The bearing is the essential piece needed in all the skateboard wheels, Its prices from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars, This little one plays a big role in the wheel build, without bearing there is no wheel spinning stably, we will share some knowledge of the bearing, how it works, what's inside, how to distinguish the quality.
What is the bearing?
The bearing is one of the essential pieces which fit inside the wheels to mount the wheels to the axle. The bearing size is all the same despite how big your wheel is, the bearing will fit in all the skateboards.
Skateboard bearings are usually sold in sets of eight, each wheel on the skateboard needs 2 bearings to be mounted on.
WHAT's ABEC RATING?
The bearing was rated by ABEC rating grades:1, 3, 5, and 7. There are not some critical factors to define the ABEC rating. The ball precision, material Rockwell hardness, load handling capabilities, noise, lubricant ETC... These factors define the bearing in 7 levels.
ABEC 1
This bearing tends to be the cheapest, roughly crafted, and not precise. The material of the steel is not decent.
ABEC 3
This skateboard bearings are generally inexpensive and do not roll smoothly or quickly.
ABEC 5
This skateboard-bearing application to most types of skateboard wheels with fast speed at an affordable cost.
ABEC 7
This skateboard bearings are very fast, smooth, and cost slightly more.
ABEC 9+
This skateboard bearing is pretty fast! They have done great for downhill and offer skaters insanely speed.
What part composed the bearing?
The skateboard bearing is arguably the most complex part of your setup, the small piece includes 7 parts assembly: C-ring, bearing shield, Outer ring, Inner Ring, Steel ball, Ball retainer, Rubber seal.
The bearing works perfectly when different pieces function properly, but you still need to do a basic clean after rolling a long period. Your bearing can be eventually stopped working if the dirt buildup, and the wheel going to stop spinning thus, As long as you skate outside, it is a must to clean your bearing timely. We will write another blog to teach how exactly to clean the bearing.
Conclusion
Bearings extend the working life of wheels, pulleys, and other rotating parts by reducing friction and enabling parts to move smoothly. More details.