Designation system
The designations of most SKF rolling bearings follow a system that may consist of a basic designation with or without one or more prefixes and/or suffixes (→ Basic bearing designation system).
An example and the applicable options for spherical roller thrust bearings are given below.

Example
29480 EM
| where | 29480 = | ![]() |
E = | ![]() |
||
M = | ![]() |
Applicable options for spherical roller thrust bearings
![]() | Prefixes (n.a.) |
![]() | Basic Designation |
Listed in table 1
|
![]() | Suffixes - Internal design |
E | Optimized internal design |
![]() | Suffixes - External design (seals, snap ring groove, etc.) |
N1 | One locating slot in the housing washer |
N2 | Two locating slots in the housing washer, 180° apart |
![]() | Suffixes - Cage design |
– |
|
F | Machined steel cage, shaft washer centred |
F3 | Machined spheroidal cast iron cage, shaft washer centred |
M | Machined brass cage, shaft washer centred |
![]() | Suffixes - Materials, heat treatment (n.a.) |
![]() | Suffixes - Accuracy, clearance, preload, quiet running (n.a.) |
![]() | Suffixes - Bearing sets, matched bearings (n.a.) |
![]() | Suffixes - Stabilization (n.a.) |
![]() | Suffixes - Lubrication (n.a.) |
![]() | Suffixes - Other variants |
VE447(E) | Shaft washer with three equally-spaced threaded holes to accommodate hoisting tackle. The E indicates that appropriate eye bolts are supplied with the bearing. |
VE710(E) | Housing washer with three equally-spaced threaded holes to accommodate hoisting tackle. The E indicates that appropriate eye bolts are supplied with the bearing. |
VU029 | Shaft washer modified for applications with small axial clearance |