Which Bearings Are You Guys Running?

[Slave IV]

If you tighten too much and spacer is too small
It ends up like this

|       | Outer races
 \    /
  |   | Inner races connected to spacer
 /    \
|       | Outer races

It bends the cage and it can’t spin that way.

It’s a real challenge to get spacers and wheels that match, because tolerances in skateboarding manufacturing are rather «wide».
I feel like the quest for the holy spacer is kinda vain.

In the perfect case, they serve a purpose though:
- Everything is aligned
- Spacers provide support when you hit your wheel
- Only the balls and the outer races spin (best performance for a bearing)

If you really want to use them without the hassle, make it tight and loosen a bit til the wheel spin right but you won’t get all the benefits.

I get that whole concept and what you mentioned at the end is exactly how I tighten my wheels. I think it will still provide some benefit because I can see that the spacers are touching the inner races, it’s just if you tighten too much, the give of the wheel creates the situation you illustrated. It sounds like the spacers should be made slightly longer to account for the give of the wheel.

[Richard Skidder]

The trick is to find a set of spacers that are slightly too long and sand them down little by little until they are the correct size for your wheels. Use a caliper to measure the wheel core and then take that measurement to the spacers themselves as you sand them down. Earlier someone mentioned just simply using a spacer that’s wider than the core but that causes the wheel to shift across the entire assembly and even when tightened all the way can still cause angular bearing shift which makes them lock-up over and over throughout the rotation limiting roll and stressing the cages.

[rawbertson.]

I had OJ Wheels with indy 159's and it worked really well with the spacers (Bronson Bearings too so everything should have been designed to work together in theory). But after awhile, it starts to sound really rattley and also they started to break down too.

i got the Andale Swiss and they are really good. Have to see how they are lasting but my setup is rolling super fast and sounds exactly how it should.

[Slave IV]

It all sounds good in theory but based on the post above about it all working perfectly and then not, doesn’t make it sound worth the hassle of trying to trim the spacers perfectly. The nature of wheels that are relatively soft means they will always be inconsistent even from themselves after time.

I’ll just keep doing what I have been since day one. Use the spacers if I have them handy and tighten until wheels stop turning and then loosen until they spin freely.

[WoodRat]

Finally switched out my reds for some ennox bearings. Definitely faster than my reds or mini logo's out the box and very smooth. Only have about two hours on them, we'll see how long they last.

[Bongwater Mojito]

After decades of running with spacers, I finally decided to drop them. I had two or three sets of wheels which had alignment issues with spacer width, leading to axle-slip -like situations where spacer pushed either bearing of a wheel off its seat a bit, and it spinned slower. I know this now means the sideways impact will tax a single bearing more, but I don't care. My skating is old dude stuff, and I'll just buy new bearings if needed.

[devils acrobat]

Finally switched out my reds for some ennox bearings. Definitely faster than my reds or mini logo's out the box and very smooth. Only have about two hours on them, we'll see how long they last.

Eenox are great, been running them for a few months now.

[WoodRat]

Expand Quote

Finally switched out my reds for some ennox bearings. Definitely faster than my reds or mini logo's out the box and very smooth. Only have about two hours on them, we'll see how long they last.

[close]

Eenox are great, been running them for a few months now.

Gnar! They always have deals going as well, I think the first set (ones I'm ruining now) were 47 with the 10% first time discount. Bought a backup set for like 41 a couple months ago.

[Texas_Tone]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Finally switched out my reds for some ennox bearings. Definitely faster than my reds or mini logo's out the box and very smooth. Only have about two hours on them, we'll see how long they last.

[close]

Eenox are great, been running them for a few months now.

[close]

Gnar! They always have deals going as well, I think the first set (ones I'm ruining now) were 47 with the 10% first time discount. Bought a backup set for like 41 a couple months ago.

These are the guys that used to make bones right? 

[devils acrobat]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Finally switched out my reds for some ennox bearings. Definitely faster than my reds or mini logo's out the box and very smooth. Only have about two hours on them, we'll see how long they last.

[close]

Eenox are great, been running them for a few months now.

[close]

Gnar! They always have deals going as well, I think the first set (ones I'm ruining now) were 47 with the 10% first time discount. Bought a backup set for like 41 a couple months ago.

