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Rotating shaft or another component arranged in rolling bearings is guided by them in radial as well as in axial direction so that the basic condition, the movement uniqueness, can be fulfilled. The component should be, as far as possible, statically determined, i.e. supported in two points radially and in one point axially.

A typical example of such an arrangement is in Pict. 9, where the shaft is radially guided in two bearings, one of which secures it in axial direction. The locating bearing carries the radial load and simultaneously also the axial load in both directions. Radial bearings that can accomodate combined load are mostly used as locating bearings, which carry , e.g. single row ball bearings, double row angular contact ball bearings, double row self aligning ball bearings, double row spherical roller bearings or single row angular contact ball bearings and tapered roller bearings. The two last mentioned bearing types must be mounted in pairs. The non-locating bearing carries only radial load and must permit certain displacement of the shaft in axial direction so that arising of non-desired axial preload caused by environment (temperature dillatations, production inaccuracies of connecting arrangement components, etc.) can be hindered.

Axial displacement can be secured by displacement between one bearing ring and a machine part, which is directly connected with the bearing, e.g. between outer bearing ring and housing bore (Pict. 9a) or directly in the bearing (Pict. 9b).

Arrangements, in which greater radial and axial loads act by higher rotational speed, should be set up so that the bearing can accommodate only radial or axial forces, see Pict. 10. 

In these cases it is possible to use for radial guidance some of the radial bearings and for axial guidance those radial bearings which are also able to carry axial load or a pair of these bearings, or double direction thrust bearing, or a pair of single direction thrust bearings. There is a condition where the axially locating thrust bearing should be arranged with radial clearance.

Another, often used solution is the arrangement of two bearings, whose design enables the accommodation both radial and axial loads. Both bearings accommodate alternately the axial load, always according to direction of force acting, and simultaneously they carry also the radial load. An example of this arrangement is shown in Pict. 11.

As a verified design the pair of single row tapered roller bearings or single row angular contact ball bearings are used. There can be used other bearing types which are able to carry the load both in radial and axial direction simultaneously, e.g. separable single row ball bearings or single row cylindrical roller bearings in NJ design, etc.