Tables providing the clearance values for the various bearing types can be

found in the text preceding the relevant product section. For paired single row
angular contact ball bearings and tapered roller bearings, double row angular
contact ball bearings and four-point contact ball bearings, values for the axial
internal clearance are provided instead of radial clearance, as the axial
clearance is of greater importance in application design for these bearing
types.

Bearing internal clearance

Bearing internal clearance (fig 1) is defined as the total distance through which
one bearing ring can be moved relative to the other in the radial direction
(radial internal clearance) or in the axial direction (axial internal clearance).

fig 1
It is necessary to distinguish between the internal clearance of a bearing
before mounting and the internal clearance in a mounted bearing, which has
reached its operating temperature (operational clearance). The initial internal
clearance (before mounting) is greater than the operational clearance
because different degrees of interference in the fits and differences in thermal
expansion of the bearing rings and the associated components cause the
rings to be expanded or compressed.
The radial internal clearance of a bearing is of considerable importance if
satisfactory operation is to be obtained. As a general rule, ball bearings should
always have an operational clearance that is virtually zero, or there may be a
slight preload. Cylindrical, spherical and CARB toroidal roller bearings, on the
other hand, should always have some residual clearance - however small - in
operation. The same is true of tapered roller bearings, except in bearing
arrangements where stiffness is desired, e.g. pinion bearing arrangements,
where the bearings are mounted with a certain amount of preload, see section
Bearing preload.
The bearing internal clearance referred to as Normal has been selected so
that a suitable operational clearance will be obtained when bearings are

mounted with the fits usually recommended and operating conditions are
normal. Where operating and mounting conditions differ from the normal, e.g.
where interference fits are used for both bearing rings, unusual temperatures
prevail etc., bearings with greater or smaller internal clearance than Normal
are required. In such cases, SKF recommends checking residual clearance in
the bearing after it has been mounted.
Bearings having an internal clearance other than Normal are identified by the
suffixes C1 to C5.
Suffix

Radial internal clearance

C1

Less than C2

C2

Less than Normal

CN

Normal, only used in combination with letters indicating

C3

Greater than Normal

C4

Greater than C3

C5

Greater than C4

Tables providing the clearance values for the various bearing types can be
found in the text preceding the relevant product section. For paired single row
angular contact ball bearings and tapered roller bearings, double row angular
contact ball bearings and four-point contact ball bearings, values for the axial
internal clearance are provided instead of radial clearance, as the axial
clearance is of greater importance in application design for these bearing
types