[close]

These are the guys that used to make bones right?

Yeah, thats what I have heard/read too and they are shipping from switzerland, would make sense. Only bummer is the bearings are called berra for some inexplicable reason 

[WoodRat]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Finally switched out my reds for some ennox bearings. Definitely faster than my reds or mini logo's out the box and very smooth. Only have about two hours on them, we'll see how long they last.

[close]

Eenox are great, been running them for a few months now.

[close]

Gnar! They always have deals going as well, I think the first set (ones I'm ruining now) were 47 with the 10% first time discount. Bought a backup set for like 41 a couple months ago.

[close]

These are the guys that used to make bones right?

[close]

Yeah, thats what I have heard/read too and they are shipping from switzerland, would make sense. Only bummer is the bearings are called berra for some inexplicable reason 

Yes, they are manufactured by WIB, that makes/made 🤷 Bones Swiss. It's their own registered brand, but have a third party logistics company with a warehouse in Vegas handling US orders and shipping.

I agree the name blows.

[GoneWithTheSchwinn]

Bones Swiss 6 ball have been the most consistent bearings for me.

[Slave IV]

Bones Swiss 6 ball have been the most consistent bearings for me.

I agree but it’s based on only having one set of all the bearings I have. Swiss 6, Reds, Super Reds, Bronson G3&Raws, MiniLogo. But my Swiss 6 are from around 15 years ago and I hear they aren’t as good lately. Been thinking if I buy another set of bearings, I’ll might try Red Big Balls. Anyone try those recently and think they might be the better choice if Swiss aren’t what they used to be?

[swongolianbbq]

In the past couple years I was trying a lot of different wheels and setups

I skated like 3 or 4 sets of big red balls, 2 sets of ceramic reds, and 2 sets of swiss 6

I put the ceramics through the wringer and they cleaned up nice and I sold them, they were on cruisers/rain boards

The big balls were chill, great bearings. I degreased them and didn't use shields. I sold all those too

I still have the two sets of swiss 6, degreased and no shields. They rule. I had some years ago too and sold them. I don't notice anything bad about the newer ones, they seem the same to me.

The reds big balls are my pick for best value bearing out

For me though just any bones swiss is good

If someone gave me swiss ceramics for free I'd probably pop the shields off, for science. Also I've heard people say they explode, and one guy said the balls dented the outer race on one of his bearings and I was like goddamn

 

[Slave IV]

In the past couple years I was trying a lot of different wheels and setups

I skated like 3 or 4 sets of big red balls, 2 sets of ceramic reds, and 2 sets of swiss 6

I put the ceramics through the wringer and they cleaned up nice and I sold them, they were on cruisers/rain boards

The big balls were chill, great bearings. I degreased them and didn't use shields. I sold all those too

I still have the two sets of swiss 6, degreased and no shields. They rule. I had some years ago too and sold them. I don't notice anything bad about the newer ones, they seem the same to me.

The reds big balls are my pick for best value bearing out

For me though just any bones swiss is good

If someone gave me swiss ceramics for free I'd probably pop the shields off, for science. Also I've heard people say they explode, and one guy said the balls dented the outer race on one of his bearings and I was like goddamn

Nice! Good to hear and sounds like if I ever do need to buy bearings again, I'll try Big Red Balls. Thing is, I don't think I've ever "had" to buy new bearings unless I wanted to have more setups simultaneously or when I was a kid and might have left my shit outside and they rusted.

[GashBandicoot]

This year I've mostly been on Mini Logo bearings since I've got a few sets of wheels that I swap between willy nilly and bulk purchased some. Tried bones super reds in a set of conical fulls and they were nice, though after a disassembly and cleaning they were pretty raggedy and squeaky after. Used them about 6 months. Also had some bones big balls in a set of radials that I used for a few months. IMO the six large ball bearings have a slightly more harsh sound to them? They performed well but I did break the nylon cage retainer piece on two of them after a few months which I thought was strange. Probably a fluke, doesn't discourage me from trying them again. I don't really discriminate with bearings. Mini Logo is the only price-point bearing I get for trying out a new wheel. If I know that I like a wheel shape or formula; I'll get any $30-$50 bearing to try out since I know they'll get used fully.

