Needle Bearings

Needle Bearing Types We Stock & Source

From compact drawn-cup designs to heavy-duty full-complement rollers — metric and inch dimensions.

Drawn Cup Needle Roller Bearings (HK, BK, RNA Series)

Thin-wall, stamped outer cup with no machined outer ring. The most compact needle bearing design — ideal for applications with severe radial space constraints. Available open (HK) or closed-end (BK) with or without inner ring. Used in transmissions, small gearboxes, compressors, and power tools.

Machined-Ring Needle Roller Bearings (NA, RNA Series)

Full-Complement Needle Roller Bearings

Precision-machined inner and outer rings for tighter tolerances and higher speed capability than drawn-cup designs. Available with or without inner ring (NA vs RNA). Used in machine tools, textile machinery, printing equipment, and precision industrial applications.

Maximum number of needle rollers packed without a cage — highest possible load capacity for a given cross-section. Best for heavy loads at lower speeds. Used in press tools, hydraulic cylinders, rocker arms, and heavy-duty pivoting mechanisms.

Cam Followers & Track Rollers

Heavy-duty stud-type and yoke-type rollers built around a needle bearing core — for cam mechanisms, conveyor tracks, and packaging machinery.

Cam Followers & Track Rollers (KR, KRV Series)

Stud-type or yoke-type rollers designed to follow cam profiles or run in track systems. Heavy-duty outer ring with internal needle roller complement. Used in packaging machinery, cam mechanisms, conveyor track systems, and automated assembly equipment.

When to Specify a Needle Bearing

Needle rollers are the right call when radial space is limited but load demands are high.

• Compact cross-section — needle rollers are 3–4× longer than their diameter, packing more rolling contact area into a smaller radial envelope than ball or cylindrical roller bearings.

• High radial load capacity — the long, thin rollers distribute load over a larger contact area than comparably sized ball bearings.

• Lightweight assemblies — drawn-cup designs eliminate the need for a machined housing bore in many applications, reducing weight and complexity.

• Cost-effective for oscillating motion — full-complement designs without cages excel in oscillating or slow-rotation applications like linkages and pivot points.

Brands We Stock & Source

CST is an independent supplier — we're not beholden to any single manufacturer. We source needle bearings from every major brand:

• IKO — Japanese specialist in needle rollers, cam followers, and linear motion

• INA (Schaeffler) — German-engineered, the industry standard for drawn-cup and machined-ring needle bearings

• NTN — Reliable mid-range option with broad availability

• NSK — Japanese precision, widely used in OEM applications

• Koyo/Torrington (JTEKT) — inherited the Torrington needle bearing lines, strong in drawn-cup and machined-ring designs

• Generic / economy brands — cost-effective alternatives for less critical applications

Tell us the brand and part number. If it exists, we can get it.

Get a Quote or Order Online

Need pricing on needle bearings? ✅ Request a quote. Fast responses. For immediate assistance, call us at (714) 751-2844 or email sales@cstbearing.com.

About CST Bearing Co.

35+ years independent Bearing Supplier

Family-owned

Veteran-owned, Santa Ana, California

Serving the aerospace and commercial/industrial community of Southern California and customers nationwide

Not beholden to any brand — we source what's right for your application

Real people answer the phone — call 714-751-2844, Mon-Fri 8:00-3:30 PST

Our Location

CST Bearing Co
2115 S Santa Fe St, Santa Ana Ca 92705

Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00 am - 3:30 pm

Contacts
714-751-2844
sales@cstbearing.com