Can A Ceramic Bearing Look Like Steel

It is important to recognize that price can be an indicator of bearing quality.

Can a ceramic bearing look like steel. Full ceramic bearings use ceramic races which can be lighter. Avoid this type of ceramic ball bearing. These bearings have been known to last for an upward of 20 years performing as they did the first day they were put to use. For the simplicity of this article we only look at hybrid ceramic bearings with steel races.

A cheaper ceramic bearing uses steel balls with a thin ceramic layer. A high end 25 steel bearing will almost always offer better performance and wear characteristics than a low grade 25 ceramic. A ceramic bearing is also harder than steel bearings up to 30 which improves durability and they also don t rust so less maintenance should be required. Lubricants fill in these valleys with incompressible fluids like oil and grease.

This is because the properties of ceramic allow the creation of rounder. Ceramic which is significantly harder does not have this ability. This impact leaves a very small dent or pit in the steel race. In the humble opinion of kogel bearings outside of derailleur pulleys full ceramic bearings are too fragile for bicycle use and downright dangerous to use in hubs.

The other big. When a bike with ceramic bearings goes over a bump the ball bearing which is harder than the steel race that contains it strikes the inner surface of the race. This saves money but it fails to take into account the difference in hardness of each material. Regardless of whether a bearing is steel or ceramic i would not recommend buying at the low end.

And allowing faster cruising speeds compared to an equivalent steel bearing. A hard impact from a pothole could crack the races and freeze the hub instantly. Some manufacturers have made a hybrid ceramic bearing with the balls being ceramic and the races being steel. Your standard steel bearing can and will expand under extreme heat.

A microscopic look at the surface finish of a metal bearing ball and race shows peaks and valleys on both surfaces. Ceramic bearings are built to withstand greater impacts and harsher temperatures. The hard ceramic bearings can wear down the softer steel races more quickly than if the two were made of the same material. Most sealed ceramic bearings are actually hybrid ceramic bearings which combine a steel race with ceramic ball bearings.

A quick look at cyclingceramic s video. The elastic and thermal property difference between steel and ceramic cause the ceramic to split and separate from the steel portion of the ball on these less expensive look a likes.