Radial bearings are useful for applications in which high radial loads act on the components. These bearing can also sustain moderate thrust loads and combinations of thrust and radial loads. Radial bearings are useful in various industries such as food and beverage, automotive and textile.

You can use a radial ball bearing or a radial roller bearing made of plastic or metal depending on the operating conditions. Important components of a radial bearing are balls or rollers, rings, retainers and seals or shields. Like other bearings, bearing lubricant is necessary for the efficient operation of a radial bearing.

Some important parameters you must consider before purchasing a radial bearing are:

1. Loads acting on the radial bearing
2. Rotating speed of the bearing
3. Dimensions of a radial bearing: outer diameter, inside diameter and width
4. Average fatigue life of the radial bearing
5. Operating temperature ranges for the radial bearing

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy radial bearings from a reputable radial bearings manufacturer

Once you have identified your requirements, look around for different radial bearings available in the market.

I recommend: Timken, a reputable bearing manufacturer, offers radial ball bearings for applications in agriculture, automotive and utilities industries. Boca Bearing Company is another radial bearings manufacturer that supplies stainless and ceramic radial bearings. ABT also manufactures radial bearings. You can buy radial bearings online at GMN Bearing, another company that supplies bearing parts. KMS Bearings provides radial bearings with plastic raceways and balls.

Buy radial bearings from a radial bearings distributor or retailer

At distributors or retailers' websites, you can compare different radial bearings based on product features and prices. You can also ask for a discount if you are buying in bulk.

I recommend: Reid Supply Company, an industrial component distributor, offers various bearings including radial bearings. AST Bearing supplies radial bearings for aerospace, medical and dental equipment. Bartlett Bearing Company is another radial bearings distributor for reputable bearing manufacturers such as SKF, Timken and Rollway. Creswell Industrial Supply provides radial bearings for automotives, agricultural equipment and machine tools. You can also view the radial bearings stock at other distributors such as ABI Industries and Motion Industries.

Buy a specialty or customized radial bearing

For non-standard applications such as extreme pressures, temperatures or a combination of both, you need to use a specialty or customized radial bearing. However, make sure you perform a cost-value analysis before buying specialty radial bearings.

I recommend: Schaeffler Group, a reputable supplier of precision bearings, manufactures radial insert roller ball bearings. SDP/SI (Stock Drive Products/Sterling Instrument) is a custom manufacturer of roller bearings including radial roller bearings. Impact Bearings is another radial bearing manufacturer that provides rod end radial bearings. You can buy a customized radial bearing at IBSCO (Intercontinental Bearing Supply Company).

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For dusty environments, use bearing seals for your radial bearings to avoid contamination of lubricants.
• •  Keep an inventory of radial bearings and parts such as rings, balls or rollers and raceways.
• •  When you buy radial ball bearings online, inquire about the warranty and shipping time.