Types of bearings
Basic bearing cross-reference information.
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One way to categorize bearings is by the type of rolling element they use. Using this method, there are five types of bearings:
Ball bearings
![](mg_images/bearing_diagram_ball.gif)
Photo courtesy of NSK.
Cylindrical roller bearings
![](mg_images/bearing_diagram_roller_cylindrical.gif)
Photo courtesy of NSK.
Needle roller bearings
![](mg_images/bearing_diagram_roller_needle.gif)
Photo courtesy of NSK.
Tapered roller bearings
![](mg_images/bearing_diagram_roller_tapered.gif)
Photo courtesy of NSK.
Spherical roller bearings
![](mg_images/bearing_diagram_roller_spherical.gif)
Photo courtesy of NSK.