Best stainless steel bearings?

[Hytekrednek]

I see hybrid and ceramic bearings talked about, and sold in many places.  What I want to know is who makes the best stainless steel bearings, either factory or aftermarket. Not looking for cheapest, but the best. Thanks for any info or opinions you can share

[ska4fun]

Shimano black steel ones. The phosphate coating process is superb.

[a1712]

1 hour ago, ska4fun said:

Shimano black steel ones. The phosphate coating process is superb.

This 100%. I've tested Hedgehog HD Airs, ZPI Ceramics and Stainless, BOCA Orange Seals and Lightnings, etc, etc.. The black Shimanos, out of the Made in Japan reels, are the smoothest, quickest and quietest I've found. Brian. 

[Basswhippa]

12 hours ago, ska4fun said:

Shimano black steel ones. The phosphate coating process is superb.

 

Where can you find those?  Shimano direct?

[ska4fun]

3 hours ago, Basswhippa said:

 

Where can you find those?  Shimano direct?

That's the hard part. Seems like Shimano don't sell them.

[T2DM]

I think Shimano still keep them in stock cause I'm almost certain the current Chronarch MGL uses the same bearings. Both of my 17 scorpion DC came with those as well. 

 

BNT3627 for $16.26 a pop!...Yikes!

 

Awesome bearings though...spins like forever.

 

Edited:

Nevermind Shimano changed the part number to 105C0 @ $6.75 a pop and made in Thailand now so maybe they are discontinued and currently out of stock.

 

ereplacement parts also sells them but also out of stock.

 

[a1712]

If I do spool bearing swaps for people, and the Shimano blacks are in already, I always inquire what they want me to do with the old bearings. If they say, trash them or you can have them, I'll flush them and relube them. If they spin well, I put them in the stash. Brian. 

[J._Bricker]

My personal experience is a well oiled set of OME Shimano or Daiwa bearings work extremely well. Good oil a periodic cleaning are a much more cost effective option for me. YMMV

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

An ss316 ABEC 7 from a trusted source will work great. There aren’t nearly as many manufacturers as there are brands. Counterfeiting is an issue in the bearing industry so deals that look too good probably aren’t. I agree that shimano uses the best oem bearings. 

[a1712]

8 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

An ss316 ABEC 7 from a trusted source will work great. There aren’t nearly as many manufacturers as there are brands. Counterfeiting is an issue in the bearing industry so deals that look too good probably aren’t. I agree that shimano uses the best oem bearings. 

I put ABEC 9 anti-rust bearings in 7-Scorpion 70's for both pinion support bearings at the beginning of April. I JUST changed the pinion support bearings in these same 7-Scorpion 70's to factory Shimano bearings. Those so called ABEC 9 anti-rust bearing felt really good for a week,  then they felt like coffee grinders after the first week. I don't believe those bearings were what they said they were. 

The cheap always ends up expensive. Brian. 

[newapti5]

Shimano's stocking bearings are pretty good, but the best stainless steel SPOOL bearings I've used are a pair of Japan ISC bearings, 3x10x4 and ready for any Shimano reels. Without lubrication, they are the quietest and fastest; a gentle spin could easily last over 2 minutes, in total silence. 

 

But then again, what is the point of having these superb bearings on a baitcasting reel? Other than BFS, we actually don't need spool bearings of that kind of precision. I would rather trade bearing precision for durability and maintenance convenience. 

[FrnkNsteen]

5 hours ago, newapti5 said:

Shimano's stocking bearings are pretty good, but the best stainless steel SPOOL bearings I've used are a pair of Japan ISC bearings, 3x10x4 and ready for any Shimano reels. Without lubrication, they are the quietest and fastest; a gentle spin could easily last over 2 minutes, in total silence. 

 

But then again, what is the point of having these superb bearings on a baitcasting reel? Other than BFS, we actually don't need spool bearings of that kind of precision. I would rather trade bearing precision for durability and maintenance convenience. 

Agreed. People always seem to want the best and most free bearings, but then the conversation turns to who has the best braking to control the spool.

 

I've upgraded one set of bearings to Hedgehog Air bearings and will admit that they spin pretty free. Then I set my brakes as needed and go on fishing ?

 

It begs the question of why we need faster bearings if we are already needing brakes to control the spool? Or in other words.... If I am already using brakes to help control the spool, why do I need to free up the spool even more?

 

I've found in most instances, a good clean and relube does wonders. The one reel I did upgrade was one I landed on when I fell in the boat once. It was a Tatula CT Type R that I really liked. Already had repairs to do after landing on it so I also decided to upgrade the bearings while working on it. It was nice, but I haven't done it again.

[newapti5]

3 hours ago, FrnkNsteen said:

Agreed. People always seem to want the best and most free bearings, but then the conversation turns to who has the best braking to control the spool.

 

I've upgraded one set of bearings to Hedgehog Air bearings and will admit that they spin pretty free. Then I set my brakes as needed and go on fishing ?

 

It begs the question of why we need faster bearings if we are already needing brakes to control the spool? Or in other words.... If I am already using brakes to help control the spool, why do I need to free up the spool even more?

 

I've found in most instances, a good clean and relube does wonders. The one reel I did upgrade was one I landed on when I fell in the boat once. It was a Tatula CT Type R that I really liked. Already had repairs to do after landing on it so I also decided to upgrade the bearings while working on it. It was nice, but I haven't done it again.

 

Yes, I tend to believe that it's when the brake force at its minimum, such as the second half of the cast on a centrifugal brake reel, or a low trajectory cast during pitching, the precision of bearings will play a role in casting distance and ease. But even so, clean regular ABEC-5 SS bearings will suffice in most cases.  I sometimes upgrade my reels bearings to ceramic hybrid only for the sake of maintenance free as I am lazy.

[ska4fun]

That's why I say outside extreme distance casting competition (think of Daiwa 7HT), bearings upgrades will give you no gain in long distances, or even worse, the opposite.

[Hytekrednek]

where can some of these better stainless bearings be purchased?