Skateboard Bearings

Keep Your Skateboard Moving with Bearings

Skateboard bearings, the cylindrical components inside the wheel, facilitate axle rotation. Despite their modest size, these bearings significantly influence how smoothly your wheels spin and affect your overall performance. Their design is fairly intricate, comprising the inner and outer race, retainer, bearing balls, and the shield.

Skateboard bearings are standard, ensuring that each fits every skateboard wheel. You'll require two bearings for each wheel, making it eight per skateboard, along with spacers to bridge the gap between bearings.

Which Skateboard Bearings Should I Choose?

When selecting new bearings for a skateboard, consider these aspects: precision (ABEC rating), lubrication, material, and the bearing's shield/seal.

A prevalent misconception is that a high ABEC rating is necessary regardless of your skateboarding style. The rating spans from 1 to 9; the higher the number, the more precision and “roll” exist.

Nevertheless, opting for a high rating isn't always essential. For instance, if street skating is your preference, an ABEC 5 bearing should suffice. If you often ride vert, it might be beneficial to use ABEC 7 or 9 bearings to maximise your speed and achieve sufficient air time for tricks. Moreover, keep in mind that not all brands utilise the ABEC scale to assess bearing precision.

Need additional insights on which bearings to pick? Feel free to explore our extensive Buying Bearings Guide.

When to Change Skateboard Bearings

Skateboarding can be harsh on bearings due to impacts and accumulated dirt from surfaces. These factors can easily harm your skate bearings, negatively affecting your performance. Additionally, riding with noisy, rattling bearings can be distracting.

Therefore, replacing bearings occasionally is a prudent way to maintain a fresh board and ensure wheels roll smoothly. Bearing sets are also quite affordable, so having an extra set at home won't strain your budget.

However, if your skateboard bearings are underperforming, a thorough cleaning might be a solution before purchasing new ones. You can learn how to do this from our Bearing Cleaning and Lubrication guide.