Skateboard bearings are the metal rings that fit inside your skateboard wheels to mount the wheel to the axle. They are responsible for allowing the wheel to turn smoothly and for the speed at which it does so. In this skateboard bearing guide we will break down everything you need to know before upgrading your skateboard set-up or replacing a set of worn bearings.
Skateboard bearing sizes
There are many skateboard bearings on the market but they are all constructed in the same way and in exactly the same dimensions. Bearing sets come in eight, (two for each wheel) and any set of bearings will fit your skateboard wheels. The only differences you’ll find is in the quality of the materials and the way they are made.
What makes up a skateboard bearing?
While skateboard bearings are only small, and may seem like they are not a particularly significant part of your complete skateboard, they are actually incredibly complex and will make a big difference to how your skateboard or longboard rides.
The individual skateboard bearing parts are:
- Outer race: The round metal exterior that houses all of the bearing’s internal parts
- Bearing shield: a flat ring that fits into the outer race to prevent dirt from getting inside
- Inner race: the smaller metal ring that fits in the centre of the outer race – this is the part that slides onto the axle of your truck
- Ball retainer: this holds the individual ball bearings in place
- Steel balls: a set of seven steel balls that rest in the ball retainer
Bearing spacers
Some sets of skateboard bearings will come with spacers, such as our Pro Series ABEC7's. They are small cylinders, the same circumference as the inner race on a bearing, which are designed to fit inside the core of the wheel between the two bearings. These spacers help to keep the bearings aligned and allow you to fully tighten your wheels, without hindering the spin of the wheel.
Bearing speed washers
We would also recommend that you use the washers provided in our Pro Series bearings. Speed washers are thin metal rings that fit over the axle between the nut and the bearing, and the hanger and the bearing. You may also see them referred to as speed rings or bearing washers.
Speed washers work by acting as a buffer between the bearing and nut/hanger, reducing friction and allowing the bearing to spin freely. This means they will spin faster, giving you a faster ride. The lack of contact also protects the bearing helping them last longer.
The chain of components along the axle
To help understand how the bearings fit together with spacers and speed washers on the axle, here is the running order of components on the truck’s axle from outside to in.
Steel vs Ceramic Skateboard Bearings
The industry standard for skateboard bearings is steel. However, there are bearings on the market made from ceramic which do offer slightly different qualities. Ceramic skateboard bearings are considered by some as superior because they are heat resistant and create less friction at faster speeds. They also don’t rust like steel bearings so it’s common conception that they may last a little longer. However, in a ceramic bearing it’s only the actual ball bearings which are made from ceramic while the inner and outer races are steel so they still require care and attention if they get wet.
Ceramic bearings can be faster than a steel set of the same rating but are often much more expensive and because ceramic is a brittle material, it is possible for them to crack if you’re performing high impact tricks.
What is the ABEC scale?
The majority of manufacturers measure the quality of skateboard bearings by the ABEC rating. The higher the ABEC rating is, the more accurate and precise the engineering of that bearing is which in turn, should mean a faster set. The ABEC scale runs as follows:
- ABEC 1 skateboard bearings are cheap and manufactured from low quality steel – they might be found on a toy shop skateboard that barely rolls
- ABEC 3 skateboard bearings are inexpensive but will still not roll particularly smoothly or at any speed
- ABEC5 skateboard bearings are reasonable both in terms of quality and value
- ABEC7 skateboard bearings will be fast enough and smooth enough to offer a good ride to most amateur skaters
- ABEC9 skateboard bearings top the ABEC scale as the fastest, most well-made bearings that will have you rolling at speed with minimal effort
How to clean bearings on a skateboard
Whilst most parts of your skateboard or longboard set up require regular maintenance to keep them in good condition, bearings do need some extra care. You will find they are quite sensitive thanks to all of the different moving parts.
The steel construction of the ball bearings means they are prone to rust, so if they get wet, it’s important to open them up and clean and oil them. Take a look at our skateboard bearings cleaning guide for everything you need to know.
At Two Bare Feet, we only offer bearings at the higher end of the ABEC scale, featuring precision-milled steel components to give you a fast and smooth upgrade on your current set. Our complete skateboards come set-up with ABEC7 rated bearings, with all of our skateboard wheels also coming complete with high quality bearings.
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