Skateboard bearings might not be the flashiest part of your setup, but they are crucial for a smooth ride. They’re what allow your wheels to spin freely, and having a good set can make a significant difference in your skating experience. While there are many options available, you don’t need to spend a fortune to get quality bearings. This guide will break down everything you need to know about skateboard bearings, from their anatomy to materials and maintenance.
Skateboard Bearings: The Basics
A collection of various skateboard bearings
Skateboard bearings are generally priced between $8 and $200, but it’s important to find the sweet spot. Anything too cheap may break quickly, while the super expensive options are usually overkill. You should aim for a good quality set that won’t cost you more than $30.
Each skateboard wheel requires two bearings, and a spacer is often placed between them. Bearings are generally universal, following the 608 industrial standard. Key specifications include:
- 8mm bore
- 22mm outer diameter
- Special grease to minimize friction
- 6 to 8 ball bearings for smooth rotation
- 7mm width
- Mostly made of steel
- Some bearings come with built-in spacers
Anatomy of a Skateboard Bearing
Components of a ceramic skateboard bearing
Skateboard bearings consist of several parts, each with a crucial role:
- Retainer: This is a plastic piece that holds the bearing balls in place.
- Inner and Outer Races: These are the rings that contain all the parts together and provide a track for the balls.
- Bearing Balls: These small balls allow the bearing to rotate smoothly.
- Bearing Shields: These cover the bearing’s interior, keeping dirt and debris out.
- Spacers (Optional): Some bearings have embedded spacers to maintain alignment and prevent crushing.
Although all bearings have similar parts, their quality can vary widely. Cheap bearings made of inferior steel are prone to breakage, highlighting why investing in a mid-range set is advisable.
Bearing Balls
The bearing balls, typically 6 to 7, are held in place by the retainer. They rotate between the inner and outer races allowing the bearing to spin.
Inner & Outer Races
The inner and outer races provide the track for the bearing balls, keeping them aligned. These rings are the main structure holding the different parts together.
Retainer
The retainer, often made of nylon, keeps the balls evenly spaced, reducing friction and supporting the bearing’s structural integrity. The quality of the retainer can impact the overall strength of the bearing.
Bearing Shield
The shields protect the inside of the bearings from dust and sand. Many modern bearings have removable shields, making them easier to clean and lubricate. High-performance bearings might have closed shields to minimize friction at high speeds, especially in downhill longboarding.
Bearing Spacers
Spacers, typically made of plastic or metal, fit on the truck axle between the bearings. They maintain alignment, protect against crushing, and can reduce vibration, potentially making slides more controlled. While there are quality differences, even basic spacers work well for regular skating. Brands like Bronson often include metal spacers with their bearings, whereas Bones bearings usually require them to be purchased separately.
Speed Washers
Speed washers are thin rings that are not part of the bearing, but are placed on the truck axle outside of the bearing. They minimize friction and help the bearings roll smoothly. They also have a tendency to disappear when changing your wheels.
The ABEC Rating Myth
The ABEC rating, an acronym for Annular Bearing Engineering Committee, is a standard developed for industrial bearings, and it is often misleading for skateboard bearings. While the rating measures a bearing’s precision, that’s not what matters when skateboarding.
Industrial bearings operate at high speeds in a single direction. Skateboard bearings, conversely, experience impact from multiple angles, lateral stress, and variable environments. The average skater reaches about 2000 RPM while industrial bearings can reach 20.000 to 30.000 RPM. Even the fastest downhill skateboarder only reaches about 91 MPH. This means that the high precision required for industrial applications is not relevant for skateboarding.
Bones Bearings, for example, uses its own “Skate Rated” terminology, as the ABEC rating doesn’t apply to their products. It is the quality of materials rather than the ABEC rating that determine the performance and durability of skateboard bearings.
Skateboard Bearing Materials
The main material to look for in skateboard bearings is steel, especially high-quality steel. While titanium and ceramic bearings are also available, they aren’t necessarily better, and often more expensive.
Steel Bearings
Steel bearings are the most common and affordable option. They do heat up faster, but you likely won’t notice the difference. The biggest disadvantage is rust, but all bearings have steel parts anyway. To prolong their lifespan, avoid wet, dusty, or salty conditions and clean them periodically.
