RC10Talk - The Net's Largest Vintage R/C Community

JosephS wrote: ↑Mon May 19, 2025 1:37 pm Any USA bearing or wire sources? Is Boca, ACER, AVID?

They're all just distributers for Chinese manufactured bearings as far as I'm aware. There are USA manufactures that make bearing sizes we use in R/C but are very few. With the two puller projects I have in the works, my intent is to use as many USA made components as I can. What I discovered was US manufactures either don't sell directly to the general public, or if they do you have to buy huge quantities.

When it comes to American bearings though, just because they're made here doesn't mean they're automatically the best. There are other countries that make just as good or even better ones. Countries like France, Germany, or Switzerland for example. China is supposed to have state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities to make comparable ones but can you really trust that? Anyway, stuff being made here doesn't equal superiority by any means, you're just supporting 'local manufacturing' by buying it.

Also, be prepared to pay. The same Chinese bearing we pay a dollar or two for can be like $10 from a reputable country. I'd have to look but I think I paid something like $50 for two 3/8" axle bearings due to the fact.

GoMachV wrote: ↑Mon May 19, 2025 4:53 pm I was questioned on FB about if these manufacturers still produce in the USA, and they do according to their websites.
RPM
Kimbrough
Robinson
K&B
Parma (Mid American)
RJ Speed
Custom Works

Im happy to add more if we find em.

Don't forget DU-BRO! 97% of all their products are made in the USA.

Lowgear wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 3:00 am
When it comes to American bearings though, just because they're made here doesn't mean they're automatically the best. There are other countries that make just as good or even better ones. Countries like France, Germany, or Switzerland for example. China is supposed to have state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities to make comparable ones but can you really trust that? Anyway, stuff being made here doesn't equal superiority by any means, you're just supporting 'local manufacturing' by buying it.



Don't forget DU-BRO! 97% of all their products are made in the USA.

I believe Japan also needs to be mentioned when it comes to bearings.

I'm happy to say two of my racing bicycles(cross country hardtail and road racer) are made here in my home town of Portland, OR. The parts on them are not made here. But that's okay.

I really like how the RC companies mentioned above have continued to follow their passions.

CRC is one of my favorite companies for producing what they can but also supporting in so many additional ways. Their programs require sourcing from around the world as well as manufacturing in NY. This is a balance that they've used to elevate their products and their customers' experience. https://teamcrc.com/about/

Cheers to those companies and enthusiasts that see a bigger picture and keep the passion burning bright.

Lowgear wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 3:00 am

When it comes to American bearings though, just because they're made here doesn't mean they're automatically the best. There are other countries that make just as good or even better ones. Countries like France, Germany, or Switzerland for example. China is supposed to have state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities to make comparable ones but can you really trust that? Anyway, stuff being made here doesn't equal superiority by any means, you're just supporting 'local manufacturing' by buying it.

Also, be prepared to pay. The same Chinese bearing we pay a dollar or two for can be like $10 from a reputable country. I'd have to look but I think I paid something like $50 for two 3/8" axle bearings due to the fact.

I've mostly been interested in supporting local. I don't know if I could notice the benefit of better bearings. There is a lot I need to learn about bearings. Were the vintage AE bearing better than the current $1 avid ones? In 1989 the price difference between a 6 gear with bushing and bearings was $65 in 1989 that is around $170 in today's dollars, or about $10 each.

For the bearings you picked up, what is the difference between them and generic bearings? How do you find and identify quality bearings?

I can say without a doubt that the bearing quality has tanked. Im sure you can still buy abec-5 bearings and at a huge cost, but todays $1 bearings work "pretty well" for such a small fraction of the cost that most wouldnt care. I know the drag guys were spending mad money on them not long ago. One big difference too is that the old bearings were oiled not greased, so they spun forever. You cant do the jay halsey mods with modern bearings and expect the thing to spin like his did. But you can clean out the grease and oil them, gets pretty smooth but will require a lot more maintenance

I think this is why Schuey used serviceable bearings on their early off-roaders. The manual told you to clean and re-oil the bearings periodically to preserve your investment.

I have not been able to confirm, but I suspect the CAT bearings were actually repurposed Mini Cooper wheel bearings. Or not.

GoMachV wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 1:44 pm I can say without a doubt that the bearing quality has tanked. Im sure you can still buy abec-5 bearings and at a huge cost, but todays $1 bearings work "pretty well" for such a small fraction of the cost that most wouldnt care. I know the drag guys were spending mad money on them not long ago. One big difference too is that the old bearings were oiled not greased, so they spun forever. You cant do the jay halsey mods with modern bearings and expect the thing to spin like his did. But you can clean out the grease and oil them, gets pretty smooth but will require a lot more maintenance

I'm curious about the ABEC classes. It seems to me that they are manufacturing tolerances are they closely related to quality or just indicate that pieces were better binned.
In the cheaper bearings I have shields make such a huge difference I can't see anything make a bigger impact.

All I know about bearings comes from cycling(well and skateboarding lol)

This recent video is an excellent example of testing and supplying with a lot of passion behind what they do.

