Life on four wheels doesn’t only have to do with cars as the same number of wheels can be found on skateboards. Unlike driving, skateboarding is able to provide you with a day’s worth of exercise while it’s also quite a social activity. Being an affordable hobby, everyone can take on skateboarding.
You don’t need much except for some pavement and bars in the form of a skate park which are everywhere these days. Skateboarding is a great hobby but it can be more than that if you invest in proper bearings. As important as the deck, bearings are what help your skateboard roll so easily making your calves less fatigued.
Types of Skateboard Bearings
Steel
The majority of skateboards come with steel bearings and that’s for a reason. The reason is that steel is quite a strong material and it makes for the most affordable skateboard bearing there is. The quality of the bearings doesn’t only stem down to the material they’re made of though – more on that later.
Ceramic
If you want a smoother experience than what you get with steel bearings you should invest in ceramic ones. Ceramic skate bearings for sale are of higher quality than steel ones when it comes to heat management and how much friction they create. However, ceramic is a brittle material which means it’s not as strong as steel and is thus not as durable.
Titanium
Stronger, more durable, lighter and rust-resistant, titanium skate bearings for sale are the answer to all your skateboarding needs since they are the most capable. However, this means they are also the most expensive. Like steel bearings, titanium ones need to be lubricated in order to reduce any excess friction which some see it as a downside, but you can’t have it all.
Anatomy of a Skateboard Bearing

Balls
What’s at the core of a modern-day skateboard bearing is a set of balls usually in a set of either 6 or 7. These metal balls roll along a track and by rolling and rotating the bearings are able to make the wheels move as you push the skateboard. The fewer balls the bearing has the more speed you can carry and the less friction there is.
Races
The balls in a skate bearing roll around on a track that is made up of an inner and outer race. Races are essentially the walls that the balls slide onto when the bearing turns. The outer race sits in the wheel hub while the inner race is fitted onto the axle so that as the balls roll the wheel spins smoothly.
Spacers
A bearing spacer is a tiny piece in the form of a cylinder that fits on the axle. Placed between the bearings and what is essentially the core of the wheel, spacers keep the bearings aligned and the axle nut tight so that nothing falls off even when you’re doing tricks at high speeds. However, not every skateboard bearing comes with spacers. But if you want to be able to powerslide on soft wheels, spacers are a must as they can make the slides smoother and reduce vibrations.
Shields
In order to protect the balls from debris and dust, bearings have shields that can be removed to make cleaning a lot easier. There are skate bearings for sale that come with only one or no shield at all in order to reduce friction as much as possible.
Retainer
A retainer is quite an important component as it’s used to keep the balls in their place and equally separated from each other. The retainer also helps reduce friction while it increases the strength of the bearing depending on the material it’s made of such as nylon, brass or steel.
Seal
The quality of a skate bearing is also determined by how well-sealed it is. This is where the rubber seal matters as it helps keep dirt and debris out of the way. This soft rubber ring is found on the outside of the bearing where the retainer is.
Maintenance
1. Cleaning a bearing is a must to prolong its lifespan but only if done properly. It all starts off by removing the bearings off the skateboard and then removing the shields as the first line of defence. After that, put the bearings in a cleaning container with a spacer placed between each one with the balls pointing up and the cages pointing down.
2. With the bearings positioned accordingly, fill up the container with cleaning fluid, usually isopropyl alcohol works best. Don’t have the container filled to the brim though as you need to shake it for a couple of seconds in order for the cleaning solution to do its thing.
3. Once shaken up, take out the bearings and let them dry off on their own. You can tap the liquid out of them but don’t dry them yourself. Once dry, lubricate them with a drop or two of bearing oil and reassemble them.