Which Bearings Are You Guys Running?

[#alexander#]

My curiosity got the best of me and I ordered some silicon nitride ceramic balls on eBay for like 13 dollars. I put em in some cheap modus black bearings I had in the parts box. Won’t really be able to skate till Sunday but felt nice and fast in the driveway.

[tuesday]

I also Frankensteined a set of bearings with ceramic balls. Never regretted it.

[fs1/2cab]

Excuse me if I may have missed it, but what is the advantage of ceramic balls in bearings?

As a kid I thought ceranic bearings are only for vert skating because there isn't as much impact as for street skating. Still have no idea to be honest.

[#alexander#]

They are harder than steel bearings and generally a higher spec so they are more round and less likely to deform. Also since they are harder than the steel races in there the balls help keep the races in spec cause they “polish” them. Lower friction too.

[devils acrobat]

My curiosity got the best of me and I ordered some silicon nitride ceramic balls on eBay for like 13 dollars. I put em in some cheap modus black bearings I had in the parts box. Won’t really be able to skate till Sunday but felt nice and fast in the driveway.

Never thought of doing this, keep us updated please how these work for you. What oil are you using?

[#alexander#]

Expand Quote

My curiosity got the best of me and I ordered some silicon nitride ceramic balls on eBay for like 13 dollars. I put em in some cheap modus black bearings I had in the parts box. Won’t really be able to skate till Sunday but felt nice and fast in the driveway.

[close]

Never thought of doing this, keep us updated please how these work for you. What oil are you using?

I just used a random 3 in 1 oil. They seem nice and smooth, nothing life changing but for sure better than the bearings with the original balls, we’ll see how they hold up over time.

[fulfillthedream]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

My curiosity got the best of me and I ordered some silicon nitride ceramic balls on eBay for like 13 dollars. I put em in some cheap modus black bearings I had in the parts box. Won’t really be able to skate till Sunday but felt nice and fast in the driveway.

[close]

Never thought of doing this, keep us updated please how these work for you. What oil are you using?

[close]

I just used a random 3 in 1 oil. They seem nice and smooth, nothing life changing but for sure better than the bearings with the original balls, we’ll see how they hold up over time.

damn thats fucking cool! let us know how it turns out!

[hiljentaa]

Update on my new, but already squeaky Quantum ceramics...

A few more sessions and now they are slow as hell. I have another set brand new in the box. Honestly don't even want to bother with em.

Got caught up in the hype on here when they were first getting going. Bought two sets of ceramics and a set of metallics for full price from their site like an idiot.

Maybe they are better now, but the 2 sets I've skated are not it.

[Ok]

Update on my new, but already squeaky Quantum ceramics...

A few more sessions and now they are slow as hell. I have another set brand new in the box. Honestly don't even want to bother with em.

Got caught up in the hype on here when they were first getting going. Bought two sets of ceramics and a set of metallics for full price from their site like an idiot.

Maybe they are better now, but the 2 sets I've skated are not it.

i have the atoms, same kinda thing. (slowing).
but.
i took the shields off, i do not recommend that with bearings in general. i tried to clean them and re-lube using speed cream. sucked. re-cleaned them, no lube. the old hand spin test and they smoooooke all of my other swiss. under load, meaning my fat ass on the board, they aren’t as fast, but decent.

the dude will probably chime in here, with some advice.
i think cleaning em might help you.

i suck at cleaning bearings. i didn’t think mine should have needed to be cleaned, so early.
if i had to guess, the lube they used was great, for a short time.
the bearing g’s on here have some good recommendations for oil, and quantum bearing corp. may be more sensitive. wink.

[hiljentaa]

Yeah I know cleaning and relubing is the solution, but the shields aren't even visibly dirty. Still graphics on the wheels...

[Quantum_Bearing_Science]

Update on my new, but already squeaky Quantum ceramics...

A few more sessions and now they are slow as hell. I have another set brand new in the box. Honestly don't even want to bother with em.

Got caught up in the hype on here when they were first getting going. Bought two sets of ceramics and a set of metallics for full price from their site like an idiot.

Maybe they are better now, but the 2 sets I've skated are not it.

Definitely would like to help.  DM’d you.

[LebowskisRug]

Update on my new, but already squeaky Quantum ceramics...

A few more sessions and now they are slow as hell. I have another set brand new in the box. Honestly don't even want to bother with em.

Got caught up in the hype on here when they were first getting going. Bought two sets of ceramics and a set of metallics for full price from their site like an idiot.

Maybe they are better now, but the 2 sets I've skated are not it.

I've had my Atoms for 3 years, definitely not hype. Off Slap most people I know that have tried them have loved them. It sucks that happened and hopefully their warranty sorts you out.

[Pasta Monster]

Anyone know where Flowgressive bearings are made or how they skate? $50/set of ceramics. Brian Powderly and Rich Adler skate for them.

[moonordie]

Anyone know where Flowgressive bearings are made or how they skate? $50/set of ceramics. Brian Powderly and Rich Adler skate for them.

Who?

[Quantum_Bearing_Science]

Update on my new, but already squeaky Quantum ceramics...

A few more sessions and now they are slow as hell. I have another set brand new in the box. Honestly don't even want to bother with em.

Got caught up in the hype on here when they were first getting going. Bought two sets of ceramics and a set of metallics for full price from their site like an idiot.

Maybe they are better now, but the 2 sets I've skated are not it.

The bearings were purchased back in 2021/2022 and sat in the tin.

The oil lubricant has likely worn off and the bearings just need a drop of lube.  Probably not even a cleaning.

[Ok]

Expand Quote

Update on my new, but already squeaky Quantum ceramics...

