UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), NEW YORK, NEW
YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR
PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR
SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) (AND ANY
PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR
VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED
OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

            TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN
WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH
SUCCESSOR'S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE
LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE
INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT
FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE
"SECURITIES ACT"), AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION
THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF
THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5
OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS
SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (i) TO A
PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QIB (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE
144A, (ii) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, (iii) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (iv) TO THE
COMPANY OR (v) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (i) THROUGH (v) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER
WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS
SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.

BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B)
IT IS NOT A U.S.


                                                                               2


PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE
WITH REGULATION S.


                                                                               3


                                                                 CUSIP 775631AA2
No. C 01                                                            $110,000,000

                   9 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007

ROLLER BEARING COMPANY OF AMERICA, INC., a Delaware corporation, promises to pay
to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of ONE HUNDRED AND TEN
MILLION DOLLARS on June 15, 2007.

            Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15 

            Record Dates: June 1 and December 1

            Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other
side of this Security.

Dated: June 23, 1997

                                       ROLLER BEARING COMPANY OF 
                                       AMERICA, INC.

                                         by 


                                            /s/ Michael J. Hartnett
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            President 


                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Secretary

TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF 
  AUTHENTICATION

UNITED STATES TRUST
COMPANY OF NEW YORK,
  as Trustee, certifies that
  this is one of                            [Seal]
  the Securities referred
  to in the Indenture.



  by
    ---------------------------
      Authorized Signatory

                                                                               4


                     ROLLER BEARING COMPANY OF AMERICA, INC.

                    9 5/8% Senior Subordinated Note Due 2007

1.    Interest

            Roller Bearing Company of America, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture
hereinafter referred to, being herein called the "Company"), promises to pay
interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown
above; provided, however, that if a Registration Default (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest will accrue on this
Security at a rate of 0.50% per annum from and including the date on which any
such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all
Registration Defaults have been cured. The Company will pay interest
semiannually on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on December 15,
1997. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which
interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from June 23, 1997.
Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months. The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by
the Securities plus 1% per annum, and it shall pay interest on overdue
installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

2.    Method of Payment

            The Company will pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted
interest) to the Persons who are registered holders of Securities at the close
of business on the June 1 or December 1 next preceding the interest payment date
even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or before the
interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to
collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money
of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of
public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Securities represented by a
Global Security (including principal, premium and interest) will be made by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The
Depository Trust Company. The Company will make all payments in respect of a
certificated Security (including principal, premium and interest) by mailing a
check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided, however, that
payments on a certificated Security will be made by wire transfer to a U.S.
dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such
Holder elects payment by wire transfer by

                                                                               5


giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect
designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the
relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in
its discretion).

3.    Paying Agent and Registrar

            Initially, United States Trust Company of New York, a New York trust
company ("Trustee"), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may
appoint and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without notice.
The Company or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries
may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar.

4.    Indenture

            The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of
June 15, 1997 ("Indenture"), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and
the Trustee. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture
and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of
1939 (15 U.S.C. ss.ss. 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture
(the "Act"). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the
meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all
such terms, and Securityholders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a
statement of those terms.

            The Securities are general unsecured obligations of the Company
limited to $110,000,000 aggregate principal amount (subject to Section 2.07 of
the Indenture). The Indenture contains certain covenants which, among other
things, limit (a) the incurrence of additional indebtedness by the Company and
certain of its subsidiaries, (b) the payment of Restricted Payments (C) certain
transactions with affiliates, (d) sales of assets, including capital stock of
subsidiaries, (e) sales and issuances of capital stock by certain subsidiaries
and (f) certain consolidations and mergers. The Indenture also will prohibit
certain restrictions on distributions from subsidiaries. In addition, the
Company may be obligated, under certain circumstances, to offer to repurchase
Securities at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof,
plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase.

