One of the most important aspects of skateboarding is choosing the right bearings, which can make a big difference in your riding experience.

This guide explores skateboard bearings and provides information on how to choose and install them. It covers skateboard bearing parts, materials, and ABEC ratings.

Through this guide, you will have a better understanding of skateboard bearings and know how to choose the right one for your ride.

Before we talk about the different types of bearings, it's important to note that a bearing is made up of several parts, including balls, inner and outer races, retainers, shields, and bearing spacers. Each part plays an important role in the functionality of the bearing and affects the overall performance of your skateboard.

We explain the function of each part and how it affects how comfortable and fast you ride.

Balls Skateboard bearings have 6 to 7 balls that roll freely along the track formed by the inner and outer races. The balls are held in place by retainers. Balls are at the heart of how bearings work: fewer balls means less friction and more speed.

Inner and Outer Races <br>The races form the tracks for the balls to roll along and make up the inner and outer walls of the bearing. The inner race fits onto the axle and the outer race sits inside the wheel hub. The balls roll between the two races, allowing the wheel to rotate smoothly.

retainer
Retainers keep the balls in place, ensuring they are evenly spaced from one another, reducing friction while increasing strength. Retainers come in a variety of designs and materials, including nylon, steel, and brass.

shield
Shields cover the sides of the bearing and protect the balls from dust and debris. Some bearings have removable shields for easier cleaning. Some bearings have no shields to reduce friction.

Bearing Spacers <br>Your bearing set may include bearing spacers. These are small cylindrical parts that fit onto the axle and sit between the bearings in the wheel core. They keep the bearings properly aligned so that they don't restrict wheel rotation even when the axle nut is fully tightened. If you're trying to power slide with soft wheels, they can reduce vibration, making the slide smoother and more controllable.

Steel bearings are the most common and widely used due to their durability and affordability. However, the quality of the steel varies depending on the grade. Their main drawback is that they are prone to rust when exposed to moisture. Therefore, keeping them well oiled and avoiding skating in wet conditions is important to ensure their longevity.

Ceramic bearings have become increasingly popular in recent years. They are harder and less likely to deform than steel bearings, making them more resistant to wear and less friction at high speeds. Ceramic bearings do not rust when exposed to moisture, making them ideal for rainy weather, such as cruisers. However, ceramic is a brittle material and can easily break when skating under high impact.

Titanium is lightweight, durable, and highly rust-resistant. Titanium bearings perform similarly to steel bearings, but their strength and corrosion resistance means they last longer. Like steel bearings, it's important to keep them lubricated to reduce excess friction.

The ABEC rating is a system used to grade the manufacturing precision and quality of ball bearings. The ABEC rating system has five levels: ABEC 1, ABEC 3, ABEC 5, ABEC 7, and ABEC 9. The higher the number, the more precisely the bearing is manufactured and the smoother it rolls. However, the ABEC rating only evaluates the bearing's precision and smoothness of rolling; it does not take into account other factors important to skateboarding, such as durability, impact resistance, lubrication quality, and corrosion resistance. Therefore, it is important to understand that a bearing with a high ABEC rating is not necessarily the best choice for skateboarding.

The best skateboard bearings are those that are clean and well-oiled. If you want to go fast, it's important to keep them clean. To learn more about how to clean your bearings, check out our article on how to clean your bearings.