Angular Contact Ball Bearings are designed to take radial and thrust loads where the thrust component may be large. Their axial stiffness and small operating clearances provide precise position accuracy for the shaft. These are produced typically with an angle of 40 degrees. It supports a heavy thrust load in one direction. These bearings are mounted single or when the sides are flush ground in tandem for constant thrust in one direction. It is also mounted in pairs when the sides are flush ground for a combined load either face-to-face or back-to-back. They are used in machine tool spindles, which help to retain the preload at higher speeds. They are mainly used in centrifugal applications to support axial loads or a combination of both axial and radial loads.

Angular contact bearings are designed to contact angle between the races and the balls is formed when the bearing is in use. Angular contact bearings may be constructed of special materials including stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic hybrid.  They may also be plated; common plating materials are cadmium and chrome. Angular contact bearings can be one directional thrust, double direction thrust, double row, double row maximum capacity angular, duplex thrust, and four-pointed contact. Angular contact bearings are unidirectional thrust bearings that can withstand heavy thrust loads and moderate radial loads. It assembled with a preload, which is applied between the inner race, the bearing ball and the outer race. The preload minimizes or removes gaps between the bearing balls and the inner and outer races.