                                                                               6


5.  Optional Redemption

            Except as set forth in the following paragraph, the Securities may
not be redeemed prior to June 15, 2002. On and after that date, the Company may
redeem the Securities in whole at any time or in part from time to time at the
following redemption prices (expressed in percentages of principal amount), plus
accrued interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of
record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the related
interest payment date):

          if redeemed during the, 12-month
          period beginning June 15 of the
                years set forth, below:                   Percentage
          --------------------------------                ----------

2002 ...............................................       104.8125%
2003 ...............................................       103.2083
2004 ...............................................       101.6041
2005 and thereafter ................................       100.0000

            In addition, at any time and from time to time prior to June 15,
2000, the Company may redeem in the aggregate up to $36.0 million principal
amount of the Securities with the proceeds of one or more Public Equity
Offerings following which there is a Public Market (provided that a portion of
the net cash proceeds thereof equal to the amount required to redeem any such
Securities is contributed to the equity capital of the Company), at a redemption
price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 109.625% plus accrued
interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on
the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest
payment date); provided, however, that at least $74.0 million aggregate
principal amount of the Securities must remain outstanding after each such
redemption.

6.    Notice of Redemption

            Notice of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail at least 30
days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of
Securities to be redeemed at his registered address. Securities in denominations
larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of
$1,000. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest
on all Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is
deposited with the Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain
other conditions are satisfied, on and after such date interest ceases to accrue
on such Securities (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

                                                                               7


7.    Put Provisions

            Upon a Change of Control, any Holder of Securities will have the
right to cause the Company to repurchase all or any part of the Securities of
such Holder at a repurchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the
Securities to be repurchased plus accrued interest to the date of repurchase
(subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to
receive interest due on the related interest payment date) as provided in, and
subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

8.    Subordination

            The Securities are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness, as defined
in the Indenture. To the extent provided in the Indenture, Senior Indebtedness
must be paid before the Securities may be paid. The Company agrees, and each
Securityholder by accepting a Security agrees, to the subordination provisions
contained in the Indenture and authorizes the Trustee to give it effect and
appoints the Trustee as attorney-in-fact for such purpose.

9.    Guarantees

            The Company's obligations with respect to the Securities are
guaranteed, to the extent provided in the Indenture, by the Subsidiary
Guarantors.

10.   Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

            The Securities are in registered form without coupons in
denominations of $1,000 and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or
exchange Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require
a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer
documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the
Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any
Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Security to be
redeemed in part, the portion of the Security not to be redeemed) or any
Securities for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be
redeemed or 15 days before an interest payment date.

11.   Persons Deemed Owners

            The registered Holder of this Security may be treated as the owner
of it for all purposes.

                                                                               8


12.   Unclaimed Money

            If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed
for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the
Company at its request unless an abandoned property law designates another
Person. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to
the Company and not to the Trustee for payment.

13.   Discharge and Defeasance

            Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time may terminate
some or all of its obligations under the Securities and the Indenture if the
Company deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the
payment of principal and interest on the Securities to redemption or maturity,
as the case may be.

14.   Amendment, Waiver

            Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the
Indenture or the Securities may be amended with the written consent of the
Holders of at least a majority (or, in certain cases, 75%) in principal amount
outstanding of the Securities and (ii) any default or noncompliance with any
provision may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in
principal amount outstanding of the Securities. Subject to certain exceptions
set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any Securityholder, the
Company and the Trustee may amend the Indenture or the Securities to cure any
ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, or to comply with Article 5 of the
Indenture, or to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in
place of certificated Securities, or to add guarantees with respect to the
Securities or to secure the Securities, or to add additional covenants or
surrender rights and powers conferred on the Company, or to comply with any
request of the SEC in connection with qualifying the Indenture under the Act, or
to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any
Securityholder.

15.   Defaults and Remedies

            Under the Indenture, Events of Default include (i) default for 30
days in payment of interest on the Securities; (ii) default in payment of
principal on the Securities at maturity, upon redemption pursuant to paragraph 5
of the Securities, upon acceleration or otherwise, or failure by the Company to
redeem or purchase Securities when required; (iii) failure by the Company to
comply with

                                                                               9


other agreements in the Indenture or the Securities, in certain cases subject to
notice and lapse of time; (iv) certain accelerations (including failure to pay
within any grace period after final maturity) of other Indebtedness of the
Company if the amount accelerated (or so unpaid) exceeds $5 million; (v) certain
events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company and the
Significant Subsidiaries; (vi) certain judgments or decrees for the payment of
money in excess of $5 million; and (vii) certain events with respect to the
guarantees of the Company's obligations under the Securities by the Subsidiary
Guarantors. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the
Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities may declare all
the Securities to be due and payable immediately or, in certain circumstances,
after giving notice to the Representative under the Credit Agreement. Certain
events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of Default which will result in
the Securities being due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of such
Events of Default.

