For a long time, only bearings with wide tolerances could be mass produced, nowadays, however, technology has advanced dramatically and parts can be manufactured with very tight tolerances, to produce extremely high performing bearings routinely. ABEC includes five tolerances classes: 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 with 1 being the widest and 9 the tightest. Thus, bearings with a higher ABEC rating have tighter tolerances, and that means better precision, higher efficiency, and the potential to accommodate applications requiring high speeds.
It is important to note that a bearing in a higher ABEC class does not imply that the bearing can carry a higher load, rather it can carry the same load as an analogous bearing with a lower rating but at higher speed, thanks to its more controlled runout and smaller endplay. The ABEC tolerance classifications specify both tolerances of size and form for the individual inner and outer rings. The critical features of the rings include the bore or inner diameter of the inner ring , the outer diameter of the outer ring, the ring widths, and the raceways of each ring.
Tolerances of form include roundness, taper, runout, and parallelism. In general a bearing is a very precise mechanism, and the design specifications are the main driver for choosing one. In fact, selecting a bearing with a tolerance too loose for the application can impact the maximum amount of torque that it can withstand or cause an imbalance of the load at high speed, and ultimately impact its life span.
Conversely, a bearing with a tolerance that is too high for the application will probably perform better, but will also cost significantly more. These bearings are available in more limited supply and have prices times higher than ABEC bearings. Super Reds are better bearings though. Thanks, David, for the comment and for stopping by. I will have to disagree with you on the ABEC rating itself.
As I mention in the article, ABEC is all about the tolerance of the bearing, which has very little use in a roller skating application. However, I do agree with you that there is a bit of a preference depending on your style and what you are after. That is always true in everything you buy. I feel like it is the best overall bearing for what I do freestyle, session skating and a little bit of speed skating.
You should always buy what makes you feel right on your skates. Thanks again for taking the time to come by and drop a comment. I always love a good discussion! Hi John — Thanks for stopping by. Some of the best on the market. I hope you have a great time out there skating. In India people are still not much aware about these kind of differences and skating material …….
Thanks for stopping by Shaishav. Thank you for sharing and explaining! I think it does matter, and some consider ABEC ratings for roller skate bearings. Again, thanks for sharing! Hello, looking for inline skates for my 9yr old grandson. I too was getting caught up in the bearing thing…since I know nothing about skating. Seems fishy and maybe I should be aware! Then I noticed the brand Rollerblade seems only one that has website.. Great, load more confusion.
I think I need to focus more on a reputable middle range brand rather then bearings…. GREAT even that is confusing nowadays! Thanks for settling my one issue…wanna settle both? Thanks for stopping by Bridgett and for your question.
Yes, bearings are like many technical products on the market. I tend to recommend sticking with reputable, well-known roller skate bearing manufacturers. Most bearings are made for machines, not skates.
Bones is my favorite manufacturer. You can find their website here. Your new skates will come with them already. However, the bearings do get dirty…and after awhile, its best just to replace them to get a nice smooth roll. For rollerblades, Rollerblade the brand is the king. Thanks again for stopping by. I have recently started roller skating at my local indoor rink again.
I purchased a set of Riedell R3 skates. They are comfortable but, I was not pleased with the ride or speed. The bearings were an ABEC 5 rated bearing. I also did some research on ABEC ratings and can to the same conclusion as this article. I used Bones Reds in the past, and went to a local skateboard shop and priced the various Bones bearing versions. I went out on a limb with my decision and went for a set of the Bones Big Balls.
The ABEC rating system is not intended to be the only criteria used for selecting bearings for use in specialized applications like skating. It is only one of the tools a bearing designer can use if it is appropriate for the application. The ABEC rating system includes grades 1,3,5,7, and 9. The higher the ABEC rating, the tighter the tolerances are, making the bearing a more precision part.
High precision and small tolerances are required for bearings to function at very high RPM, in products like high speed routers that must spin at 20 to 30, RPM. In an application like this, an ABEC - 7 or 9 bearing rating may be appropriate.
Thus, very high precision is not required at skating speeds. The dimensions and tolerances controlled by the ABEC standards include the diameters and widths of the raceways, their shapes to some extent and the smoothness of the running surfaces.
The ABEC rating system ignores side loading, impact resistance, materials selection and grade, appropriateness of lubrication, ball retainer type, grade of ball, the clearance between the balls and the races, installation requirements, and the need for maintenance and cleaning.
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