Are There Ceramic Bearings For Skates

Ceramic bearings for skates and skateboards are popular because they are stronger, reduce friction, and last much longer than the typical metal ball bearing. Many companies produce ceramic bearings today and many serious skaters prefer them for the best ride.

How do I know if my bearings are ceramic?

The only true way to know for sure is to remove at least one of the seals and look at the balls! This can be difficult on smaller bearings though, it is hard to get a good look at the balls and also hard to remove the seals.

Do ceramic wheel bearings make a difference?

According to research, a well-made ceramic bearing will roll faster, saving you energy and allowing faster cruising speeds compared to an equivalent steel bearing. They are also lighter than equivalent steel bearings, so swapping to ceramic bearings will reduce the weight of your bike.

Which bearings are used in roller skates?

The most common bearings are the 8mm 608 bearings, which are commonly used for quad skates or inline skate wheels. The 7mm 627 bearings are used for speed, recreational, and artistic quad skate wheels. 8mm 688 and 8mm 698 bearings are extra light and used in the fitness or speed skate wheels.

Are ceramic bearings better than steel?

Because ceramic bearings are harder than steel bearings, they are more durable, lasting anywhere from five to 20 times longer. Finally, ceramic bearings are lighter, because ceramic is less dense than steel (silicon nitride, for instance, has a 60 percent lower density than steel).

Do you need to lubricate ceramic bearings?

No, full ceramic bearings can be run completely dry. They do not need lubrication to run. Ceramic is non-porous, unlike steel, as a result it is virtually frictionless. Because there is no heat buildup and virtually no friction, full ceramic bearings can be run completely dry.

What is a disadvantage of ceramic bearings?

Ceramic bearings have lower load capacities in comparison to metals and are sensitive to thermal shock. Thermal shock is when the temperature gradient within the material causes a differential expansion, which results in an internal stress. This stress can exceed the strength of the material thus forming a crack.

Why use ceramic wheel bearings?

First, ceramic bearings have lower friction while spinning at high RPM. Their smooth surface and uniform size distributes the load evenly across the balls and doesn’t cause added friction from imperfections on the surface of the balls. This translates into less wattage needed in order to spin the bearing.

Do pro cyclists use ceramic bearings?

It’s in the professional peloton, a place obsessed with marginal gains, that ceramic bearings have become popular in the past couple of years. And naturally, where pros lead, amateur racers and sportive cyclists follow, keen to take advantage.

What size bearings do roller skates use?

Most inline and roller skate wheel bearings are the standard 608 size, with an 8mm bore, a 22mm diameter, and 7mm wide (open, sealed or non-serviceable and shielded) used for inline skates, scooters, skateboards and some quad speed skates.

Are skateboard bearings and roller skate bearings the same?

In terms of performance, yes you can use skateboard bearings in rollerblades. In terms of size, most of the bearings fit both skateboards and rollerblades alike.

What is a 608 bearing?

The standard inline skates bearings have the designation “608”. The “608” means that the bearings are from the 600 series, with a 8mm inner diameter (the width of the hole, i.e., internal bore). 608 bearings are also the standard size for skateboard bearings.

Is ceramic stronger than steel?

Extreme Hardness Surpassing that of Metals The hardness of alumina ceramics is nearly three times that of stainless steel; silicon carbide is more than four times harder than stainless steel. This extreme hardness is one of many unique properties that makes Fine Ceramics “super materials” for modern technology.

Are ceramic bearings fragile?

Yes. Full ceramic bearings have load ratings 25 to 35 per cent lower than steel bearings. As the material is much harder, it is also more brittle. Therefore, when put under too much pressure, ceramic material may crack while steel is more likely to suffer indentations.

Are ceramic bearings better skateboard?

What is a ceramic bearing?

Ceramic bearings are comprised of ceramic rolling elements (balls) enclosed in a ferrous (typically steel) inner and outer race. Since these bearings are constructed from many materials, they often operate in hybrid capacities.

Do ceramic bearings wear?

They must be perfectly round as they are much harder than steel bearings. If they are even slightly out of round a ceramic bearing will eat into the bearing races actually accelerating wear. The watt savings and component longevity is highly depending on quality and a high quality bearing takes several days to make.

What is ceramic bearing material?

Ceramics are non-ferrous materials that do not micro-weld when in contact with themselves. This allows ceramic bearings to run without lubrication.

What oil do you use on ceramic bearings?

For XD-15, ceramic zero, ceramic hybrid, and stainless steel bearings we use Kluber NBU52. This grease only runs better and smoother with time and is highly resistant to being washed out. It is engineered to stick to the balls and continually be pulled back into the ball path where it is needed.

Can you use normal grease on ceramic bearings?

There is absolutely nothing magic about ceramic bearings, including what lube you choose to use. Any grease will work just fine. For minimum rolling resistance, lighter weight greases are better.

How do you take care of ceramic bearings?

Full ceramic bearings are maintenance free. However, they can be washed using regular tap water or a standard bearing cleaner product if required. Make sure the bearing is completely dry before replacing it. These bearings do not need lubricant to operate, so there is no need to add an oil or grease at this stage.