Be it in a park or on the asphalt, skateboarding has long been both a form of transportation and a way to have fun. Skateboarding helps a lot when it comes to keeping your body in shape. It helps improve your balance and strengthen your core whilst being good for developing other muscle groups. These include muscles on your legs, and back. Essentially your whole body is working together to keep your skateboard going.
This is especially true when you're doing tricks as they demand even more physical effort. But although skateboarding requires physical effort, it wasn't always the same. With the introduction of bearings, things got a little bit easier, which meant you could push a skateboard with a lot less force. Bearings essentially make the turning of the wheels a lot easier since they multiple the force you put into pushing the skateboard.
What are ABEC Bearings?
Although there are other off-the-shelf skateboard bearings ABEC rated bearings are different. They are made thanks to industry standards that determine the specs of the bearing depending on its rating. For example, ABEC 3 bearings are more affordable than an ABEC 7 bearing but its not as capable.
What to Consider when Buying ABEC Bearings
Rating
Obviously, the first thing you should consider is the rating. ABEC bearings come at five different ratings, ABEC 1, ABEC 5, ABEC,7 ABEC 9 and an ABEC 3 bearing. As you already know ABEC 3 bearings are the more affordable option which is not as crude as an ABEC 1 bearing which is also the cheapest. The most common ABEC bearings are ABEC 5 bearings which allow reasonable speed levels and come in at a reasonable price.
ABEC 7 bearings offer extremely fast speeds and a smooth ride too but they are not near being affordable. ABEC 9s are something that only downhill skateboarding can benefit from as they allow you to go the fastest you can on a skateboard but also have the highest price tag.
Material
When it comes to longevity, the rating does not play a role, but the material a skateboard bearing is made of, does. If you want the industry standard bearing material you should go for steel. These type of bearings are both affordable and durable. But one thing to keep in mind is that you need to keep the bearings well oiled to keep them on your skateboard.
There are also ceramic bearings that are heat resistant and harder than steel. Ceramic bearings do not create as much friction, allowing you to travel at faster speeds but they are also much more expensive. If you want the best material a bearing can be made of, just go for titanium. Titanium bearings are lightweight yet highly durable and rust-resistant. But like steel, they too need to be well lubricated due to friction
Spacers
The size of bearing spacers is going to be determined by the type of board you have. Spacers help distribute the weight to each bearing and can affect ride smoothness and stability. Bearing spacers need to fit into the wheel and usually, you'll find wheels with an 8 mm by 10 mm spacer which is the most common size.
Washers
The speed washers are used to reduce friction so they can help the wheels turn faster. While they are an optional add-on they can tremendously improve ride speed. The size of the washer is crucial as otherwise, it won't fit into the wheel much like a spacer.
What is a Bearing Made of
Shields
The shields on a skateboard bearing are the components that help protect the balls, which we'll talk about in a minute, from dust and debris. Some bearings have removable shields others have none or just one shield which helps reduce friction.
Balls
The metal balls inside the bearing are the core elements of every bearing. They help determine the levels of friction and the speed at which you can travel. Fewer balls mean less friction and higher speeds.
Races
What the metal balls sit in are called races. Bearings can have inner and outer races which hold the balls and create the inner and outer walls of the bearing. If a bearing has no races, consider the balls to be useless and thus the whole bearing.
C-Ring
To keep the shields in place a bearing has a c-ring that fits into a groove on the outside of it.
Retainer & Seal
The ball retainer or also known as the Delrin crown is a special component that like races allows holds them in place and allows them to spin without flying out of the bearing. Bearings come with a soft rubber ring too which is placed on the outside. This rubber ring is called a seal which helps shield the interior of the bearing from debris and dirt. Although seals do the same thing as shields they are not the same thing as they are made of rubber.
