WOW! bearing spacers.

[403]

but biltins arent perfect... Id rather have a good set of spacers that I can use with my normal bearings than a set of biltins. I notice there is a gap between the biltins in most cores that wouldnt be there with good spacers.

Wheel cores are supposed to be 0.400. I'm told wheels can vary between 0.395 to 0.410
The Builtins I have measure 0.410 That's too big for most wheels, although they will fit almost all wheels out there. Having spacers that are too big is almost as bad as having no spacers at all.
I've heard that two makers of precision spacers make them 0.403 That means there will be some wheels out there they will not work for, unlike builtins which will fit all wheels.

I have some wheels that measure 0.401 and made some spacers that are 0.403. The 0.403 spacers definitely work better than the builtins.

The non-precision spacers I have measure between 0.390 and 0.401

Further, 10mm = 0.3937. Hmmmm

[Bomb303]

Wheel cores are supposed to be 0.400. I'm told wheels can vary between 0.395 to 0.410
The Builtins I have measure 0.410 That's too big for most wheels, although they will fit almost all wheels out there. Having spacers that are too big is almost as bad as having no spacers at all.
I've heard that two makers of precision spacers make them 0.403 That means there will be some wheels out there they will not work for, unlike builtins which will fit all wheels.

I have some wheels that measure 0.401 and made some spacers that are 0.403. The 0.403 spacers definitely work better than the builtins.

The non-precision spacers I have measure between 0.390 and 0.401

Further, 10mm = 0.3937. Hmmmm

My biltins have never been too big for any wheels I have tried them in. The only wheels Ive had an issue of a core being too small is in some gravity wheels where I used normal .400" spacers and it was pretty obvious the core was too small. However my biltins fit fine in those wheels...

[BoardDuDE630]

ever been to a skate shop?

a lot of them give them away for free if you ask... They may not be 10mm, not .400" but still spacers.

I don't know man most skate shops I've been to don't even know what spacers are

[Wolfin]

I don't know man most skate shops I've been to don't even know what spacers are

That's sad. I guess street skating isn't as wheel-offing as downhill.

[WillJ]

That's sad. I guess street skating isn't as wheel-offing as downhill.

you don't do much street skating do you?

[Wolfin]

you don't do much street skating do you?

None. =D

But I would use spacers and crank it down, if my wheel ever popped off.

[zionboard]

Since my steel spacers didn't fit my Bennet Gators, I used a plastic set, which deformed over time. I noticed since my wheels stopped spinning freely when I tightened the nut.
The edges seem to gotten thicker, so I guess they do compress.

Most skateshops I know don't sell spacers as a seperate item, but they all have "exclusive" (read expensive) bearing sets in nice boxes... which usually contain spacers.
Since the shop owners often don't think spacers make a difference, they frequently don't install them on their completes. Whenever I ask, I get those leftover sets for free (same goes for the tiny tubes of bearing oil often included in those boxes).
The ones I got out of a box of black panthers fit like a charm btw and are lighter than my steel set (aluminium?).

[tedzepplin]

Where are people getting the precision bearing spacers from?

Skateboard Wheel Bearing Spacers by PrecisionSpacers.com

[Ogre]

If cores were precisiol each one measure out true to it's mates.

[arubadub]

Great thread, I have been using spacers for some time now, the ones that come with the bearings mostly and I noticed that they improve the ride significantly. I think i'll try those precisions to see whats up.

[gavmck]

Prescision spacers: Put wheel on, crank down nut as HARD AS YOU CAN, wheel still spins silently for several minutes freespin.






I know it's not a real test, but man it feels good.

[Ian Anderson]

Spacers and tight wheels are the way to go. there should be no play in the wheel (rookie myth)

read this too Bearings - Busting The ABEC Myth

[bondkiller]

Sorry to bump a week old thread, but, I recently found out you can go into any zumiez store and get bearing spacers for $0.16 each. (yes that's 16 CENTS each)