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What Are the Best Ball Bearing Brands? Read Our Ball Bearing Reviews!
From bikes to skateboards and virtually every other machine with moving parts, the best ball bearings should be durable enough to help reduce friction. Above all, they should come at a price that meets your budget. Check out our best five ball bearings review and choose the right one for your needs.
Related: How to Take Care of Your Car to Make It Last Longer
Our Top Choice
The VXB Shielded Miniature Ball Bearings are perfect for use in skateboards and scooters. They come in a pack of 10 balls made of durable carbon steel. Looking for a ball bearing for your gearbox or sander? Consider choosing the
VXB Sealed Ball Bearings; it might be just what you’re looking for!
VXB Pack of 10 Shielded Miniature 8 x 22 x 7mm Small Ball Bearings
Features
VXB was established back in 1958 with the aim of providing well-engineered and designed ball bearings. It’s committed to ensuring that all of its products deliver optimal performance and construction to meet customer’s unique needs. If you’re in need of a ball bearing for any purpose, this brand may be your best bet!
The VXB Shielded Miniature Ball Bearings come enclosed in a nicely designed metal double-shield that protects the balls from any contamination that may otherwise reduce their life. They come in a pack of 10 bearings that are made of durable carbon steel. The set also features a single-row bearing designed to offer increased support for radial loads, and the bearings are made of carbon steel for added durability for larger loads. Further, with a maximum RPM of 34,000 and dimensions of about 0.3 x 0.9 x 0.3 inches, these bearings are perfect for use in skateboards and scooters if you’re interested in a smooth ride. Did we mention that they’re also low-maintenance, as they’re self-lubricating? Seriously, these are pretty effective bearings—why not try them out?
Best Value
The Bones Bearings Reds Bearings come pre-lubricated with Speed Cream racing lubricant and feature a rubber shield for less friction and easy cleaning. They’re perfect for use in skateboards and scooters. Need something lighter for greater speeds and absolute precision? Then choose
Bones Ceramic Ball Bearings Super Reds for the ultimate skating experience.
Bones Bearings Reds Steel Ball Bearings – Also Available with Spacers & Other Accessories
Features
Bones Bearings is a highly regarded name in the skateboard niche for its quality line of ball bearings. With a commitment to offering only the best products, this brand has set itself apart as one of the leading providers of skateboard bearings worldwide.
Whether you’re an amateur or professional skater, your greatest desire is to have a smooth ride at top speeds. The Bones Bearings Reds Bearings are uniquely engineered to give you that much-desired performance and durability. These bearings come in a pack of 8 and are made from carbon steel for guaranteed durability and strength. To give you a much simpler cleaning experience, they also feature a removable rubber shield which doubles as a way to reduce the amount of friction you experience.
Another unique quality of these bearings is that they’re lubricated with the company’s Speed Cream to ensure a quick yet smooth ride and utmost durability. Adding to their level of speed is the nylon ball retainer it comes with, which ensures strength and a high level of tolerance, alongside its quality materials.
The Yellow Jacket Pre-Lubricated Premium Bearings are designed of high-quality and durable chrome steel for smooth and reliable motion. If you need a inline skates or roller skate ball bearings, Yellow Jacket has those too. Check out the
Stingers Premium Ball Bearings.
Yellow Jacket Stripes Pre-Lubricated Premium Chrome Steel Bearings for Skateboards and Longboards – Available in 11 Colors
Features
Yellow Jacket has earned itself a great reputation as a global leader in the manufacture of high-quality ball bearings for skateboard enthusiasts. By ensuring only quality products reach the market, the company has garnered a huge number of satisfied customers.
A popular product among skateboard enthusiasts worldwide, Yellow Jacket’s Premium Bearings are designed to provide high speeds and precision. The balls boast a high-quality chrome steel build, so that they offer a top-notch and ultimately enjoyable skating session. To further enhance this experience, these bearings are also pre-lubricated with ultra-fast lube so that your speed is practically unfettered.
Featuring a versatile design that can be used for multiple boards, they feature an engraved yellow seal to ensure the bearings remain clean and free of particles. Better yet, by buying these bearings you’re guaranteed of genuine quality, as each of these bearings is formally inspected before they’re available for purchase. And still, if that wasn’t enough, this brand offers a hassle-free money-back guarantee just in case there’s something wrong with your bearing; it can’t hurt to give them a try. If you want these bearings but in a different color, you’re in luck! There’s a huge eleven colors to choose from including blue, orange and red.
