31 replies to this topic

[Courtney S]

I'm working on some 1/32 plastic chassis proxy cars and I want to put ball bearings in them.

Where can I get the cheap ones?

[Pappy]

Hi Courtney,

 

Right here: https://www.avidrc.c...Z-bearings.html

 

But I can tell you that a Slot It axle won't fit into them but all other axles should.

[team burrito]

avid is where i get ball bearings - only $1.25 each.
https://www.avidrc.c...Z-bearings.html

[MSwiss]

Has Avid gotten better on shipping ones that axles don't fit in?

[Courtney S]

Thanks Guys , Pappy I have been using the Slotting Plus axles with decent results, they are a little soft but so far they work good on my Can-Am Proxy car.

 

I would really like to be able to put ball bearings in the plastic wheels so i could make independent fonts, but I'm not so skilled 

[Ecurie Martini]

Just ordered some -right on time for builds for the '19 - '20 season  THX

 

EM

[Pappy]

Has Avid gotten better on shipping ones that axles don't fit in?

Huh!

 

The only axles I have ever had a problem with are Slot It axles. Parma fit fine and so do 3/32" drill blanks I get from Grainger.

[MSwiss]

Well I guess they improved then. Lol

I tried them years ago, a couple of times.

There were a bunch that were tight, in both of the batches.

In one batch, about 1/3 of them, you couldn't get a Koford axle, through with a hammer.

[Rotorranch]

Not really cheap cheap, but I get my bearings from Boca Bearings. Good product, very fair pricing.

 

Rotor

[Alan Dodson]

 I have been using the economy bearings that Mike Swiss sells. They work fine and I like supporting a slot car guy instead of some company that doesn't know or care if we exist! Mike has a complete listing of his Chicagoland Raceway labeled parts in the Parts Counter section of this forum!

[kvanpelt]

^^^^^^^^

[Racer36]

The problem with searching for cheap bearings is that when your search is over, you have cheap bearings. I bought 20 from Avid a while back and half of them were junk when I got them. I’m afraid to use the other 10.
The Chicagoland ones are good, but I am wary of using cheapos again.

[Rotorranch]

The problem with searching for cheap bearings is that when your search is over, you have cheap bearings. I bought 20 from Avid a while back and half of them were junk when I got them. I’m afraid to use the other 10.
The Chicagoland ones are good, but I am wary of using cheapos again.

 

 

That's why I use the Boca's. 

 

Rotor

[Pappy]

I've been using them for a few years running in 6 and 24 hour races with no problems.

[Cap Henry]

Swiss, Bud, and Matt Sheldon all have nice bearings at good prices and you dont have to worry about quality

[NSwanberg]

https://www.vxb.com/...ch-p/kit869.htm

[Bill from NH]

Nelson, what's been your experience with these VXB bearings? I notice the prices are a bit more than Avid's per bearing.

[NSwanberg]

I have been quite happy with them. I especially like the unshielded version as they have a thinner flange and can make the track spacing a little more convenient.

 

I have used the Arvid bearings as well with good results but have experienced the too tight a fit to be usable defect. I have never had that happen with VXB bearings.

[B.C.]

do you want good clean oats or oats that have already been thru the horse?

[Bill from NH]

Brian, are you saying oriental bearings are made from used Budweiser cans?     

[NSwanberg]

https://www.vxb.com/...ch-p/kit869.htm

 

My last order included 10 of these bearing for use with slot car rear axles. In 5 of them a ball was so badly out of round it made me think the axle was bent. Of the 70 or so of these bearings I have bought this is the only time I have ever had any problem with the product. Still 5 out 10 being unusable is unacceptable.

 

Buyer beware.

[Jesse Gonzales]

even back when i was a struggling teen i took to heart the old adage of if it's worth doing do it right. when transitioning from oilites to ball bearings i only used the very best available from commercial bearing companies. they were expensive as hell but i never had a problem with bearings, i now only use GRW's in any use.

 

Jesse Gonzales

[Bill from NH]

I'll second what Jesse said. A few of my old chassis from the 70's still have their original bearings & i could still run them if i chose. In the days when I used lots of bearings, I used GRWs(German) & MPBs(American). I think MPB has since gone to manufacturing in the orient. 

[Jairus]

Some wisdom.
You get what you pay for.
Cheap is not always best.

[Pappy]

Cheap is not always best.

That's true.

 

I've got some 3/32 ball bearings for sale for $25 each if anyone is interested. You know they must be the best at that price.