SKF, FAG and NSK Spindle Bearing Cross-References: Compare Designations Without Losing Specification Detail

Structure of a spindle bearing designation

A spindle (super-precision angular contact) designation starts with a base number whose digits follow the ISO pattern: series, then a bore code that multiplies by 5 for the 70 series (14 x 5 = 70 mm). The suffix groups then differ by maker.

Attribute	SKF (e.g. 7014 CD/P4A)	FAG / Schaeffler (e.g. B7014-E-T-P4S-UL)	NSK (e.g. 7006CTYNSULP4)
Contact angle	CD = 15°, ACD = 25° (70 D series)	C = 15°, E = 25°	C = 15°, A5 = 25°, A = 30°, B = 40°
Cage	cage and ball material in separate suffix positions	T = laminated fabric	TYN position (meaning not confirmed here)
Arrangement	DB, DF, DT sets; G = single universally matchable; DG = set for universal matching	U = single bearing	SU = single universal; DB sets
Preload	G, GA, GB, GC letters (differ by family)	L = light	EL, L, M, H
Tolerance class	P4A	P4S	P4 (ISO Class 4)
Ceramic balls	/HC	HC prefix / HCB series	not covered here

Sources are listed below. Note the traps: SKF CB and ACB mean 15° and 25° high-speed B designs in the super-precision range while CB is a clearance code on single-row angular contact bearings, and SKF itself points out that preload letter definitions vary between publications.

What to verify before calling two spindle bearings a match

1. Dimensions: bore, outside diameter and width. They are only the entry ticket.
2. Contact angle: 15° versus 25° changes load direction, rigidity and speed behaviour.
3. Tolerance class: compare the maker’s class, not an ABEC number. ISO 492 and ABMA ABEC classes are not identical systems; NTN notes JIS B 1514 values are slightly different from ABMA values. SKF P4A is described as ISO class 4 dimensional accuracy with better running accuracy; Schaeffler describes P4S as FAG standard better than P4 to ISO 492:2023.
4. Arrangement and universal matching: a single universally matchable bearing and a pre-matched set are different products; so are DB, DF and DT.
5. Preload: the code and the resulting force and rigidity differ by series and maker.
6. Cage and ball material: steel versus ceramic balls (hybrid), and the cage material, change speed and life.
7. Speed and lubrication: limiting speeds are published for grease and oil separately, and can differ between sources for the same part.
8. Sealing: some spindle series have sealed variants (for example Schaeffler B7014-C-2RSD-T-P4S-UL), which is another attribute.

Fully sourced reference: FAG B7014-E-T-P4S-UL

The Schaeffler product page lists this part as a spindle bearing, adjusted, for pairs or sets, with restricted tolerances:

Field	Value on the Schaeffler page
Bore x outside diameter x width	70 x 110 x 20 mm
Contact angle	25° (code E)
Cage	laminated fabric (code T)
Arrangement	single bearing (code U)
Preload	light (code L), 395 N preload force, axial rigidity 169 N/µm
Tolerance class	P4S
Basic dynamic / static radial load rating	48,000 N / 29,000 N
Limiting speed, grease / oil	11,000 / 18,000 min⁻¹
Operating temperature	-30 °C to 100 °C

A related page, HS7014-E-T-P4S-UL (high speed series), shows the same bore size with grease and oil limits of 16,000 and 24,000 min⁻¹ and a dynamic rating of 23,600 N: same size and angle code, different series and ratings.

Side-by-side normalized record

The three records below are different sizes; this is a field-population example, not a cross-reference.

Normalized field	SKF 7014 CD/P4A	FAG B7014-E-T-P4S-UL	NSK 7006CTYNSULP4
Bore / OD / width (mm)	70 / 110 / 20	70 / 110 / 20	30 / 55 / 13
Contact angle	15°	25°	15°
Maker tolerance class	P4A	P4S	P4 (ISO Class 4)
Arrangement	not stated in designation	single (U)	single universal (SU)
Preload	not stated in designation	light (L)	light (L)
Cage	not stated in designation	laminated fabric	not confirmed (TYN)
Basic dynamic / static rating	Needs review	48 / 29 kN	19.1 / 10.3 kN
Limiting speed, grease / oil	Needs review	11,000 / 18,000 min⁻¹	26,000 / 32,000 min⁻¹ on one NSK page; 27,100 / 41,200 on another

The NSK row also shows why a source field is needed: two NSK pages for the same designation disagree on limiting speeds, so store the value with the page it came from.

