Single row angular contact ball bearings (fig1) can accommodate axial loads acting in one direction only (fig2). Under radial loads a force acting in the axial direction is produced in the bearing, and this force must be counteracted. Consequently the bearing is normally adjusted against a second bearing.

Normally single row angular contact ball bearings have one high and one low shoulder (fig3). Some bearings, particularly those of Diameter Series 8 and 9, have an inner ring with two high shoulders (fig4) as in a deep groove ball bearing. The low shoulder on one or both rings enables a large number of balls to be incorporated in the bearing, thus giving the bearings a relatively high load carrying capacity. They are of non-separable design.

The contact angle α is 40°, designation suffix B, for the most common sizes. For larger bearings contact angles of 25° and 30° are the most common, designation suffixes AC and A respectively.

Horton single row angular contact ball bearings are produced in two versions

The larger sizes are produced exclusively as universally matchable bearings.