My spouse insists on getting me something for Christmas so I may ask her for some Bones Swiss or Swiss 6, maybe ceramics if I'm well behaved. I don't love receiving gifts but she likes giving them and making her happy is important. Scoring a piece of snazzy gear with a long service life is a lil bonus.

Usually I clean and lubricate all my old bearings and leave them for the local kiddos after I'm done with them. Pretty much unanimous good feedback from the recipients. Kids love free gear.

[swongolianbbq]

I've broken a few of the cages on classic bones reds, years ago

Switched to swiss and it hasn't happened, but I'm sure it can

The cages are a lil beefier on swiss and do look to be made of a better material, but it could just be a different color so you can tell them apart from reds

The shields are actually a little wider too on swiss

Anyways

Mini logos fuckin slap, I used to skate those all the time, ten bucks? No brainer

I still think the reds big balls are better, but also they're like three times the price

[Slave IV]

I’m running Super Reds in my main current setup and Swiss 6 in my other one. Both noticeably faster than Bronson G3 or Raws to me. I also have a set of mini logos floating around and they seem around the same as the Bronsons based on what I remember. Agree it’s hard to beat those for the price but might as well pay a bit more to get faster and possibly more durable bearings.

Only bearings I really want to try but haven’t yet are ceramics so if you can get a set as a gift, don’t be shy, accept the gratuity and see how they are!

[Texas_Tone]

Still running the green SKF, I’ve lost count how many setups these have been through, I got them when they first dropped and they are still running strong, cleaned them two days ago and put them back on my setup, I am interested in the eenox bearings though, so I went ahead and copped a set and have them on the way, will prolly retire the skf’s to my cruiser setup or something, I’ve actually never gotten a pair of Swiss bearings so I’m looking forward to getting my first pair set up and seeing what all the fuss is about

[Benicio El Toro]

Still running the green SKF, I’ve lost count how many setups these have been through, I got them when they first dropped and they are still running strong, cleaned them two days ago and put them back on my setup, I am interested in the eenox bearings though, so I went ahead and copped a set and have them on the way, will prolly retire the skf’s to my cruiser setup or something, I’ve actually never gotten a pair of Swiss bearings so I’m looking forward to getting my first pair set up and seeing what all the fuss is about

My set has taken a beating the last 4 years. They've been good to me but I haven't been good to them. Cleaned them twice and a couple outer rings are a little rusty. They are fantastic. Interested to hear how you like the eenox

[moonordie]

Expand Quote

Still running the green SKF, I’ve lost count how many setups these have been through, I got them when they first dropped and they are still running strong, cleaned them two days ago and put them back on my setup, I am interested in the eenox bearings though, so I went ahead and copped a set and have them on the way, will prolly retire the skf’s to my cruiser setup or something, I’ve actually never gotten a pair of Swiss bearings so I’m looking forward to getting my first pair set up and seeing what all the fuss is about

[close]

My set has taken a beating the last 4 years. They've been good to me but I haven't been good to them. Cleaned them twice and a couple outer rings are a little rusty. They are fantastic. Interested to hear how you like the eenox

Curious about how you cleaned them since for what I know you can't take out the shield right?

[Texas_Tone]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Still running the green SKF, I’ve lost count how many setups these have been through, I got them when they first dropped and they are still running strong, cleaned them two days ago and put them back on my setup, I am interested in the eenox bearings though, so I went ahead and copped a set and have them on the way, will prolly retire the skf’s to my cruiser setup or something, I’ve actually never gotten a pair of Swiss bearings so I’m looking forward to getting my first pair set up and seeing what all the fuss is about

[close]

My set has taken a beating the last 4 years. They've been good to me but I haven't been good to them. Cleaned them twice and a couple outer rings are a little rusty. They are fantastic. Interested to hear how you like the eenox

[close]

Curious about how you cleaned them since for what I know you can't take out the shield right?