Brands like Bronson G2, Bones Reds, and Bones Swiss all use steel in their bearings. For most skaters, affordable steel bearings are more than adequate. Higher-grade steel might be useful for extreme skaters doing big tricks, but the average skater will be fine with mid-range steel bearings.
Ceramics
Ceramic bearings are often touted as superior, but the real difference is negligible. While they might maintain speed for a slightly longer period compared to cheaper bearings, they are not significantly faster than good quality steel bearings. The type of wheel you use affects your speed more than the bearings.
Ceramic bearings might last longer in wet conditions compared to steel, but they are not rust-proof. They are also weaker than metal bearings, not ideal for hard impacts. Ceramic bearings are more of a marketing gimmick, and their performance often isn’t worth the higher cost.
Titanium Bearings
Titanium is lightweight, durable, and stronger than steel. Titanium bearings are supposed to last longer and are rust-resistant. They usually consist of a titanium alloy coating with high-grade titanium balls, but I haven’t personally tested them. More research is needed to determine if they’re worth it.
Skateboard Bearings Maintenance
Contrary to popular belief, maintaining skateboard bearings is not always necessary. Cleaning can make them roll smoother for a short time, but after a while, the performance usually degrades. After cleaning, the grease often comes off, and although you can apply silicon lube, it only works for a while before dirt accumulates again.
Because bearings are not that expensive, it’s often easier to just replace them. If you do want to clean them, here’s how:
- Remove the shields, keeping the balls and retainer inside.
- Submerge the bearings in nail polish remover or alcohol for 30 minutes.
- Shake the bearings in a container to remove excess dirt.
- Clean the bearings using a tissue.
- Make sure they are dry before applying silicon lube.
Skateboard Bearings Are Not Waterproof
Skateboard bearings are not waterproof, regardless of the material. If your bearings get wet, remove them quickly, dry them with tissue or cloth to prevent rust and squeaking. Ceramic bearings are somewhat more resistant to water, as ceramic itself doesn’t rust, but the metal cage will rust over time.
Skateboard Bearings and Speed
There is minimal speed difference between most skateboard bearings. The biggest factors affecting speed are the size and hardness of your wheels along with the surface you ride on. Hard, smaller wheels will go much faster on slick concrete, but perform slower on rougher asphalt.
Difference Between Longboard and Skateboard Bearings
Longboard and skateboard bearings are designed with different purposes in mind. Longboard bearings are designed to roll longer, while skateboard bearings are meant to accelerate faster. Zealous bearings, for example, have a different grease that helps them roll longer after a break-in period.
Longboard bearings might feel sluggish at first, but are better for long distances. Skateboard bearings need that acceleration for tricks, making them less suited for long distance rides.
Recommended Skateboard Bearings
After testing many different bearings, here are some that I recommend:
Bronson G2
Bronson G2 skateboard bearings
Bronson G2 bearings are comparable to Bones Reds but are more durable and often come with spacers. They handle dirt and dust well and are a solid choice for both beginners and more advanced skaters.
Bones Standard Reds
Bones Reds skateboard bearings
Bones Reds are the most popular skateboard bearings worldwide, thanks to their low price point. They are not as durable as Bronson G2s, but still a great option, especially given their affordability. It often makes more sense to replace Bones Reds instead of cleaning them since the cleaning materials can cost almost as much.
Zealous Bearings
Zealous longboard bearings
Zealous bearings are designed for cruising and longboarding. They come with built-in spacers and a special grease that improves their rolling performance over time. They are popular for longboarders and cruisers but are not ideal for skateboarding.
Final Words
There are a lot of myths surrounding skateboard bearings. Some of these myths are hard to shake, likely due to marketing tactics. ABEC ratings, for example, are often mentioned when buying a complete setup, leading to unnecessary confusion.
Ceramic bearings appeal to many because of their price, suggesting that expensive gear automatically makes you a faster and better skater. While that’s usually not the case, they might give you a placebo effect, so if you already have them, you might as well use them.
Ruben vee
By Ruben Vee
