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Bearing Basics
This brief tutorial will serve to cover the very basics of inline skate bearings. Covered will be how many bearings you need, the types of bearings, and the different size bearings you can find at InlineWarehouse.com.
HOW MANY DO I NEED?
Two bearings are needed for each wheel. Bearings therefore are most commonly sold in packs of 16, but may also be purchased in packs of 8, 20 or even singles.
WHERE DO THEY GO?
The diagram below shows where two inline skate bearings are placed into a wheel. Notice that in the center of the wheel (in between the bearings), there is a bearing spacer. This spacer adds support to the inner structure of the wheel, and allows the bearings to rotate freely.
WHAT DO THEY DO?
Inline Skate Bearings allow for the rolling motion of a wheel on its axle. They consist of 6, 7, or 8 balls enclosed in races between two shields.
Bearing Parts
Bearing Shields
The sides of the bearing are known as the shields. They work to keep dirt from getting in and the ball bearings from falling out. Although a few bearings are sealed so that shields cannot be removed, most bearings have removable shields to allow for cleaning and maintenance.
C Clip
The C Clip is what keeps the shields in place on serviceable bearings. It’s basically a thin C-shaped wire that fits tightly into a groove around the outside perimeter of the bearing shield. See the video section on How To Clean Bearings to see the removal of the C Clip for the purpose of cleaning and maintenance.
Delrin Crown The Delrin Crown may be found once removing the shield. The crown holds and separates the individual ball bearings.
Ball Bearings Inside the bearing contained by Delrin Crowns, are the ball bearings themselves. Most bearings contain 7 balls, but some like the Bones Super Swiss 6 contain 6 larger balls for increased strength and speed. Titanium and Ceramic balls are also used for strength and to reduce friction.
BEARING SIZES (Standard 608 & Micro 688) You’ll notice two different size bearings on the site: Standard 608 Bearings & Micro 688 Bearings. Micro Bearings are clearly labeled on the site. The bearing size needed, directly correlates with the wheel hub size.
Standard Bearings are used only with Standard Hub wheels, as Micro Bearings are used only with Micro Hub wheels. Standard Bearings being most common, have a much wider selection to choose from online.
The advantages of a Micro Bearing are that they are smaller in size, and lighter in weight. A Micro Bearing typically uses more ball bearings per bearing than the 608, allowing for weight to be more evenly distributed and with greater efficiency. How greatly a Micro Bearing would improve ones speed, is arguable.
It is possible to change over from one size bearing to another. To do so, normally all that is needed is a change in . Then of course, you would need to change wheels with a hub size to match. Changing the bearing spacer enables all existing axles and hardware to continue to work after the change.
Additional Information Proper cleaning and maintenance of your bearings will considerably add life to your bearings. Maintaining your bearings with lubricant help to keep them clean, reduce friction, and keep them spinning like new. View Items to Help Keep Your Bearings Spinning Like New - CLICK HERE.
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