Every skater or skateboarder knows how important bearings are when it comes to skates. An ABEC rating system is a group of people in a committee who judge and rate different bearings of the skate.
Bearings are one of the most essential parts of skates. Proper bearings make the skates smooth. ABEC 5 and ABEC 7 are two types of skate bearings. They are very different from each other.
Key Takeaways
- ABEC 5 and ABEC 7 are ratings used to indicate the precision of bearings used in machinery and equipment.
- ABEC 7 bearings are more precise than ABEC 5 bearings and have tighter radial and axial play tolerances.
- ABEC 7 bearings are more expensive than ABEC 5 bearings and are used in high-performance applications where precision is critical.
ABEC 5 vs ABEC 7
ABEC 5 bearings have a lower level of precision than ABEC 7 bearings and are designed to operate at moderate speeds with average loads. ABEC 7 bearings offer a higher level of precision and are designed for higher speeds and lower friction and noise, having a narrower tolerance range.
The full form of ABEC is Annular Bearing Engineers’ Committee, and it is based in the USA. The higher the bearings’ rate is, the better the quality is to be considered. ABEC 5 is one of the bearing sets in a skateboard. It is cost-effective and also gives a good amount of speed in skates.
On the other hand, ABEC 7 gives super-fast speed, but it is very expensive. Not everyone can afford it. It is mainly for professionals. There is also the risk of getting hurt if one skates very aggressively. It is also considered for racers. If one wants the best experience in skating, then ABEC 7 is for them.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | ABEC 5 | ABEC 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Sale quantity | ABEC 5 is sold more. | ABEC is sold less compared to ABEC 5. |
| Cost | It is not very expensive | It is very expensive |
| Made for | Amateurs | Professionals |
| Speed | It is smooth but not very fast | It is super-fast |
| Class | It comes under class 6 | It comes under class 4 |
What is ABEC 5?
ABEC 5 comes at a very reasonable price and is preferred by most people who use skates and skateboards as a hobby rather than a profession. These bearings are sold more than ABEC 7. These bearings also come with a grease coating that helps with dust and muck not to get stuck in the skates.
The tolerance of these bearings is good enough for people who do not wish to skate at a very high speed. Children can use these bearings for skating at parks for a fun time. Using these bearings is not very risky as they do not roll the skates at high speed, so they do not cause accidents often.
ABEC 5 comes with high quality, and the bearing makes the riding experience very smooth. People prefer it more because of its rate and quality. The quality is a little less than higher models but unnoticeably.
The bearing type is 608 8mm, and the dimensions are 8mm core, 22 diameters, and 7mm width. The quality type is bearing steel GCr15, and the ball material is steel. The total number of balls in a box is 7. These balls are pre-lubricated to give the best rolling experience that is frictionless.
What is ABEC 7?
ABEC 7 bearing is for professionals and for those who like racing and speed. It is tested on speed skaters, and usually, under the load of the speed, bearings start to get in bad shape, which results in the skates being slowed down, but with ABEC 7, it does not happen.
The bearings are made from strong steel that helps keep the bearings in shape and round, decreasing rolling resistance at speeds. There is also a double shield coating that helps in keeping the dust out of the bearing.
It is pre-lubricated, and one can use it straight out of the box. The bearing type is 608 8mm, and the dimensions of it are 8mm core, 7mm width, and 22 outer diameters.
The ball material is steel, and in one box, there are 7 pieces.
ABEC 7 is a very highly rated bearing but is also very expensive. Usually, people go with lower-rated bearings because they are not so costly. However, they do not give the same amount of speed and grip that ABEC 7 offers.
The tolerance of the bearing is very high. It is higher than all other models of bearing. The material used in ABEC 7 is pre-lubricated, which makes the skates roll very easily.
Main Differences Between ABEC 5 and ABEC 7
- ABEC 5 costs less than ABEC 7.
- ABEC 5 is for people who skate for fun. In contrast to that, ABEC 7 is preferred by professionals and people who like speed.
- ABEC 5 is rated less than ABEC 7. However, people prefer ABEC 5 more.
- ABEC 7 gives more speed to the skates than ABEC 5.
- The tolerance level of ABEC 7 is much more than the tolerance level of ABEC 5.
- The structure of ABEC 7 is more precise than that of ABEC 5.
- https://deuxmien.com/memory/ltd-p6-p5-supplyini-39163338.html
- https://www.esmats.eu/esmatspapers/pastpapers/pdfs/1999/popp.pdf
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