Ball Bearings. Ball bearings reduce friction between shafts and axles and carry radial loads, thrust loads, or a combination of both. They contain an outer ring, inner ring, and a cage that holds and spaces bearing balls, the bearing's spherical rolling elements.

A ball bearing is a type of rolling-element bearing that uses balls to maintain the separation between the bearing races. The purpose of a ball bearing is to reduce rotational friction and support radial and axial loads. It achieves this by using at least three races to contain the balls and transmit the loads through the balls. In most applications, one race is stationary and the other is attached to the rotating assembly (e.g., a hub or shaft). As one of the bearing races rotates it causes the balls to rotate as well. Because the balls are rolling they have a much lower coefficient of friction than if two flat surfaces were sliding against each other.