● A line connecting the contact points of both the ball and inner ring and ball and outer ring forms an angle to a line drawn radially: that angle is called the contact angle. An angular contact ball bearing, while designed for radial loads, can accommodate single direction axial loads. Under radial loads and the resulting axial force component, the bearings are generally used in a duplex arrangement.

● An angular contact ball bearing uses axially asymmetric races. An axial load passes in a straight line through the bearing, whereas a radial load takes an oblique path that acts to separate the races axially. So the angle of contact on the inner race is the same as that on the outer race. Angular contact bearings better support combined loads (loading in both the radial and axial directions) and the contact angle of the bearing should be matched to the relative proportions of each. The larger the contact angle (typically in the range 10 to 45 degrees), the higher the axial load supported, but the lower the radial load. In high speed applications, such as turbines, jet engines, and dentistry equipment, the centrifugal forces generated by the balls changes the contact angle at the inner and outer race. Ceramics such as silicon nitride are now regularly used in such applications due to their low density (40% of steel). These materials significantly reduce centrifugal force and function well in high temperature environments. They also tend to wear in a similar way to bearing steel—rather than cracking or shattering like glass or porcelain.

● Angular Contact Ball Bearing owns two types of row---single row and double rows. Single-row angular contact ball bearings are self-retaining units with solid inner and outer rings and ball and cage assemblies with polyamide, sheet metal or brass cages. The raceways of the inner and outer rings are offset from each other along the bearing axis. The bearings are available in open and sealed designs. Their angular adjustment facility is very limited.

● Double-row angular contact ball bearings are characterized by the ability to simultaneously support combined loads of radial and axial loads, limiting axial displacement of both sides of the shaft. Compared with the two-way thrust ball bearing, this bearing has a higher limit speed, a contact angle of 32 degrees, good rigidity, and can withstand large overturning moments. It is widely used in the front wheel hub of a car (some models also use the same size double row tapered roller bearings).