The green shield in the front is a standard bendable rubber coated one that you can pop off, the back of them have the metal shields that don’t pop off, they came super packed with grease at first so I ran that until I felt like most of it was gone, and then just cleaned them like I do any other bearing, pop the shield, 90 percent alcohol in a Tupperware with an old toothbrush, drop or two of sewing machine oil

[moonordie]

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Expand Quote

Still running the green SKF, I’ve lost count how many setups these have been through, I got them when they first dropped and they are still running strong, cleaned them two days ago and put them back on my setup, I am interested in the eenox bearings though, so I went ahead and copped a set and have them on the way, will prolly retire the skf’s to my cruiser setup or something, I’ve actually never gotten a pair of Swiss bearings so I’m looking forward to getting my first pair set up and seeing what all the fuss is about

[close]

My set has taken a beating the last 4 years. They've been good to me but I haven't been good to them. Cleaned them twice and a couple outer rings are a little rusty. They are fantastic. Interested to hear how you like the eenox

[close]

Curious about how you cleaned them since for what I know you can't take out the shield right?

[close]

The green shield in the front is a standard bendable rubber coated one that you can pop off, the back of them have the metal shields that don’t pop off, they came super packed with grease at first so I ran that until I felt like most of it was gone, and then just cleaned them like I do any other bearing, pop the shield, 90 percent alcohol in a Tupperware with an old toothbrush, drop or two of sewing machine oil

Thx for the Intel

[Spacecase]

Quantum Metallics are the only bearing I like more or the same as Swiss/Swiss 6.  Had set of Isotopes as well but a few of them never rolled right from new and I kind of gave up on them.

[JakeBeskatin]

The Reds big balls suck
Had a pair of swiss a few years ago and broke prolly half of them
Reds are and have always been the best choice

[swongolianbbq]

The Reds big balls suck
Had a pair of swiss a few years ago and broke prolly half of them
Reds are and have always been the best choice

Do you pop the shields but not degrease them?

I can't fathom how you're breaking so many bearings

Only bearings I ever broke were some purple FKDs when I was a kid, the shield came off and got tangled up in the nut and bearing. and a few bones reds back when they were like $17 and all I was using

The only time I ever remember blowing out a bearing(bones reds) was skating this gap:




There's a break in the railing on the stage where you pop through, prolly 6 feet wide, though it's hard to see here. Had to hit it at an angle too otherwise you'd roll straight into the ledge hahah

Fun fact, I learned crooked grinds on that ledge. And off-screen to the right, a tall skinny 6-stair hubba that I got a few tricks on, my first legit hubba

I do remember replacing a lot of cracked delrin cores on Reds. One of them was in 3 pieces!

Bones swiss are the jam, I'm not knocking any other bearings I just don't really feel like trying anything else and losing time or money or whatever. I had some Bronson raws 9 or 10 years ago and they were cool, but I've just been running the same set of swiss six for like the past five years

Had some wheel madness and didn't want to have to changed bearings every time so I had like 3 sets of reds big balls too and they were pretty dope. I didn't baby them but I wasn't going super hard or anything

[moonordie]

The Reds big balls suck
Had a pair of swiss a few years ago and broke prolly half of them
Reds are and have always been the best choice

Maybe fake swiss?

[Slave IV]

Yeah, I just don’t see how that adds up when you are comparing bearings from the same company and say the worst ones are the best and the other ones suck.

[TheCrimsonShroud]

Mini logos fuckin slap, I used to skate those all the time, ten bucks? No brainer

I still think the reds big balls are better, but also they're like three times the price

Mini Logo>Cheapshots as far as budget stuff goes. I've pretty much run Reds in my favorite wheels forever, but I copped a set of Pro (I think Delfino) G3s for the price of standard reds so I'm gonna see how that goes.

[Slave IV]

Expand Quote

Mini logos fuckin slap, I used to skate those all the time, ten bucks? No brainer

I still think the reds big balls are better, but also they're like three times the price

[close]

Mini Logo>Cheapshots as far as budget stuff goes. I've pretty much run Reds in my favorite wheels forever, but I copped a set of Pro (I think Delfino) G3s for the price of standard reds so I'm gonna see how that goes.

This comparison is what made me continue to not think there was much difference in bearings as I went from some old mini logo bearings to G3s and "think" the G3s might have been a little better but maybe just bias because they were new.
It wasn't until I tired some old Swiss 6 that are even older than the MiniLogo brings I have and noticed they are considerably faster than G3 or Raws. Then I tried some pretty old Super Reds that seem about the same speed as my Swiss 6. So based on that, I've come to the conclusion that Bones are just better than Bronson's and MiniLogos are probably comparable to Bronson's but likely still better and my old set may have just been especially worn or dirty.