The skateboard bearing is the small component that fits inside of the wheel allowing the wheel to fit and turn on the axle of the truck. Many bearings are placed on a scale that is mandated by the Annular Bearing and Engineering Council or ABEC. The higher the bearings are placed on the scale, the faster the bearing is. The ratings are ABEC 1, 3, 5, or 7. However, there are some bearings, which are among the best, which have never been rated. Bone Swiss is an example of unrated, yet extremely popular bearing.

Bearings are one of the aspects of a skateboard that requires maintenance. While being ridden, bearings will leak the oil or grease inside. The build-up ‘gunk’ hinders the wheel from rotating smoothly. When this happens, you will begin to hear the sound of metal scrapping on metal—the sound of the bearings scrapping against each other. When this sound is heard, the bearing should be serviced or possibly replaced.

To enhance the life of your bearings, you should keep a few things in mind:

• Keep them dry—because they are made of metal, bearings will rust.
•  Wipe off you bearings after every session—this will prevent dirt buildup within the wheel.
• Soak the bearings in citrus cleaner—this is only possible if you have serviceable bearings. Serviceable bearings allow you to remove the shield, clean, and relube each ball bearing. Some bearings are sealed which means the insides of the bearings cannot be cleaned.