Does Ceramic Bearing Need Lubricant

For ceramic hybrid and full ceramic bearings grease is recommended but not required.

Does ceramic bearing need lubricant.

The rolling resistance of a ceramic bearing compared to an abec 3 5 or 7 steel ball bearing is offset by the resistance of the grease he says. Mineral or synthetic based lubricants are the most commonly used and are designed for general and high speed use. Normally from the experience dealing with inter metal friction the light oil may not stay between two metal surface under a high load to decrease the friction. Lube helps prevent rust roll easier dissipate heat and makes steel bearings last longer.

All bearings whether steel or ceramic require lubrication. The lubricant will affect maximum running speed and temperature torque level noise level and ultimately bearing life. Ceramics have lower density thermal expansion and friction than. As my understanding ceramic bearing can work without grease but they should work better with appropriate lubrication.

The grease in a bearing will help capture dirt and particulates and keep them away from rolling elements of the bearing. For riding in the rain fully waterproof greases are better stay away from lithium grease. Bicycles that have ceramic bearings need ceramic grease or ceramic safe grease to maximize performance as well as protect the bearings from unnecessary wear. For minimum rolling resistance lighter weight greases are better.

In order for a ceramic ball bearing to out perform a steel ball bearing grease is not an option. We may need to rethink lubing ceramic bearings they may not need any lube not even a thin film of oil. We are so accustomed to lubing things lubrication everything we do we lube. If you choose to run ceramic hybrid and full ceramic bearings wihtout grease then more frequent cleaning is recommended.

Petroleum or ptfe teflon based bicycle greases can cause damage to carbon fiber bicycles so make sure you have a carbon safe grease on hand. There are a range of options depending on the application. None of these may apply to ceramic bearings. Any grease will work just fine.

There is absolutely nothing magic about ceramic bearings including what lube you choose to use. Does this mean i should run my ceramic ball bearings dry or with light oil. Grease and oil are common lubricants for hybrid bearings but ceramic bearings are less sensitive to fluctuations in lubrication conditions.