Qube Bearing

Information and Maintenance

QUBE Bearings by Sure-Grip have been years in the making, nothing has been overlooked. Using a special 3D modeling process we call QUBE, which means Quality Utilizing Better Equipment, we have engineered a Roller Skate specific bearing. For over 70 years Sure-Grip has been making the finest roller skates in the world, and now comes the first roller skate bearing designed for roller skating. Several professional skaters have taken part in the design of these new bearings and we are confident that no other bearing on the market can produce a better feel or roll. Trust the professionals and trust a bearing that was designed specifically for roller skating.

Every bearing is developed for a specific purpose and every bearing is different. We often get asked what ABEC rating are your bearings. The fact is, not all bearings are ABEC rated, and not all bearings need to be ABEC rated. The scale was originally designed for industrial applications and has since been used in many other applications only because it was an easy way to get bearings manufactured. As the roller skating industry grows its time for roller skate bearings to grow as well. We have created the first roller skate specific bearing to be used in roller skates only, no one in the industry has done anything like this for roller skating. We have taken several bearings from all types of industries, analyzed each one and the result was 5 bearings that we feel are the culmination of bearing development over the past 30 years.

Sure-Grip has teamed with a leading bearing manufacture and using a special 3D modeling process we have digitally mapped each bearing. This process involves countless hours of work to analyze each bearing and enter the data into a computer system. Next the modeling process begins where we actually create a 3D working model of the bearing in the computer. As a working model we can actually test the bearing in real world situations to make sure our product works properly; at this stage several revisions can be made to ensure quality. Each bearing was designed for a specific purpose and each bearing was tested to our exact specifications. The results are the finest roller skating bearing ever created.

The QUBE Juice bearing was the first bearing to use QUBE 3D technology, we are confident that this bearing will not only make you roll faster but it won’t break the bank either. Skaters from around the country wanted a quality bearing that would help them compete on the national level. This bearing uses some of the technologies we developed in QUBE 3D along with “SSL” oil and a single Labyrinth seal. When choosing a bearing its important to have great roll but also to know what your up against, a perfect balance in roller skating.

The QUBE Gold bearing is the second bearing that we developed using this technology, this bearing uses what we call QUBE 3D SWISS technology which incorporates all we have learned in bearing design. Using our 3D modeling technology we have determined the perfect ball diameter, inner and outer wall diameter, and groove depth to ensure the best roller skating bearing on the market. Stronger steel is used here as well allowing a deeper groove to ensure less friction and faster roll. A hard anodize process creates an even stronger steel while “SSL” oil and a double Labyrinth seal combine to make an even cleaner environment for a faster roll. The QUBE 3D SWISS is the fastest rolling bearing in our line and our most tested bearing as well.

The QUBE 8-ball bearing is patterned after the Fafnir bearing of the late 70s, using our 3D technology we have re-created this bearing for today's market using modern day technology. This bearing contains 8 balls instead of the traditional 7 which has many advantages. The additional ball allows the load to be spread out evenly over the entire bearing instead of just one or 2 points. The additional ball also gives the bearing greater lateral load capabilities while turning, an important aspect of quad skating that many overlook. Lateral load is the force created while turning; it’s the momentum that wants to push you off the track. Using an 8-ball bearing will help distribute the load evenly over the entire bearing, in essence making a stronger bearing laterally. Combined with a deeper groove this gives you the ability to skate into turns harder with no worry of bearing blow out. For over 30 years this type of bearing has been the skaters choice for speed, if maximizing your cornering speed is what you’re after then the QUBE 8-ball bearing is the right bearing for you.

The QUBE Ceramic bearing uses ceramic ball technology, the best bearings in the world use this same technology. Ceramic material can take more heat than conventional steel making them last longer and perform better under harsh conditions. This bearing is greased making it even more efficient at taking heat and makes the bearing last longer. Greased bearings also take less maintenance than standard oiled bearings, although free spin will be decreased which is not much of a factor since weight is applied to the bearing during skating. Ceramic material is also stronger than steel making them less susceptible to impact shock, a common cause of bearing failure. If these factors apply to you then the QUBE ceramic bearing is the perfect bearing for you.

The final bearing is the QUBE Pink. This is a bearing that was developed to help the fight against breast cancer. Proceeds from this product go directly to the American Breast Cancer Foundation. This is a simple ABEC-5 rated bearing that will do just about anything you can throw at it. Help us support this worth while cause, everyone can help is some small way.
Bearing Maintenance

Bearing maintenance is something that is often overlooked by most skaters. QUBE offers a full service of product to handle this issue, QUBE lube and QUBE wash. Both products are engineered to work with the QUBE bearings and will in no way harm your bearings. The most important thing to remember is to keep your bearings lubricated, skating creates heat and heat will destroy bearings.

Lubricate your bearings by first removing the protective shield. There are several ways this can be done but the most effective is to use a small pin; insert the pin on the outer edge through the rubber seal, angle the pin slightly and remove the seal. The seal has a steel reinforced ring so simply sticking the pin through the center will not work. We use labyrinth seal technology with our bearings to ensure dust and dirt do not enter the bearing but some dirt still might be present in the bearing.

The cleaning process starts exactly how the lubrication process starts, remove the rubber seals. A small water bottle works best but a small bowl can work as well, empty about 1/3 of the QUBE bearing cleaning solution into the water bottle or bowl. Apply bearings with shields removed and gently rinse the bearings until they are free from all dirt or debris. Gently dry bearings with a towel, do not use paper towels or tissues. Next apply QUBE lube to each bearing and reapply bearing shields, you will be skating in no time.

All maintenance is recommended once a month but more can be needed depending on type of skating and duration. The more maintenance the better.