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).
Examples and the applicable options for needle roller bearing components are given below.

Examples
IR 8x12x10 IS1 | where | IR 8x12x10 = | ![]() |
IS1 = | ![]() |
||
RN-3x19.8 BF/G2 | where | RN-3x19.8 = | ![]() |
BF = | ![]() |
||
G2 = | ![]() |
![]() | Prefixes (n.a.) |
![]() | Basic designation (table 1) |
IR
| Needle roller bearing inner ring |
LR
| Needle roller bearing inner ring
|
RN
| Needle roller
|
![]() | Suffixes - Internal design |
BF
| Needle roller with flat ends
|
EGS
| Inner ring with a non-directionally ground raceway
|
VGS
| Inner ring with a pre-ground raceway and a machining allowance
|
![]() | Suffixes - External design (seals, snap ring groove etc.) |
IS.. | Inner ring with lubrication hole(s), the number following indicates the number of holes |
ISR.. | Inner ring with annular groove and lubrication hole(s), the number following indicates the number of holes |
![]() | Suffixes - Cage design (n.a.) |
![]() | Suffixes - Materials, heat treatment (n.a.) |
![]() | Suffixes - Accuracy, clearance, preload, quiet running |
C2
| Radial internal clearance smaller than Normal
|
C3
| Radial internal clearance greater than Normal
|
C4
| Radial internal clearance greater than C3
|
G2 | Needle roller in accordance with ISO 3096 Grade 2 |
M../M.. | Diameter tolerance of needle rollers, e.g. M2/M4 indicates diameter tolerance –2 to –4 µm |
N/M.. | Diameter tolerance of needle rollers, e.g. N/M2 indicates diameter tolerance 0 to –2 µm |
![]() | Suffixes - Bearing sets, matched bearings (n.a.) |
![]() | Suffixes - Stabilization
|
S0 | Inner ring heat stabilized for operating temperatures ≤ 150 °C (300 °F) |
S1 | Inner ring heat stabilized for operating temperatures ≤ 200 °C (390 °F) |
S2 | Inner ring heat stabilized for operating temperatures ≤ 250 °C (480 °F) |
S3 | Inner ring heat stabilized for operating temperatures ≤ 300 °C (570 °F) |
![]() | Suffixes - Lubrication (n.a.) |
![]() | Suffixes - Other variants (n.a.) |