A few more sessions and now they are slow as hell. I have another set brand new in the box. Honestly don't even want to bother with em.

Got caught up in the hype on here when they were first getting going. Bought two sets of ceramics and a set of metallics for full price from their site like an idiot.

Maybe they are better now, but the 2 sets I've skated are not it.

[close]

The bearings were purchased back in 2021/2022 and sat in the tin.

The oil lubricant has likely worn off and the bearings just need a drop of lube.  Probably not even a cleaning.

what’s your fave lube? as i’ve dribbled on and on about, my atoms have come back to life, but i’ve got em bone dry.

[Quantum_Bearing_Science]

Our ‘StackZ’ lubricant is what I recommend.  We make it in house. 

It’s designed to help prevent and to repair surface level imperfections that occur in bearings during manufacturing.
 Also deposits a nano-stack of materials across all the surfaces of the bearing.
 Those materials have a very high resistance to impact force and some of the lowest coefficients of friction.

It’s really good stuff.  On any bearing.
 

[Ok]

Our ‘StackZ’ lubricant is what I recommend.  We make it in house. 

It’s designed to help prevent and to repair surface level imperfections that occur in bearings during manufacturing.
 Also deposits a nano-stack of materials across all the surfaces of the bearing.
 Those materials have a very high resistance to impact force and some of the lowest coefficients of friction.

It’s really good stuff.  On any bearing.

thank you for your time.
maybe this puts you in an uncomfortable spot: is there a non-house made product you like?
or possibly looser: would you characterize ya’lls lube as on the lighter side?
again, i get it if you need/want (for i’m sure good reasons, shit often works better with specifics….i could go one about some cocktail recipes that are better with specific alcohols), to just keep it on the company brand.
would you say the bearings need to be cleaned often, or lubed often?
mine were fast right away, faster than what i expect from what i consider to be the standard for a quality bearing (swiss), but then tailed off. i said some slick/rude comment about the quantum’s, and got correctly called out for it, which the. had me going back and cleaning them and giving them more run.
so i guess what i’m dancing around is: is it all the lube? once the lube goes the bearing slows?

[Crust]

I'm running Bones Reds atm. Don't feel it's worth buying the more expensive versions.

[Ok]

i hate reds.
i like mini-logos quite a bit tho.

my dried out, shield less quantums are doing really well

[evan.tuazon]

moded I mean modus bearings

with one drop. used to always drop three, thinking about dropping two next.

[moonordie]

I just cleaned my Swiss 6 after a long while. Since I don't had any isopropyl alcohol or acetone I used just a citric based dishwasher + water (had to do it like 3 times to wash out the bubbles) and 1 speed cream drop per bearing. Now they feel great and skate like a dream.

[Crust]

i hate reds.
i like mini-logos quite a bit tho.

my dried out, shield less quantums are doing really well

Interesting, what about Reds do you hate? I run them out of convenience, but I do find they don't keep their optimal speed as long as Bronsons or even Shake Junt bearings, and sometimes wonder to myself if they are overrated.

[PeteP]

Just my 2 cents on Cortinas - stay the f away from them, these bearings are crap.

[DarkPools]

Expand Quote

i hate reds.
i like mini-logos quite a bit tho.

my dried out, shield less quantums are doing really well

[close]

Interesting, what about Reds do you hate? I run them out of convenience, but I do find they don't keep their optimal speed as long as Bronsons or even Shake Junt bearings, and sometimes wonder to myself if they are overrated.

Odd, Bronsons  have been significantly worse than Reds in maintaining optimal speed  & not seizing up each time I tried them. Shake Junt and Reds seem somewhat similar tho.

In terms of pricing, I don't think Reds are overrated at all. I've been happy just about every time I skate then.

Mini Logo?? Those bearings are dogshit though. The cheapest of cheap like their garbage trucks. Not worth your money or time to skate them unless you have no other options/money for other alternatives

[rocklobster]

Just setup the Bronson G3 pro models that SWH has been trying to clear, so far so good. You could do much worse for a $16 bearing set.

[toe_knee]

Here to talk about the new skf bearings again, still running strong 8 setups deep, cleaned them once since I’ve bought them, used sewing machine oil to lube them up afterwards, no side to side play in them at all, the tolerances are noticeable better I think than other bearings they don’t feel loose at all like reds do after an extended period of time, and the metal shields on the inside make for easy enough cleaning between wheel changes, really liking these bearing a whole lot, have been recommended them to everyone

[Scottboarding]

Here to talk about the new skf bearings again, still running strong 8 setups deep, cleaned them once since I’ve bought them, used sewing machine oil to lube them up afterwards, no side to side play in them at all, the tolerances are noticeable better I think than other bearings they don’t feel loose at all like reds do after an extended period of time, and the metal shields on the inside make for easy enough cleaning between wheel changes, really liking these bearing a whole lot, have been recommended them to everyone

I'm only three sessions into my set but so far so good! Easily the smoothest bearings I've ever had and agree that the tolerances seem great.

[manysnakes]

Here to talk about the new skf bearings again, still running strong 8 setups deep, cleaned them once since I’ve bought them, used sewing machine oil to lube them up afterwards, no side to side play in them at all, the tolerances are noticeable better I think than other bearings they don’t feel loose at all like reds do after an extended period of time, and the metal shields on the inside make for easy enough cleaning between wheel changes, really liking these bearing a whole lot, have been recommended them to everyone

Not a skateboard bearing, but my friend has been riding the same SKF square taper bottom bracket on his bike for I think seven years now, of fairly regular use. That's basically unheard of for a component of this type.

[disgruntledMTAEmployee]

Anyone else cop their first set of swiss ceramics for $88 at the skatewarehouse sale? Looking forward to trying them out.