Does Ceramic Bearing Need Lubricant

Does this mean i should run my ceramic ball bearings dry or with light oil.

Does ceramic bearing need lubricant.

For minimum rolling resistance lighter weight greases are better. 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. Do i have a carbon fiber bike. Ceramic bearings do not undergo cold welding or corrode so they don t need oil or grease to extend operating life.

The grease in a bearing will help capture dirt and particulates and keep them away from rolling elements of the bearing. 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. In order for a ceramic ball bearing to out perform a steel ball bearing grease is not an option. For riding in the rain fully waterproof greases are better stay away from lithium grease.

There are a range of options depending on the application. Any grease will work just fine. There is absolutely nothing magic about ceramic bearings including what lube you choose to use. The lubricant will affect maximum running speed and temperature torque level noise level and ultimately bearing life.

Lube helps prevent rust roll easier dissipate heat and makes steel bearings last longer. We may need to rethink lubing ceramic bearings they may not need any lube not even a thin film of oil. 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. All bearings whether steel or ceramic require lubrication.

Mineral or synthetic based lubricants are the most commonly used and are designed for general and high speed use. Ceramics have lower density thermal expansion and friction than. None of these may apply to ceramic bearings. Grease and oil are common lubricants for hybrid bearings but ceramic bearings are less sensitive to fluctuations in lubrication conditions.

For ceramic hybrid and full ceramic bearings grease is recommended but not required. If you choose to run ceramic hybrid and full ceramic bearings wihtout grease then more frequent cleaning is recommended. As my understanding ceramic bearing can work without grease but they should work better with appropriate lubrication.