Different Types of Bearings

There are many types of bearings available in the market that are designed to handle different types of objects. Bearings are basically designed to handle load and weight of an object, the alterations between bearing types concerns the load type and the ability to carry that load.

Ball Bearings
Ball bearings are the most common type of bearing because these can carry both radial loads and thrust loads, Ball bearings can only handle small amount of weight. Ball bearings can be found in an extensive array of applications, like roller blades and even hard drives.


Roller Bearings
Roller bearings are the best to carry heavy weight objects. These can carry radial loads but is not suited to thrust loads.

Ball Thrust Bearings
Ball Thrust Bearings are designed to carry exclusively thrust loads in low speed low weight applications like bar stools make use of ball thrust bearings for seat support.

Roller Thrust Bearings
Roller Thrust Bearings are much similar to ball thrust bearing. Roller Thrust Bearings are designed to carry thrust loads. Roller Thrust Bearings are commonly used to support the gear of an automobile.

Tapered Roller Bearings
Tapered Roller Bearings are designed to handle large radial loads and thrust loads both  as a result of their load adaptability, these are commonly used in car hubs.


The type are not finished yet, there are some special bearings that are manufactured for some specific tasks like Magnetic Bearings and Giant Roller Bearings. Magnetic bearings are used in high speed devices and Giant roller bearings are used to move extremely heavy loads like buildings and other components.