In this paper, the relations expressing the effects of roughness orientations and molecular mean free path on the roughness-induced flow factors are derived. Such consideration of the effects of roughness orientation on bearing performance is necessary when rotary actuators are used in magnetic recording systems. Using the perturbation approach and the coordinate transformation, the flow factors are derived and expressed as functions of the roughness orientations, the Peklenik numbers, the standard deviations of roughness heights of each surfaces, the inverse Knudsen number and the film thickness ratio of the lubrication film, where h/ sigma is the ratio of average film thickness to standard deviation of the composite roughness. Two orientation coefficients are proposed to reveal the combined effects of Peklenik number and orientation angle and the change of flow factors is analysed as the orientation coefficients vary. Finally, the static performance of a magnetic recording head flying above a rotating disc under the ultra-thin-spacing condition is analysed with roughness and rarefaction effects taken into account. The effects of surface characteristics of the moving surface on load capacity are more significant than those of the stationary surface.