Some of the different types of bearing

· The rigid single row or radial ball bearing, probably the most widely used, is designed so that balls run in comparatively deep grooved tracks, which make the bearing suitable for both radial and axial loads. Sealed versions are lubricated for life and maintenance-free.

· A rigid single row bearing with filling slots for balls contain more balls than the standard. This allows it to withstand heavier radial loads but only limited thrust.

· Rigid double row bearings are good for heavy radial loads and provide greater rigidity.

· Double row bearings appear in a wide variety of applications, ranging from electric motors and centrifugal pumps to electromagnetic clutches.

· The self-aligning bearing has two rows of balls with a common sphered raceway in the outer ring. This feature gives the bearings their self-aligning property, permitting angular misalignment of the shaft with respect to the housing.

· The angular-contact bearing has one side of the outer-race groove cut away to allow the insertion of more balls, which enables the bearing to carry large axial loads in one direction only. Such bearings are usually used in pairs so that high axial loads can be carried in both directions.