The axial direction refers to the direction along the axis, and the radial direction perpendicular to it is the radial direction along the axis. So the axial load of the bearing refers to the load generated in the axial direction of the bearing. Generally speaking, it is the force that will push the bearing inner ring out of the outer ring.

端面軸承能承受較大的軸向力。軸承種類中按照承受軸向載荷能力的從小到大依次是：圓柱滾子軸承<球軸承<圓錐滾子軸承<端面軸承。

The end bearing can bear large axial force. Bearing types in accordance with the ability to bear axial load from small to large are: cylindrical roller bearing < ball bearing < tapered roller bearing < end bearing.

滾珠絲杠支撐軸承的選用：由于絲杠主要承受軸向力，大多采用推力軸承作支承。在相同尺寸條件下，推力球軸承軸向剛度比向心推力球軸承及圓錐滾子軸承的軸向剛度要大一倍以上；推力滾柱軸承剛度又比推力球軸承大一倍左右。當軸向載荷較小時，可不用推力球軸承而用向心推力球軸承，這樣可減軸承數量。

Selection of ball screw support bearing: because the screw mainly bears axial force, thrust bearing is mostly used as support. Under the same size condition, the axial stiffness of thrust ball bearing is more than twice that of radial thrust ball bearing and tapered roller bearing; The stiffness of the thrust roller bearing is twice that of the thrust ball bearing. When the axial load is small, the radial thrust ball bearing can be used instead of the thrust ball bearing, which can reduce the number of bearings.