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Ball bearings

General information about ball bearings

Ball bearings are what make your wheels spin on the truck axles. A ball bearing is made up of an outer and inner race that can rotate freely in relation to each other. This is thanks to balls that are held in place by a ring. Protective shields made of rubber or metal surround one or both sides of the ball bearing to protect against dust and dirt. The ball bearings we sell work for both skateboard and longboard wheels. The ball bearing raceways and balls are usually made of steel, but there are also more exclusive ceramic variants (read more about them below). The ring the balls sit in is usually made of steel or nylon. Ball bearings with nylon rings are better suited for higher rotation speeds. This is because nylon has lower friction, which produces less heat and less wear. The shields that surround the bearing are made of steel or rubber. Different types of ball bearings are different in terms of ease of maintenance. Ball bearings completely enclosed with metal shields are impossible to maintain, something for the lazy who throws away their bearings when they go bad. Bearings with a metal shield are fairly easy to clean and lubricate. Ball bearings with rubber shields are the easiest to maintain. It is easy to get them completely clean and then lubricate them again.

Heartwood Bearings Street Bolts Ceramic inside

ABEC

Many people confuse abec with how well a ball bearing rolls, which is not quite the whole truth. The roll also depends on the oil, how the balls are attached and other parameters. Ball bearings are graded on a scale called abec, which is a measure of the precision with which the bearing is manufactured. The values on the scale usually go from 1 to 9, where the precision increases with the number. A ball bearing with a higher abec has higher precision and thus lower friction, which results in it rolling better. However, as I said, other things are also important. The precision of your ball bearings unfortunately wears out over time, so how well they roll and how long they last depends a lot on how you maintain them.

Spacers

Something that will make your bearings last longer is spacers. Spacers sit between the ball bearings in your wheels and reduce wear on both the ball bearings and the wheels, especially when the lateral pressure occurs during slides. But they are also important when you turn. As soon as you load your wheel from the side, these spacers will ensure that the pressure is distributed evenly and that the ball bearings roll better. All wheels should have spacers inside them, but unfortunately it is not always a guarantee that the manufacturer put this in from the beginning. In that case, a recommendation is to upgrade your board with a set of spacers.

Speed rings

On each end of the wheel axle there is speed rings. These are washers whose function is to help your ball bearings run freely and not catch on the hanger, and thus prevent them from rotating. You may think that these small washers may feel insignificant, but they are still important if you want to get the best possible roll. If you are missing speed rings, you risk braking the ball bearing when you tighten the nut on the wheel. Your speed rings help to keep everything in place and distribute the pressure correctly. If you have neglected to remove these, you can always get a set of new ones here.

  • Boardlife Speedrings/washer silver
    Boardlife speedrings/washers black set
    15 kr
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    Boardlife Speedrings 8pcs

    ,
    Speedrings kan tyckas obetydligt men de gör i själva verket stor skillnad för belastningen på dina kullager. Framförallt varje gång du pressar hjulen i sväng eller slide så skapas ett tryck från sidan på kullagren och hjulen. En speedring på båda sidor av ditt hjul gör att du får en mer jämn belastning. Dessa speedrings finns både i svart och i silver. Välj det som passar din setup bäst.
    15 kr
    15 kr
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Ceramic ball bearings

There are also ball bearings made of ceramic. Ceramic ball bearings are more expensive than steel ball bearings, but those willing to pay for high quality get a bearing that has lower friction, can withstand heat better and does not rust when in contact with water.

There are both full ceramic and semi-ceramic. Semi-ceramic is the more common type of the two. This means that the balls in the bearing are made of ceramic. In full ceramic, the outer and inner ring are also made of ceramic. However, these are extremely expensive and are therefore less common.

Built-In – Ball bearings with built-in spacers & speedrings

There are ball bearings with built-in spacers and speedrings. These bearings are usually called Built-In. This means that you have the accessories you should have for the ball bearing built-in, and you don't have to keep track of all the different parts. These bearings work just as well as simple ball bearings with speedrings and spacers. For those of you who want to change the wheels on your board quickly and easily, Built-In is also a good tip. A good tip for Built-In with high quality and a good price is Street Bolts from Heartwood.

Open and closed ball bearings

There are different types of ball bearing shields. That is, what surrounds the balls in the bearings. In order to clean your bearings, it is important that you have bearings of the type that can be opened. Wiping your bearings regularly does not hurt, regardless of which type you have.

Closed warehouses

Are as it sounds closed. This means that they will keep out dirt and dust for much longer than openable ones because they are tighter. But once dirt gets in or if you expose your bearings to moisture, the damage is unfortunately already done. These bearings generally last better without service than openable types.

Openable warehouses

There are a few different types of openable bearings. The most common is the type that has a rubber disc/rubber seal. These usually come in a colorful version. In some cases, this closure is only on one side, but most often it is on both sides. You can easily peel off the protection with the end of a paper clip. Avoid needles or other sharp objects because you can damage the protection and dirt can then find its way in more easily. There are bearings that appear to be closed, but in some cases these can also be removed. These are held in place by a steel ring that is tightened outside the shield. You can peel this off using a pointed object. See the picture.

Open the layer with the end of a paper clip

Open the layer with the end of a paper clip

Open the ball bearing by peeling away the steel ring that secures the shield.

Open a ball bearing with a steel shield by peeling off the retaining ring.

How to clean your ball bearings

To clean your bearings, you need a type that can be opened (see above). It's all about cleaning the bearing and re-lubricating it. The procedure is fairly simple. 1. You start by removing your bearings from your wheels. Once this is done, remove the bearing shields according to the instructions above. 2. Wash your bearings in T-red or with some kind of grease remover. If you choose T-red, you can put your bearings in a PET bottle with a little T-red. You can also buy a Bearingcleaner from Bones. Screw on the cap and shake them well. Repeat this procedure with clean T-red until no more dirt comes off your bearings. To avoid wasting T-red and save nature, you can simply strain the dirty T-red through a coffee filter. Voila! Like new! 3. Make sure to dry all parts with paper so that you remove all dirt from both bearings and shields. Then let your bearings dry overnight. Are you in a hurry? Dry them with a hair dryer. When they are completely dry, it is time to lubricate them. 4. As for lubrication, this is done with grease or oil. A greased bearing lasts longer without maintenance but usually provides a slightly worse roll, while an oiled ball bearing has less friction and may need to be checked a little more often. A good one is Heartwood's Light Speed Bearing Oil. You will then get a bottle with a spout that makes the oil easy to apply. Start by putting on the protective shield on one side and then spray a couple of squirts of thin oil on the bearings. Spin them and make sure that all parts have oil on them. 5. Put on the last shield and wipe the bearings of excess oil. When you ride for the first time, more oil will probably be squeezed out. Therefore, make sure to dry them again after the first ride so that there is no solid dirt in the oil. Good ball bearings are supplied by brands such as Heartwood, Sector 9, Biltin, Bones and Zealous. Here you will find the ball bearings that Boardlife offers.

Popular ball bearings