The DSCO Bearing School

Useful information
for rolling things.

Plain-English guides to choosing, installing and caring for skateboard bearings. Explore the topics below and check product pages for confirmed details.

Start here

Skateboard Bearings: The Complete Australian Guide

How to choose a bearing without turning it into a personality test.

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Numbers

ABEC 5 vs ABEC 7

What the rating actually changes—and what it does not.

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Convenience

Built-In Bearings Explained

Why integrated spacers exist and who they suit.

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Materials

Ceramic vs Steel

Compare materials after the actual product data is verified.

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Setup

How to Install Bearings

Get the wheels on, keep the small parts accounted for.

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07 / THE LIBRARY

Read, roll, repeat.

Twenty practical guides for choosing, installing and looking after skateboard bearings.

DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

What Makes a Good Everyday Skateboard Bearing?

A good everyday skateboard bearing is one that fits the wheel, is installed correctly and is maintained when needed. A headline, price point or ABEC n...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

The DSCO Bearing Care Routine

Good bearing care is a few sensible checks, not a complicated ritual. Keep grit and moisture under control, assemble the wheel correctly and pay atten...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

Buying Skateboard Bearings Online: What to Check

Before buying skateboard bearings online, check that the page answers the practical questions you have. A product name or rating by itself is not enou...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

Why Does One Wheel Spin Slower Than the Others?

If one wheel spins more slowly than the others, the cause may be the wheel, bearing or hardware around it. A quick spin test can help narrow the probl...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

Skateboard Bearing Maintenance Checklist

Use this checklist as a quick inspection, not a substitute for checking the parts that came with your setup. Before a session Check that each wheel is...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

How Wheel Setup Affects Bearing Feel

A skateboard’s rolling feel comes from the complete setup, not one bearing specification. Wheel diameter and shape, surface roughness, truck alignment...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

Do Skateboard Bearings Need a Break-In Period?

A new bearing may feel different after installation as the lubricant spreads and the parts settle into use. There is no need to force a long or aggres...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

Best Bearings for Street, Park and Cruising

Street, park and cruising describe different ways to skate, but a riding label alone cannot identify the right bearing. Wheel setup, surface, maintena...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

Can Water Ruin Skateboard Bearings?

Water and damp storage can affect bearing lubricant and contribute to corrosion. A wet ride does not let you know by itself whether a bearing is damag...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

Spacers and Speed Rings: Do You Need Them?

Spacers and speed rings are different parts. A spacer fits between the two bearings inside a wheel. Speed rings, sometimes called washers, sit between...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

Why Are My Skateboard Bearings Noisy?

A noisy skateboard wheel can have several causes, including dirt, a dry or damaged bearing, loose or overly tight hardware, misalignment or wheel cont...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

Bearing Shields, Seals and Covers: What They Do

Bearing shields help keep dust and debris away from the moving parts while retaining access to the bearing for care. Designs vary. A shield, a contact...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

When Should You Replace Skateboard Bearings?

There is no fixed replacement interval that suits every skater. Dust, moisture, installation, maintenance and how often you ride all affect bearing co...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

How to Lubricate Skateboard Bearings

Lubricant helps reduce friction between a bearing’s moving surfaces. More is not automatically better: excess or unsuitable lubricant can attract dirt...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

How to Install Skateboard Bearings

Take your time when fitting bearings. A bearing that is pressed in crooked or forced against the shield can be damaged before the first session. Befor...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

How to Clean Skateboard Bearings

Clean skateboard bearings when dirt or rough running makes care worthwhile, not simply because a calendar says it is time. Cleaning can help a healthy...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

Built-In Skateboard Bearings Explained

“Built-in” is a product feature, not a universal bearing standard. On the DSCO Built-In product page, the set is described as eight bearings with buil...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

Steel vs Ceramic Bearings for Skateboards

Steel and ceramic describe different bearing-ball materials. The label alone does not tell you how a complete skateboard bearing will feel or how long...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

ABEC Ratings Explained: ABEC 5 vs ABEC 7

ABEC stands for Annular Bearing Engineers’ Committee. ABEC classes describe specified manufacturing tolerances for bearings. They are useful technical...

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DSCO BEARING SCHOOL / GUIDE

Skateboard Bearings: The Complete Australian Guide

Skateboard bearings sit between the axle and the wheel. They are small parts, but the right size, correct installation and basic care matter more than...

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