Are you unsure which bearings you should get? In this guide, we'll explain the most important terms and facts about bearings. We'll also explain which bearings are best for exactly your way of riding or skating.
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A wheel needs 2 bearings to rotate on the axle. A bearing can have a big influence on the speed and feel of your riding/skating.
Regardless of the type of bearing you have, you should avoid sand, water and humid conditions at any time, as this will shorten the lifespan of your bearings considerably. Regular cleaning and lubrication of bearings can help to increase their durability and speed. See how to clean your bearings here.
Also, a spacer to fill out the space between the bearings is required, as to avoid destroying the bearings and to create clean rotation when the axles are tightened. The size of the spacer depends on the size of the axle used.
8 mm spacer
6 mm spacer
The quality of bearings depends on a range of factors, such as:
Which type of bearing is best for you:
A bearing can usually be pressed in with your thumbs. When the bearing is mounted correctly, it is in line with the wheel core/hub. If it points out in one corner, it's not mounted correctly and will be destroyed upon skating it. If you have a metal core wheel it can be hard to mount the bearing, in this case, use a rubber hammer or a square piece of wood to knock it in.
Never use a metal hammer as it will destroy the bearing and your warranty.
Alternatively, you can use some lubrication to get a bearing in place, if you do then remember all excess lubrication has to be removed afterwards.
The material of bearings is one of the most important factors for their quality and durability. Most bearings are made of steel. Cheap bearings are usually made of pressed sheet metal or hardened carbon steel, both types are not recommendable for a long lifespan.
Better bearings are made of real bearing-steel, such as chrome, titanium or Swiss steel.
In ceramic bearings (usually used for speed skating) the balls are made of industrial ceramic (Silicon Nitride). Ceramic balls seldom rust and are more durable than steel.
Price and quality are very closely related when it comes to bearings, and you can usually trust the known brands to produce good and durable bearings.
Bearings are categorized according to the industry accepted ABEC-specification. ABEC describes how good bearings are at translating the force applied on them. The higher ABEC classes provide better precision, efficiency, and greater speed capabilities, but do NOT necessarily make the components spin faster. The ABEC rating does not relate to other critical factors, such as the precision of spacers and wheels or the material. All bearings do lose their precision level after some wear.
Please note, that not all brands make use of the ABEC scale (e.g. Bones) and that other scales for bearings exist.
ABEC stands for Annular Bearing Engineering Committee.
Bearings can either use oil or grease as lubrication. A bearing must never run "out" of lubrication, if it does it will melt and lose speed or block completely.
Notice: Water can remove all lubrication! If this happens and the water dries, your bearings will get very hot and possibly melt and make sounds, the next time you use them. This means you need to replace the bearings. In some cases, if you have not rolled on them in between, it can be saved if cleaned and oiled properly before the next use.
In order to prevent dirt, sand and water to enter the bearings, a shield or seal is often placed on each or one side of the bearing.
There are a number of factors covered by the ABEC grades. One is the eccentricity (roundness) of the track in the inner ring. The table below is the maximum eccentricity allowed.
Type mm Inches ABEC 1 0. mm (0.") ABEC 3 0. mm (0.") ABEC 5 0. mm (0.") ABEC 7 0. mm (0.") ABEC 9 0. mm (0.")This means, that the higher the ABEC classification, the smaller the deviation in the parts of the bearing = more power is transferred to the wheel.
ABEC and ILQ cannot be directly compared since ILQ is a brand name and ABEC is a standard.
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ABEC bearings are measured on the accuracy in production and not the durability or function under a load. Twincam, the manufacturer of ILQ rates the quality of their bearings on a scale similar to the ABEC scale. But despite that, ILQ bearings has 6 balls, where ABEC bearings have 7.
To clarify the difference, ILQ is not a standard, such as ABEC bearings. ILQ should, therefore, be seen as an unrated bearing from a professional inline bearing manufacturer and is not optimal for industrial machinery.
Bones bearings are made purely for skating - and cannot be compared with ABEC specifications.
The vocabulary for bearings and their shields is listed below (the type of the bearing is usually printed on the bearing together with the size, e.g.: 608ZZ).
608
688
Z
ZZ
2RS/RS/RZ
BRS
Ball bearings are a type of rolling-element bearing used to reduce friction and guide rotating parts. They allow for the injection of motion between different parts and transmit energy for mechanical operation. This type of bearing uses balls to maintain the separation and distance between the bearing races. Ball bearings are designed to reduce rotational friction while supporting both radial and axial loads. They are primarily made from steel, but other materials such as ceramic and nylon are available.
Ball bearings are used in a wide range of applications within the power transmission and manufacturing industries. You will find ball bearings in everything from vehicles and white goods to agriculture and aerospace machinery. There are a wide range of bearing types and sizes to suit all applications. Roller bearings are a similar rolling-element bearing which feature cylindrical rollers for supporting heavier loads.
With a wide range of ball bearings available, it is important to choose the right type for your application. There are some common types of bearing, such as angular contact and deep groove, which offer different performance and characteristics. Here you will find information on these differences.
Each bearing type can also be open-style or closed/sealed. Open-style ball bearings are the most common variety. Shielded-style bearings feature metal shields on either one or both sides. The shield prevents dirt and debris from contacting and affecting the operation of the bearing. However, it also allows for the free flow of oil through the bearing for smooth operation.
There are two types of loads that have an impact on the function of the ball bearing; radial and axial. The radial load is projected around the radius and vertical force in relation to gear trains (ninety degrees to the shaft). Axial loads project horizontal force upon the bearing (the same axis as the bearing i.e. along the shaft). The other type of load to account for is dynamic, referring to the combined effects of the radial and axial forces. Ball bearings have been included in the manufacture of everything from skateboards to hard drives for optimum performance and functionality. Their main applications include:
Yes, ball bearings are specifically designed to reduce friction. These bearings contain balls which have less surface contact and produce less friction than a flat surface would. The inner ring and outer ring have rolling friction instead of sliding friction. Therefore ball bearings are able to spin smoothly. Due to the point contact of the balls to the raceway, these bearings can take relatively low loads, but at higher speeds than roller bearings. Conversely, roller bearings take higher loads but at slower speeds.
Ball bearings are commonly used in machinery but are also widely used across many industries. You can find roller bearings in household appliances through to automotive and aerospace applications.
It is important to follow the lifespan advised by the manufacturer of your chosen ball bearing. It is also important to identify when a ball bearing needs replacing. For example, changes in noises such as humming or clicking. There are also visible signs such as vibrations or misalignment. Condition monitoring can greatly reduce the chance of consequential damage from failed bearings.
Ball bearings are most commonly made from carbon steel, however, when anti-corrosion properties are required they can be made from 304 stainless steel. This is due to its durability and corrosion resistance. However, there are plastic ball bearings and ceramic hybrid bearings available too.
Budget-friendly plastic ball bearings don’t require any external lubrication and are corrosion-resistant, given the use of glass or plastic balls. These relatively lightweight bearings are suitable for use in particularly harsh environments and are a common choice for workers within the medical and food industries. Other common materials for ball bearings include steel and stainless steel.