ENDURO ABEC 5
What Does ABEC 5 Mean? ABEC
5 is a standard which requires each bearing to pass many tests in order to meet the scheduled requirements. This includes
noise testing at high RPM, extremely tight tolerances for the internal diameter, outer diameter, roundness of ball, trueness
of races, and surface finish of all of the above. This is a much higher standard than ABEC 3, even though only differing
by 2 digits in rating.
THE BALLS are made from chromium steel. These high precision Grade 5 balls are 5/1,000,000”
from exactly round in sphericity. For comparison, Shimano and Campagnolo use grade 25 balls in their top-level components. When
talking ball grade, the smaller the number, the "rounder" the ball.
THE RACES are vacuum de-gassed 52100 high carbon chromium alloy steel, hardened to Rockwell C-62.
THE RETAINERS are nylon with Graphite and are virtually frictionless while providing constant
lubrication.
THE SEALS are "SRS" (Snap Ring Seals). These are a special seal we use in our
ABEC 5 series for the least rolling resistance possible while still providing protection for the bearing. This sealing mechanism
is called an axial face seal design. Different from most seals which seal perpendicular to the mating surface, these seal
in a parallel configuration, where the inner flat part of the sealing lip mates up against a machined metal “shelf “
on the inner race of the bearing. Water and foreign matter force the seal closed when trying to enter, while, under normal
conditions, the bearing rolls along with extremely low resistance.