            Securityholders may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities
except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to enforce the
Indenture or the Securities unless it receives reasonable indemnity or security.
Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Securities may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The
Trustee may withhold from Securityholders notice of any continuing Default
(except a Default in payment of principal or interest) if it determines that
withholding notice is in the interest of the Holders.

16.   Trustee Dealings with the Company

            Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Act, the Trustee under
the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or
pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed
to it by the Company or its Affiliates (including the Subsidiary Guarantors) and
may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates (including the Subsidiary
Guarantors) with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

17.   No Recourse Against Others

            Any past, present or future director, officer, employee or
stockholder, as such, of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee
shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any
Subsidiary Guarantor under the Securities or the Indenture

                                                                              10


or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or
their creation. By accepting a Security, each Securityholder waives and releases
all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the
issue of the Securities.

18.   Authentication

            This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of
the Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of
authentication on the other side of this Security.

19.   Abbreviations

            Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Securityholder
or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the
entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as
tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors
Act).

20.   CUSIP Numbers

            Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform
Security Identification Procedures the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be
printed on the Securities and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in
notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders. No representation is
made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or
as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the
other identification numbers placed thereon.

21.   Holders' Compliance with Registration Rights Agreement.

            Each Holder of a Security, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges and
agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including,
without limitation, the obligations of the Holders with respect to a
registration and the indemnification of the Company to the extent provided
therein.

22.   Governing Law.

            THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF
ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.

                                                                              11


            The Company will furnish to any Securityholder upon written request
and without charge to the Securityholder a copy of the Indenture which has in it
the text of this Security in larger type. Requests may be made to:

            Roller Bearing Company of America, Inc.
            60 Round Hill Road
            P.O. Box 430
            Fairfield, Connecticut 06430-0430

            Attention of: Secretary

________________________________________________________________________________

                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Security to

      (Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code) 

      (Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint                                      agent to
transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute
another to act for him.


________________________________________________________________________________

Date: _____________________ Your Signature:_____________________________________


________________________________________________________________________________
Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.

In connection with any transfer of any of the Securities evidenced by this
certificate occurring prior to the expiration of the period referred to in Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act after the later of the date of original issuance
of such Securities and the last date, if any, on which such Securities were
owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned confirms
that such

                                                                              12


Securities are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

      (1)   |_|  to the Company; or

      (2)   |_|  pursuant to an effective registration statement under the 
                 Securities Act of 1933; or

      (3)   |_|  inside the United States to a "qualified institutional buyer"
                 (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that
                 purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified
                 institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer
                 is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant 
                 to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of
                 1933; or

      (4)   |_|  outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the
                 meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance
                 with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933; or

      (5)   |_|  pursuant to another available exemption from registration
                 provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933.

      Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register
      any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any
      person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that
      if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee may require, prior to
      registering any such transfer of the Securities, such legal opinions,
      certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably
      requested to confirm that such transfer is being made

                                                                              13


      pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the
      registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, such as the
      exemption provided by Rule 144 under such Act.



                                       ---------------------------------
                                                Signature

Signature Guarantee:

- ----------------------                 ---------------------------------
Signature must be guaranteed                    Signature

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

            The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this
Security for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises
sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a "qualified
institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of
1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A
and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as
the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to
request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying
upon the undersigned's foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption
from registration provided by Rule 144A.

Dated:
      --------------------------       -----------------------------------------
                                       NOTICE: To be executed by 
                                               an executive officer

                                                                              14


              SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

            The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have
been made:



Date of    Amount of decrease   Amount of increase   Principal amount     Signature of
Exchange   in Principal         in Principal         of this Global       authorized officer
           Amount of this       Amount of this       Security following   of Trustee or
           Global Security      Global Security      such decrease or     Securities
                                                     increase             Custodian
                                                              


                                                                              15


                       OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

            If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the Company
pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.09 of the Indenture, check the box:

                                      |__|

            If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by
the Company pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.09 of the Indenture, state the amount
in principal amount: $

Dated:                              Your Signature:
      ------------------------                     -----------------------------
                                                   (Sign exactly as your name
                                                   appears on the other side of
                                                   this Security.)

Signature Guarantee:
                    ------------------------------------------------------------
                              (Signature must be guaranteed)