Do I need different ball bearing types for radial vs. thrust loads?
Yes. If your primary use for the ball bearings is to handle radial loads, you should look for a deep groove radial ball bearing. If you are handling only thrust loads, you will want axial ball bearings. If your ball bearings will need to handle both thrust and radial loads, the angular contact ball bearing is best suited to your needs. Using the wrong type of ball bearings in your application can seriously damage said application, so make sure you are using the right ball bearings for the load bearing you require.
