| Skateboard speed relies on many factors, the | | | | skate compition, you better sacrifice cash and go |
| most important one is the RPM (revolution per | | | | for the zirconia |
| minute) rate of the "Ball Bearings". The ball bearing | | | | 3- Balls material: Again the bottom line is to |
| consist of inner race, outer race, balls, balls | | | | reduce friction, your options are (sorted best to |
| retainer and optional closures. | | | | "not bad") silicon nitride ceramic, Zirconia ceramic |
| As you may all know, any skateboard has 4 | | | | and steel. |
| wheels (DUH), each wheel has 2 ball bearings, | | | | 4- Retainer material: Your options are (sorted |
| makes them all 8 Ball bearings, and they are (of | | | | best to "not bad") zirconia, PTFE, bakelite, nylon, |
| course) sold as a set of 8 ball bearings. RPM of | | | | bronze and steel. |
| the ball bearings relies on reducing the friction | | | | 5- Lubrication: I suggest just any multi-purpose oil, |
| between all the moving elements, here are the | | | | since a skate-boarder can always take good care |
| factors affecting the RPM: | | | | of his hardware, grease will make your wheels |
| 1- Quality: The quality of any bearings are | | | | hard to free-spin |
| classified by the American Bearing Manufacturers | | | | 6- Closures: used to protect the moving parts of |
| Association ABMA as ABEC rating, the more the | | | | your ball bearings from outside contamination. If |
| ABEC rating the more precise bearings were | | | | you are skate-boarding in a perfect environment |
| manufactured, or tighter in tolerance; in other | | | | (there is no such thing) with no dirt, no water and |
| words, the most common and good choice ABEC | | | | no humidity then you can always use your ball |
| rating is ABEC-7. | | | | bearings without closures. Your options are |
| 2- Inner and outer race material: Carbon, chrome, | | | | (sorted best to "not bad") Teflon seals, metal |
| zirconia and stainless steel are your options. For | | | | shields, non-contact rubber seals, and contact |
| regular skate, I wouldn't choose anything but the | | | | rubber seals. |
| Chrome Steel, well .. this is the widest used | | | | Confusing, Huh?, I am sure it is. |
| bearings steel. However, if you go to a race or a | | | | |