The TRB RC Traxxas Replacement Precision Bearings are made of chrome steel for excellent surface quality, high hardness, and high load-bearing capacity. Want new ball bearings for your Castle brushless motor? Then the
Brushless Motor Ball Bearings by TRB RC is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
TRB RC Traxxas Replacement Precision Rubber and Steel Ball Bearings
Features
As one of the most popular and leading brands, TRB RC has over 30 years of experience in the manufacture and retail of wide-ranging products for its esteemed customers. Since its inception, the company has seen great success in providing high-quality lubricants and fastener replacements, miniature ball bearings, and precision balls globally.
The Traxxas Replacement Precision Bearings are made of chrome steel for excellent surface quality, high hardness, and high load-bearing capacity. They also come rubber-sealed to provide the ultimate protection from dirt and debris, giving you a smooth, durable, and precise drive. To make these bearings even better, they have minimum friction and generate less heat than some others, making them smoother and more efficient. And finally, they provide high speeds with hardly any noise—is there anything not to love about these high-quality bearings?
The Double Sealed Deep Groove Ball Bearings come in a standard size, making them suitable for use in most RC trucks and cars or similar applications. In search for the perfect steel ball bearings for your skateboard or scooter? Well, the
623ZZ Deep Groove Ball Bearings might be exactly what you need.
Amico 5 Pack Double Sealed Deep Groove Steel Ball Bearings
Features
Amico is a Malaysian company that was founded over 20 years ago with the objective to meet customers’ needs through quality products. The company strives to be a global leader in the manufacture and distribution of power transmission products as well as virtually all kinds of bearings.
The Amico Deep Groove Ball Bearings are of a standard size, so they’re suitable for use in most RC trucks and cars or other projects that require the 0.1 x 0.4 x 0.2 inches. They’re designed with double shields on each bearing to protect them from contaminants that may otherwise interfere with the performance. In case you know you’ll be needing your bearings to handle heavier loads, these are designed just for that. Further, these bearings are pre-lubricated using grease, which ensures they’ll last a long time and be fairly easy to clean.
Best Small Ball Bearing Guide: Steel Ball Bearings vs Ceramic Ball Bearings – Which Is Right for You?
What keeps skateboard wheels going? Or that spin bike that you ride every morning at the gym? Well, there is the energy and will of course but then, to make all that possible, there are small balls at the center or inner circle of the circular rolling object: ball bearings. But how do you know the right ones to use? Knowing what factors to consider ahead of time will help steer you towards the best ball bearing for your unique needs. So, what exactly should you consider? Let’s find out.
First things first, are you looking for serviceable bearings or sealed ones? The prior comes with removable shields that enable you to clean and lubricate when necessary. The high-end ones will more often than not promote once-in-a-while service to allow longevity and optimize the rolling experience.
Sealed bearings, on the other hand, have non-removable shields that protect the balls from what might keep them from not rolling efficiently or at all. Since there’s no servicing here, that means you can only replace them when deemed to be unfit for rolling. Consider the scaled option if you don’t want to perform maintenance procedures; they’re fit for use in longboards and scooters. Beware that they might limit you in performance, though.
If you’re familiar with ball bearings, you might have heard of AEBC, SG, and ILQ. They refer to standards that represent scales. These levels describe the tolerances needed to keep the proposed mechanism and will range from 1 – 9. The large numbers imply higher performance when it comes to smoothness and rolling sustenance measures. Rating is used by every manufacturer to compare the different bearings within the same brand. That should tell you that the same rate on two products from different brands doesn’t mean they perform the same.
Size is, of course, another factor; but don’t worry about this unless you know very well that you need to be specific here. Many bearings will possess a standard 6mm, which can also be referred to as the 608 size. Specialization may fall on a few skate ball bearings, which have a specification of 7mm on the axles. Below are other factors you should keep in mind to ensure that you get the best ball bearings.
Video: Learn the Types of Bearings Out There
A Quick Overview on the Different Types of Bearings. | Courtesy of GearBoxVideo
Price
Nobody wants to spend more than what’s necessary, but that doesn’t give us an excuse to compromise on the quality. For good ball bearings that will function appropriately without too much trouble, the prices can range from $5 to $16 and anything between. So, what brings about the difference in pricing? Well, going with a premium model means that you gain better sealing of the balls, more inner ball bearings, and high-quality material.