Testing at min 42 ish.

https://youtu.be/JvfeZvd9kEo?si=nWFXxxgwi5QzCU7V&t=2483

I just put togther a new CustomWorks Beast Midget, to go with my CW Outlaw 4 Sprint car. The Outlaw has a distictive machined spur gear. I went to build the Beast and expected the same spur. But no, it was a Kimbrough , as I have several OG that I kept over the years. Keeping it US made.

Chewbacca wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 11:25 am

Lowgear wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 3:00 am
When it comes to American bearings though, just because they're made here doesn't mean they're automatically the best. There are other countries that make just as good or even better ones. Countries like France, Germany, or Switzerland for example. China is supposed to have state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities to make comparable ones but can you really trust that? Anyway, stuff being made here doesn't equal superiority by any means, you're just supporting 'local manufacturing' by buying it.



Don't forget DU-BRO! 97% of all their products are made in the USA.

I believe Japan also needs to be mentioned when it comes to bearings.

Yesssss, in my haste I forgot Japan which is another amazing bearing manufacturing country!

JosephS wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 1:27 pm

Lowgear wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 3:00 am

When it comes to American bearings though, just because they're made here doesn't mean they're automatically the best. There are other countries that make just as good or even better ones. Countries like France, Germany, or Switzerland for example. China is supposed to have state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities to make comparable ones but can you really trust that? Anyway, stuff being made here doesn't equal superiority by any means, you're just supporting 'local manufacturing' by buying it.

Also, be prepared to pay. The same Chinese bearing we pay a dollar or two for can be like $10 from a reputable country. I'd have to look but I think I paid something like $50 for two 3/8" axle bearings due to the fact.

I've mostly been interested in supporting local. I don't know if I could notice the benefit of better bearings. There is a lot I need to learn about bearings. Were the vintage AE bearing better than the current $1 avid ones? In 1989 the price difference between a 6 gear with bushing and bearings was $65 in 1989 that is around $170 in today's dollars, or about $10 each.

For the bearings you picked up, what is the difference between them and generic bearings? How do you find and identify quality bearings?

For our hobby usage, I don't see super fancy bearings likely garnering a noticeable difference thus not worth paying the premium price for. The high-end ones in the sizes we use are meant for things requiring exceptional accuracy such as surgery tools, aerospace, instrumentation, precision robotics, you get the picture. As it pertains to Associated... Cheap sloppy Chinese bearings weren't nearly as prevalent back in 1989 as they are today so I'm assuming they were quality.

It's hard to tell if the fancy bearings are actually better from just handling them but psychologically they are! Really though, the main reason I always go with the high-end variety in pullers is due to the weight and abuse they're subjected to. The ones for the rear axle being the most critical as regular generic bearings can blow apart or just not last long. All bearings have both static and rotational load ratings which can be exceeded so it has to be taken into consideration. I also really like to use ones with extended inner races when I can which increases their ratings, and eliminates the need for shims when necessary.

You can get stupid with bearings... from full ceramic (case and balls) at about $40 to silicone nitride full compliment ABEC 5 jobs for about $90 a piece just for 3/16x3/8's.

Unfortunately, like lowgear said, the name on the box doesn't equate to quality, and even then it's a matter of what a person calls quality. High precision? Long life? Low drag? A cheap bearing with a light oil will spin more feely than a precision bearing with heavy oil... drag being how most people quantify bearing quality.

They've had high precision bearings, up to ABEC 7, since long before RC cars used them and Boca, Avid, Acer, etc. all sell ABEC 7 bearings for RC cars. (ABEC being the tolerance measurements for bearings, rated from 1 [low] to 7 [high]). Then there's materials, a stainless ABEC 3 bearing will be higher quality than a steel ABEC 7 bearing for a basher because of corrosion resistance, shielded bearings keep grit out but unshielded bearings are easier to clean, the higher the ball grade the harder, ceramics are lighter, etc. etc...

Thing to keep in mind is any bearing is a quality bearing compared to bushings, which is what they were designed to replace on RC cars. Racers (on the track or bench) found some better than others and the rat race was on.

I'd argue "cheap Chinese bearings" not only existed back in the 80's but also accounted for the majority of RC bearings sold, as GoMachV highlighted, RC car companies like to overcharge for things people don't have easy access to.

On a lighter and more entertaining note, RoadsideRC did some good bearing videos compairing bearing brands, oil brands, and some interesting A/B testing:


Bearing Tests:



Oil Tests:

1911Colt wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 2:06 pm I think this is why Schuey used serviceable bearings on their early off-roaders. The manual told you to clean and re-oil the bearings periodically to preserve your investment.

I have not been able to confirm, but I suspect the CAT bearings were actually repurposed Mini Cooper wheel bearings. Or not.

There’s an interview somewhere online with Cecil and he mentions they’re rollerskate or skateboard bearing used because the larger diameter lasted longer and were cheaper to get being more commonly used

JosephS wrote: ↑Mon May 19, 2025 1:37 pm Any USA bearing or wire sources? Is Boca, ACER, AVID?

For wire maybe TQwire? I just sent a message to the owner to verify.

Pure Tech Velcro straps are still made in USA:
https://puretechproducts.com/

For wire, Dean's is listed and stamped as being US made.

It's kind of a pain to solder (Wet Noodle is, Ultra isn't too bad), but it's excellent wire.