3/16x1/2x0.196 Stainless Rubber Sealed Ball Bearings R3-2 2RS (10pcs)

Aircraft Quality Stainless Steel Steel Construction For High Durability & Corrosion Resistance

Double Rubber Sealed Bearing For Long Life and Low Maintenance

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BEARINGS:

TYPES OF SEALS:

There are three main types of seals used in Hobby Sized Bearings - Metal Shields, Rubber Seals, and PTFE Seals. The basic function of the seal is twofold - to keep contaminants out and to keep the lubricant in. The three types of seals differ in their sealing ability, how freely they let the bearing spin, and of course cost.

Sealing ability refers to the ability of the seal to keep debris and contaminants out of the inner workings of the bearings. The better the seal, the less often you have to clean your bearings to keep them running smoothly. Failure to clean your bearings when needed will shorten their lifespan. If you want bearings that need very little maintenance, rubber sealed bearings require very little to no attention as they offer the tightest seal.. Metal shielded bearings require the most maintenance.

How Freely the Seal lets the bearing spin is directly related to the performance of the bearings. A rubber sealed bearing offers lower performance than the other types of seals because the rubber seal is actually in contact with the inner workings of the bearing, which results in higher friction as the balls rub against the rubber seals. Metal Shields, PTFE, and Polyamide Seals are non-contact as they are held in place away from the inner workings of the bearing. They let the bearing spin easier and offer noticeably higher performance.

Cost is always important in our hobby, and the type of seal does affect the cost of the bearing. The Chart below shows a comparison of the cost of the various bearings. Metal Shielded bearings are the least expensive, while PolyAmide sealed bearings are the most expensive (except for ceramic bearings which can cost you up to $400 for a set).

SEAL COLOR: Seal Color is unrelated to bearing quality or performance. It is only used by companies to help build name recognition.

MATERIALS:

There are two major types of materials used in the construction of Hobby Sized bearings - Chrome Steel and Stainless Steel. Both are excellent bearing materials. The main differences between the two are corrosion resistance and cost. Chrome Steel is slightly less expensive than Stainless Steel and will function very well under ordinary use (on or off-road), and under extreme use if properly maintained. If you are running in extreme conditions such as mud, water, or snow, Stainless Steel Bearings will require less maintenance. If you keep your bearings properly lubricated, you will not be able to tell the difference.

TOLERANCES:

Tolerances refer to how closely the moving parts fit together. There is an incorrect assumption about tolerances that started with the Skateboarding crowd that the tighter the tolerance, the better the bearing and the higher performance you will get out of those bearings. This is true to a point - the tolerances on a bearing needs to be tight enough to prevent wobble and other performance reducing problems. As tolerances become too tight, however, friction inside the bearing starts to increase and the performance will begin to suffer. You need lubrication and enough space for the bearing to spin freely. The Tolerances in a bearing are described by an ABEC or ISO number. The Higher the ABEC number, the tighter the tolerances. Bearings must reach a certain tolerance level (such as a width to achieve and ABEC rating. We have found that ABEC-1 bearings work well for light use, but ABEC-3 bearings are the best for hard use or racing. We have found that ABEC-5 bearings offer slower lap times. Make sure you ask your seller what for the ratings on their bearings - if they don't know or won't tell you, they are probably selling the cheaper ABEC-1 or even non-ABEC rated bearings.

WARRANTY:

The warranty that covers the bearings is usually a good indicator of the bearing quality. A manufacturer won't want to offer a long warranty if they have inferior bearings. A warranty should replace a bearing in the case of premature failure. If you buy your bearings from an individual working out of their basement or company that does not offer a warranty you may end up with low quality bearings and no recourse for correcting the problem. Always ask what warranty is offered on your bearings.

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING BEARINGS:

Metal Shielded Bearings: Metal Shielded bearings offer excellent performance at a budget price. They work very well for on-road racers as they offer excellent performance and are easily maintained to keep them at peak performance. If used in an off-road application, exposed bearings such as wheel bearings will need to be cleaned on a regular basis to keep them running smoothly. (Inexpensive tools are available that makes cleaning easy) These are also excellent bearings in high-temperature applications such as Clutch Bells in Nitro Vehicles.

Rubber Sealed Bearings: Rubber Sealed Bearings are a nice choice for people who want bearings they can install and not have to worry about cleaning or maintaining them. They are also recommended for running in wet or extremely dirt conditions. Because of the performance loss involved with this kind of seal, they work best for sport use, and amateur racing.

PTFE Sealed Bearings: PTFE Sealed Bearings are an excellent choice for racers as they offer a combination of high performance and low maintenance. They work very well for both on-road and off-road applications.

PolyAmide Sealed Bearings: This is a new type of PTFE Sealed Bearing. It offers all the performance of other PTFE Seal Bearings, but includes a Polyamide core seal which offers a sealing ability that rivals rubber sealed bearings for protection from debris. This improved seal also offers greater resistance to heat, and improved lateral strength. Their High performance makes them well suited for both Electric and Nitro Racing Applications, while their maintenance free operation makes them just at home bashing around the backyard.