However, if you’re looking for bearings for some lightweight tasks, there are several great low-end bearings that you can choose from. These models come with more reasonable price tags, but with relatively good performance. Still though, be careful to avoid buying cheap ball bearings; these will likely be less efficient and made of lower-quality materials compared to their slightly more-expensive counterparts.
Features
With the many different types and sizes of ball bearings out there, choosing the best one can be a bit of a challenge. Here are some of the important features to look out for when you’re out on the prowl for the best product:
- Size - A common and most popular size is the 608-sized bearings. But you’ll need to confirm if the one you wish to buy will fit your application.
- Design - There is generally two types of ball bearing designs, including the pre-lubricated and miniature. Choose one based on how you intend to use your bearings.
- Sealed or open-style bearing - Open-style have a shield to protect the balls and are not removable. They’re good for spinners and are lubricated. For the open types, you can see the balls. They’re easy to clean but can also get dirty pretty fast.
- Shielded Bearing - Some come with shields on both sides to offer protection. The balls are quite safe inside, but not completely sealed. The shield is, however, removable for cleanup purposes.
- Material - The type of material used will greatly affect your bearing’s performance and longevity. Some of the materials to choose from include metal, ceramic, steel, and titanium.
- Count - How many ball bearings will you need for your application? Choose a package that includes the right number of ball bearings you need.
- Warranty - This ensures that you get a money-back guarantee in case the bearings you order have some defects or aren’t according to your specifications.
Construction and Design
This is what defines the make, quality, and durability of what you’re going to use. For the bearings to be functional in accordance to your preferences you have to be choosy of the material that they’re made of; otherwise, you’ll mess up. As we discuss, just keep in mind that the smoothness of operation increases the further down the list we get.
The most basic and common material is the steel metal. For these, almost every part is steel. Other specifications may include having chrome, alloy, or carbon types of steel. Sometimes such bearings will have the cage or separator made of nylon.
Plastic bearings, on the other hand, are made of nylon and sometimes come with glass balls. They are indeed cheap, but they’re not a favorite of many due to something you might call rugged smoothness or not having a smooth ride.
More expensive ones will claim to have ceramic or full ceramic. They’re quieter than the ones mentioned above, and the most common material is silicon nitride. On the higher end is the hybrid. They’re made of ceramic, but the inner and outer rings are made of steel. The combination gives them their name.
Video: Maintenance of Bearings
Caring and Maintaining Ball Bearings. | Courtesy of FAR&FURTHER
Performance and Ease of Use
The best bearings will either be made to protect the balls from getting clogged up with dirt or be open to enable cleaning up. While those made to seal the balls require less cleaning maintenance, open types have to be cleaned after every single use; when the need arises, they are the easiest to clean. Any bearing type is suited to withstand wear and tear. However, the high-quality models are designed to bear more work routines.
Pre-lubricated models, come ready to use right out of the box, which makes them hassle-free to use. Moreover, they’re maintenance-free as you don’t have to keep on lubricating them to ride smoothly and with high precision.
Get the Best Ball Bearing of 2021!
We hope our review was helpful to your finding of the best ball bearing for your unique application. If you’re still undecided, however, you may check out other models that our top five brands have in store for you.
Our Top Choice
VXB Shielded Miniature Ball Bearings
Best Value
Bones Reds Skateboard Bearings
Yellow Jacket Stripes Premium Bearings
TRB RC Precision Small Ball Bearings
Amico Deep Groove Ball Bearings
Ball Bearing FAQs
What are ball bearings?
Ball bearings are types of rolling elements utilizing balls to separate bearing races. Ball bearings help to reduce friction due to rotation, supporting axial and radial loads.
What are ball bearings used for?
Ball bearings are used for reducing friction as the element rolls. They keep turning thus making it possible to keep moving without friction.
Where to buy ball bearings?
We recommend that you buy ball bearings from the largest online retailer – Amazon. You will be surprised by the wide variety of products and incredible deals this company has. If you are looking for ball bearings to buy, we have reviewed some of the best.
How are ball bearings made?
Ball bearings are made from steel rod or wire. A machine cuts the rod or wire into slugs, which are slightly larger than finished balls. Manufacturers shape the balls using machining techniques to remove excess materials from the slugs.
How to clean ball bearings?
You can clean ball bearings by removing the balls from the casings and washing them. You can use alcohol, solvent cleaner, and citrus cleaner to rid the balls of all dirt.
