| ABEC: Many Skateboard Bearings are marketed with an "ABEC rating" of 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 What do these ratings mean? But what do these ratings mean, and do they correspond to how well a bearing works for skateboarding? The Annular Bearing Engineering Committee was created to set standards for bearing tolerances. ABEC sets tolerances, which are only the dimensions of the entire bearing and the allowable spaces between the balls and the inner ring and the outer ring/race. That's all! The ABEC scale does not rate speed, durability, axial and torsional loads, torque, steel grade, ball sphericity, materials, surface finish, raceway depth, ball size, lubrication, and on and on. ABEC strictly measures tolerances. An ABEC 3 bearing can actually function better than an ABEC 7, because ABEC does rate these other factors. The point of ABEC is to set tolerance measurements that are used as guidelines to follow for the manufacturing of precision bearings. Tolerances: Tolerances are crucial for proper bearing function and load handling. A bearing must have tolerances in order to rotate. Tighter tolerances usually equal more precision and better functionality going straight down a hill or during wide turns. However, a tighter tolerance, or higher ABEC rating does not presume the bearing is faster. It only implies a bearing may function more efficiently at higher speeds. You still have to factor in axial and torsional loads, and the other factors mentioned above. Because of these additional ... |
