What technology is in the bearings of wheels of cars/bicycles such that they are used in the rain without worrying about corrosion? Asking because everyone just told me skateboard/roller skate wheel bearings would rust if I skate in the rain, or just going through a puddle would ruin them.

Question

What technology is in the bearings of wheels of cars/bicycles such that they are used in the rain without worrying about corrosion? Asking because everyone just told me skateboard/roller skate wheel bearings would rust if I skate in the rain, or just going through a puddle would ruin them.

In: Other

Answer 1

bearings are made of corrosion resistant steel, machined to incredibly tight tolerances, in some cases a few millionths of an inch. The are lubricated, in a car or bicycle, they are packed in grease…. but….they can and do corrode. The grease doesn’t last forever. Salt and other environmental contaminants corrode them. Bearings eventually go bad, even when they are on the moon.