FAG bearing designation system
A FAG bearing number is made up of a prefix, basic designation and suffix. The basic designation tells you the bearing type, diameter/width series and bore size. Prefixes and suffixes describe cages, seals, internal clearance, tolerance and special features.
Basic designation of FAG bearing
The basic designation combines the bearing series code and the bore code. The table below shows the most common FAG bearing series symbols.
| Bearing type | Series symbol |
| Double row angular contact ball bearing | 0 |
| Self-aligning ball bearing | 1 |
| Spherical roller bearing / spherical roller thrust bearing | 2 |
| Tapered roller bearing | 3 |
| Double row deep groove ball bearing | 4 |
| Axial deep groove ball bearing | 5 |
| Single row deep groove ball bearing | 6 |
| Single row angular contact ball bearing | 7 |
| Axial cylindrical roller bearing | 8 |
| Toroidal roller bearing | C |
| Single row cylindrical roller bearing | N |
| Double row cylindrical roller bearing | NN |
| Four point contact bearing | QJ |
Bore code
For bore diameters from 10 mm to 480 mm the bore code is the bore diameter divided by 5. Special codes apply for small bores: 00 = 10 mm, 01 = 12 mm, 02 = 15 mm, 03 = 17 mm. Bores smaller than 10 mm or larger than 480 mm are stated directly in the designation.
Common FAG suffixes
| Suffix | Meaning |
| RSR / 2RSR | Contact lip seal, one or both sides |
| ZR / 2ZR | Sheet steel shield, one or both sides |
| C2 / C3 / C4 | Radial internal clearance smaller (C2) or greater (C3, C4) than normal |
| P6 / P5 / P4 | Dimensional and running accuracy to ISO tolerance class 6, 5 or 4 |
| M / MA / MB | Machined brass cage, outer-ring (MA) or inner-ring (MB) guided |
| TVP / TVH | Glass fibre reinforced polyamide cage |
| J / JPA | Pressed sheet steel cage |
| K / K30 | Tapered bore, taper 1:12 or 1:30 |
| W33 | Annular groove and three lubrication holes in the outer ring |
| XL | X-life bearing (upgraded material and manufacturing quality) |