Worked classification of a candidate pair

Take SKF 7014 ACD/P4A and FAG B7014-E-T-P4S-UL. SKF lists 7014 ACD/P4A as a variant of the 7014 CD/P4A (the CD page shows 70 x 110 x 20 mm), and ACD is the 25° code, as is FAG E.

Test	Result
Identical specification	No. Maker tolerance classes differ (P4A versus P4S) and are defined by each maker
Plausible substitute	Possibly, as a candidate: same bore and angle code family
Verified match	No. Cage, preload, ball material and the SKF record’s ratings were not confirmed from a maker source

So the pair is unverified. SKF publishes its own interchange tables for super-precision bearings and a cross-reference service; use those, read the attributes behind the pairing, and do not restate a pairing that the source does not list.

Catalog normalization and review queue

• Split designations into the fields above, plus maker_tolerance_class (text) and a separate optional iso_492_class filled only when the maker states it.
• Keep arrangement (single, universal, set) separate from preload.
• Add equivalence_status: identical, plausible substitute, unverified. Never default to identical.
• Route to review any pair where tolerance code, contact-angle code, cage or preload is missing or differs, or where two sources disagree.
• Keep the source link per attribute.

Related reading: bearing suffix reference, SKF suffix codes, the decoder, the functional-equivalent playbook, and, for brand naming comparisons on common deep-groove parts, SKF vs FAG designations and NSK vs NTN part numbers.

Sources

Retrieved 12 October 2026; edition dates are not shown on most of these pages.

• Schaeffler B7014-E-T-P4S-UL and HS7014-E-T-P4S-UL: the table values above.
• Schaeffler HCB7007-C-T-P4S-UL: C = 15°, ceramic balls, P4S better than P4 to ISO 492:2023. Schaeffler machine tool spindle bearing catalogue: nomenclature example HCB 70 08 C DLR.T.P4S.UL.
• SKF super-precision angular contact ball bearings, high-capacity: CD, P4A, 7014 CD/P4A 70 x 110 x 20 mm, 7014 ACD/P4A variant. SKF 718 (SEA) series: CD 15°, ACD 25°. SKF super-precision designation system: suffix groups, DB/DF/DT, G.
• SKF super-precision bearings interchange and SKF product cross-reference: SKF’s own interchange publication and service.
• NSK 7006CTYNSULP4: 30 x 55 x 13 mm, 15°, ISO Class 4, ratings, speed limits, preload classes. NSK, angular contact ball bearings: contact angle codes. NSK bearing designations.
• NTN catalog, bearing tolerances: ISO 492, JIS B 1514 and ABMA differences. SKF, tolerances: class cannot always be read from the suffixes.

Needs review

• SKF 7014 CD/P4A load ratings and speeds: the catalogue table was not read cleanly, so they are not listed.
• NSK TYN cage code and the exact meaning of NSK’s DBL-type arrangement-preload strings.
• SKF’s accuracy-class comparison (P4A against FAG and NSK classes) lives in the SKF interchange publication; read it directly, it is not restated here.
• No ABEC-to-ISO conversion is given because no single maker source for it was confirmed.

Related

FAQ

Can I treat an SKF, FAG and NSK spindle bearing with the same base number as interchangeable? +

No. A shared base number such as 7014 fixes the series and a 70 mm bore, not the contact angle, tolerance class, preload, arrangement, cage or ball material. Treat a pairing as a candidate until the maker’s data confirms each of those attributes.

Is ISO 492 class 4 the same as ABEC 7? +

They are close but not identical systems, and a maker may define its own class above ISO. SKF P4A and FAG P4S are described as better than the plain ISO class 4 in running accuracy, so a catalog should store the maker’s class code and not convert it to ABEC without a maker statement.