes are standardised. Confirm the frame size and bearing position (DE/NDE) from the motor nameplate to identify the correct replacement bearing. NACHI and Koyo cross-reference tables map IEC motor frames to the required bearing series and sizes — see also our bearing cross-reference guide for cross-brand equivalents.
Sealed (2RS) vs shielded (2Z) vs open — most modern electric motors use 2RS rubber-sealed bearings, pre-packed with grease for the design service life. Shielded 2Z bearings are used in older motors with grease-nipple relubrication. Open bearings are used where the bearing housing provides separate sealing or where relubrication is via the housing. Confirm the original bearing designation before replacement — substituting sealed for open removes the relubrication path and shortens bearing life.
Internal clearance (CN vs C3) — electric motors with interference-fit outer rings require C3 (larger than normal) internal clearance. The press fit reduces internal clearance to the design operating value during assembly. Using CN (normal) clearance bearings in press-fit applications results in over-tight running clearance and reduced bearing life. Most motor manufacturers specify C3 — check the nameplate.
Installation, maintenance & removal
For bearing installation, alignment and lubrication best practice, see our bearing maintenance guide. For removing a stuck bearing from a shaft or housing, the bearing puller guide walks through the puller types and sizing.
Companion bearing ranges at AIMS
Deep groove bearings sit within our broader bearings range. For other bearing types: needle roller bearings, tapered roller bearings, spherical roller bearings, cylindrical roller bearings, angular contact bearings, self-aligning bearings, thrust bearings and bearing housings. For pillow block and flange units, the housings range catalogues the complete assemblies.
As a proudly Australian business since 1988, we stock locally and work with trusted distributors for fast, reliable supply. Need help sizing or specifying a deep groove bearing for your application? Call (02) 9773 0122, contact our team or request a quote.
People Also Ask — Deep Groove Ball Bearings
Q: What's a deep groove ball bearing used for?
Deep groove ball bearings are the workhorse bearing — used in motors, pumps, fans, gearboxes, and any rotating assembly that needs to handle radial load plus moderate axial load. The deep groove geometry distributes load over the balls efficiently, giving long life at moderate cost. They're not suitable for pure axial (thrust) loads — for thrust applications, dedicated thrust bearings are needed.
Q: How do I identify the bearing I need?
The bearing has a number stamped on the race — typically the standard ISO or ABMA series like 6203, 6205, 6207 etc. The first digits identify the series (6 = deep groove single row), middle digits identify the bore size code (multiply by 5 for actual bore mm above 04), and the suffix identifies the configuration (Z = single shield, ZZ = double shield, 2RS = double seal, C3 = increased clearance). Cross-reference with the manufacturer's catalogue for full spec.
Q: What's the difference between sealed and shielded bearings?
Shielded bearings (suffix Z or ZZ) have a metal plate that excludes coarse contamination but allows some grease loss and re-greasing. Sealed bearings (suffix 2RS or LLU) have rubber contact seals that exclude finer contamination and retain grease for life — typically maintenance-free. For dirty environments use 2RS. For clean environments with re-greasing access, ZZ is cheaper and runs slightly cooler at high speeds.
Q: How do I install a bearing without damaging it?
Press the bearing onto the shaft using force applied to the bearing's INNER race (which contacts the shaft). Press into the housing using force on the OUTER race. Never apply force across the bearing — it transfers through the balls and dents the races (called brinelling) which destroys the bearing before service starts. Use bearing fitting tools or matching diameter sleeves to distribute force correctly.
Q: When should a bearing be replaced vs cleaned and re-greased?
Replace if: visible damage (cracks, chips, brinell marks on races), excessive noise during rotation, rough running by hand, or excessive radial play. Clean and re-grease if: the bearing rotates smoothly and quietly but the grease has dried, hardened, or contaminated. Sealed bearings (2RS) typically aren't cleanable — replace at end of grease life. Shielded bearings can be partially cleaned but most workshops just replace as a matter of policy.