Skateboard Bearings
A skateboard bearing is a small, round device that allows a skateboard to roll and determines how fast and smoothly it spins. A skateboard bearing consists of 5 main parts: the shield, inner race, balls, retainer, and outer race. A skateboard requires a set of 8 bearings, 2 per skateboard wheel. Almost every skateboard bearing is the same size and will fit on any skateboard wheel and skateboard frame. We are a bearing supplier that produces a wide variety of popular bearings, deep groove ball bearings, needle roller bearings, and more.
What are Skateboard Bearings?
Skateboard bearings are the round metal pieces that fit inside the wheel to mount the wheel to the axle. They allow the wheel to roll and are key to determining how fast and smoothly the wheel spins. They are small, deep groove ball bearings.
Skateboard bearings consist of five main parts:
Shield: The cover that keeps the bearing from getting dirty.
Outer race: The outermost race that everything else fits into.
Inner race: The smaller ring that sits inside the outer race; this is the part that the axle goes through.
Ball: The thing that makes the wheel spin.
Ball retainer: The thing that holds the ball in place.
What are Skateboard Bearings Made of?
While most skateboard bearings are made of steel, they can also be made of ceramic, titanium-coated, or even hybrid materials.
Skateboard Bearing Size Specification
| Bearing Type | Inner Diameter (mm) | Outer Diameter (mm) | Width (mm) | Description |
| 608 | 8 | 22 | 7 | Standard skateboard bearing |
| 627 | 7 | 22 | 7 | Smaller bore option |
| 688 | 8 | 16 | 5 | Compact, used in specialty setups |
| 698 | 8 | 19 | 6 | Lightweight, for custom setups |
How to Choose Skateboard Bearings?
When choosing a bearing, it’s important to consider your experience level and riding style. Bearings with higher quality parts will be faster and more durable. If you’re a beginner, you probably don’t need the fastest, strongest bearings on the market. If you’re more experienced and know you like to ride fast and hard, you might benefit from a higher-end bearing. Higher quality bearings will be more expensive than entry-level bearings, so take that into account as well. NSAR DFL has overseas warehouses and offices in the United States, so feel free to contact us.
When to Replace or Repair Skateboard Bearings
No one likes to fall, so it’s vital to know when to replace your bearings and how to keep them fully functioning. Some key signs to look out for include difficulty pushing, wheels that won’t continue to spin, or squeaking noises.
If you experience any of the above, clean the bearings and re-lubricate them – if they still don’t spin after that, it’s definitely time for new bearings.
You should also replace the bearings if they’re missing balls or shields. The bearings can also “blow out”, where the retainer breaks and the balls fall out – another good sign that the bearings need to be replaced.
Maintenance is key to extending the life of your bearings. See our bearing guide for more information.