Skateboard Bearings

Bearings are indispensable for skating. They are responsible for your wheels turning properly. Without bearings, you would have difficulty getting from A to B and would have to push constantly. In the skatedeluxe skate shop you will only find high quality skateboard ball bearings of the best brands. All bearings in our assortment are standardied and fit all types of skateboard wheels. To make your decision a little easier, we have collected some useful information about skateboard bearings.

Frequently asked questions about skateboard bearings:

• Why do you need bearings for skating?
• How are skateboard bearings constructed?
• What does ABEC mean?
• What are Skate-Rated bearings or ceramic bearings?
• What about Spacers and Speedrings?
• Why does it make sense to buy brand name bearings?
• Where can I find more information and recommendations about skateboard bearings?

Without bearings, the wheels on your skateboard would be very difficult to turn. The movement of the bearings keeps your wheels in motion. The balls inside the bearings rotate when you put them in motion, which makes the whole wheel rotate. Bearings make you go faster and ensure that you don't get out of breath after 50 metres.

As already mentioned, you don't have to pay attention to the size when choosing the bearings for your skateboard. They are standardized and therefore fit in every wheel. Skateboard bearings, which you can buy in the skatedeluxe skate shop, also fit in all conventional longboard wheels.

The bearings are located in the wheels. One wheel is fitted with two bearings and the whole thing is then mounted on the axle. Skateboard bearings roughly consist of two rings. Between the inner and outer ring of the bearings there are six or seven balls, depending on the bearing. The balls are held in position by a bearing cage, the so-called ball cage.

1. Outer ring
2. Inner ring
3. Ball cage
4. Balls

On the sides of the bearings are usually the shields. Depending on the bearings, they are located on both sides, only on the outside or they are left out completely. The shields are to protect your skateboard bearings from dirt.

Some skaters remove the shields, which means that the bearings are much louder. At this point the argument is often made that the dirt, which could now get into the bearings more easily, also goes out more easily. Of course it is up to you whether your bearings run with or without shields. Skateboard bearings are delivered pregreased and are ready for use after assembly!

The abbreviation ABEC stands for "Annular Bearing Engineers Committee" and is a standard for how finely the rolling elements (this is what the balls in the bearing are called) are machined. The higher the ABEC rating, the lower the fault tolerance in the manufacture of these components.

Since comparatively low speeds of the bearings are achieved during skating, the ABEC rating can be neglected. The full potential of the ABEC rating is not nearly exhausted when skating. ABEC 7 or 9 bearings only develop their actual power at 20,000 - 30,000 revolutions per minute. With a 54 mm wheel this would correspond to a speed of over 200 km/h.

As the ABEC rating for skateboard bearings is of no real significance, manufacturers are increasingly moving away from the ABEC designation. Bearings developed for skateboarding are now increasingly marked as "Skate-Rated".

"Skate-Rated Bearings" or "Skate-Tested Bearings" are characterised by the fact that they have been specially developed for skateboarding. Skateboard bearings have to meet high demands, such as the impact of tricks or lateral forces during steering. In short, skate bearings must be very resistant and durable.

Absolutely high-end bearings are Swiss-Bearings such as those from Bones. These skateboard bearings are characterised by first-class materials and precise workmanship. Swiss Bearings are manufactured by Bones Bearings since the 80s especially for skateboarding in Switzerland. Other brands also call their highest quality bearings "Swiss". However, the place of manufacture here does not necessarily have to be in Switzerland.

Also with skateboard bearings the development does not stop and so there are for example ceramic bearings for skateboards. The balls in these ball cages are made of extra-hardened ceramic and are even longer lasting due to their rust resistance.

In addition, ceramic balls are usually slightly lighter than steel balls and have less friction. Therefore they are theoretically faster and it is possible to accelerate faster. Of course, this new technology is also somewhat more cost-intensive.

You can rely on our skatedeluxe bearings as much as any other skate-rated bearings. We attach great importance to the quality of our hardgoods. Bearings with the SK8DLX logo not only offer a fair price, but also great performance.

Spacers are small metal cylinders that are placed between two bearings on the axle. If you accidentally overtighten the nut on the axle, the spacer will protect the bearings and the core of the wheel from damage. Especially if you want to ride softer skateboard wheels, it is useful to use spacers. This keeps your bearings in place and parallel to each other.

1. Hanger
2. Axle
3. Wheel
4. Bearings
5. Spacer
6. Speedrings
7. Axle nut

Speedrings are the small washers that are placed between the bearing and the hanger or axle nut. These are already present on every skateboard axle. There they minimize the friction of the bearings on the axle, which makes your wheels turn better. In general we recommend to use spacers and speed rings.

Many bearings you can buy in the skatedeluxe skate shop already come to your home with spacers and some also with spare speedrings. Additionally you can also find skateboard bearings with integrated spacers like the "Race Reds" from Bones Bearings. You can find the hint in the product descriptions of the skateboard bearings. If you need more, you can find replacements in the skateboard accessories section.

There are two main arguments for buying skateboard bearings from skate brands: Speed and durability. Bearings not specifically designed for skateboarding have a much shorter life and are more prone to damage. (If they are used on the skateboard.) "Skate-Rated" bearings are generally faster, which in turn has a positive effect on the fun of riding, as you simply roll longer and easier.

Skateboard bearings are exposed to shocks, bumps and dirt every day. "Skate-Tested" bearings were developed for exactly these requirements. Regular bearings can hardly withstand these high demands. If you need not only new bearings, but a new skateboard in general, we recommend our Skateboard Configurator. This is the fastest way to get your new setup.

Assembly, cleaning & more - tips and recommendations for skateboard bearings

You can find more information and know-how about skateboard bearings in our bearing Wiki or the Buyers Guide Videos. All necessary small and spare parts as well as cleaning containers and skate bearing oil can be found in the skateboard accessories section.