Eight Pack Ceramic Skateboard Bearings Si3N4 Sealed Ball Bearings With Rubber Seals For Durable Stainless Steel Construction Double Shielded Radial Deep Groove Design For Smooth Low Friction Rolling

I have had these bearings for about two months. They roll very smooth, and are some of the fastest bearings I have rode. They hold speed so well. They are like riding a new bearing everyday. The only draw back is they don't stay clean very long. But I am willing to clean them, cause they ride so good.

I have been riding a variety of different hybrid ceramic bearings for several years. Most of the sets of bearings on the market cost twice as much as these VBX bearings. I was really surprised at how fast and smooth they were right out of the box. There was very little if any break in period. The bearings hold their speed very well even if they are a little dirty. Since only the ball bearings are ceramic they need cleaning regularly. The only complaint that I have about the bearings is that the shields that arrive with the set tend to come loose and not stay on the bearing. After a few hours or skate sessions I noticed that at least 2-3 of the shields are loose. This results in the bearing getting dirty faster and requires cleaning. When they are freshly cleaned the lubricant tends to leak out in a fan shape onto the inside of the wheels due to some shields coming loose.

Well I wish that these would stay running smooth without maintenance longer but overall they are still a quality choice and work well. I was hoping the combination of stainless steel and ceramic would mean that I could go 6 months or more without doing any maintenance. Alas that is not the case. Something must be getting into the bearings but so far I have heard the squeak from 2 of them. I cleaned just the bearings in one wheel the last time but after a few weeks I have started to hear squeaking again. Not sure if it is the same bearing (or wheel) as the first time. This time I think I'll clean all the bearings and mark the one that is making the noise. Then I'll know if it is the same bearing causing the problem next time. I only ride in the park but this park is close to the freeway and does tend to be kind of coated in a fine dust. The rest of the bearings seem to be rolling smooth so it must be contamination of some kind.