This type of ball bearing is recommended when alignment of the shaft and housing is difficult and the shaft may flex. The outer ring has a spherical raceway and its center of curvature coincides with that of the bearing; therefore, the axis of the inner ring, balls and cage can deflect to some extent around the bearing.

Self-aligning ball bearings have two rows of balls, a common sphered raceway in the outer ring and two deep uninterrupted raceway grooves in the inner ring. They are available open or sealed. The bearings are insensitive to angular misalignment of the shaft relative to the housing , which can be caused, for example, by shaft deflection.Self-aligning ball bearings Designed to handle misalignment MRC self-aligning bearings have two rows of balls with a common sphered raceway in the outer ring. This gives the bearings their self-aligning property, permitting angular misalignment of the shaft relative to the housing.