Inline Skate Bearings

Skateboards predominantly use so-called precision ball bearings. Most bearings are manufactured from high-quality bearing steel, with the steel alloy determining the quality of the end product.

 

ABEC - The Magic Word

ABEC = Annual Bearing Engineers Committee

For many in the skating industry, ABEC remains the magic word when determining the quality of ball bearings. This is especially true for end users. ABEC ratings are often taken as a quality indication. This is only partly correct. Far more important factors, such as the quality of the material used (e.g. the steel alloy), groove geometry and the lubricant, are not taken into account!

ABEC is a "tolerance rating" measured in inches. It prescribes minimum and maximum values for tolerances in the bearing's physical dimensions, its precise shape and rotation accuracy, in inches (accuracy class). ABEC ratings 1 to 9 define the allowable mechanical tolerances for the manufacture of ball bearings. For skater's bearings, the exact bore diameter and outside diameter- i.e the accuracy of the inner and outer ring's dimensions- is particularly important. Other ABEC criteria include radial and axial accuracy.

The higher the number, the smaller the tolerance value and the more precise the bearing. Common ABEC ratings are 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9.

 

608 (The Standard Bearing)

The most common type of bearing is type "608", a single-row, deep-groove radial ball bearing with two fixed or removable shields.

 

688 (Micro Bearing)

Some speed skaters also use the type "688" Micro Bearing. This bearing is much lighter compared to type 608. A 688 deep-groove ball bearing consists of inner and outer rings, a ball cage and usually 10-11 balls.