Tips Skate Bearings and the ABEC Scale

If you think you need new bearings for your inline skates, it’s best to check your bearings for wear using the tests provided in this article. Your bearings are at the core of your wheels and reduce friction so you can skate smoothly and efficiently. Hence, they need to be maintained properly from season to season.

Skateboard Bearing

Checking for Wear

The following are indications of major, bearing wear from a no-load, finger-flick, spin test:

• One or more of your wheels stick(s) periodically
• One or more of your wheels (is) are seized
• One or more or your wheels require(s) a lot of force to spin
• One or more of your wheels spin(s) freely for only a second or two

In addition, the following are signs of major, bearing wear from a spin test with the skater as the load:

• While out skating you hear a loud, grinding noise from your bearings
• It takes a lot of effort to pick up and maintain speed when you skate
• Your bearings are hot to the touch after a roll

You may also want to replace your inline skate bearings if you decide to switch to a different type of bearing. You may want to change from shielded bearings to sealed or racing bearings.

Learning the ABEC Scale

Bearings are rated on the Annular Bearing Engineering Council (ABEC) scale. Ratings are numbered 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 on the ABEC scale. The higher the number is, the greater the manufactured precision of the bearing.

However, there are no required materials to meet the ABEC specifications. The bearings only have to be made to a certain precision. That’s all!