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The wrong bearing size is the most common mistake when ordering reel bearings. This guide shows how to read a bearing size, how to measure it yourself, which bearings in your reel matter most and which class fits your fishing.
What a bearing size means
A bearing size is always written the same way: inner diameter x outer diameter x width, all in millimetres. A 3x10x4 bearing has a 3 mm bore, 10 mm outer diameter and is 4 mm wide. All three numbers have to match the seat in your reel.
How to measure a bearing yourself
You need a caliper and the old bearing.
- Take the bearing out carefully. On baitcasters it is often held by a small wire clip.
- Measure the inner diameter.
- Measure the outer diameter.
- Measure the width.
If you do not want to measure, type your reel into the bearing finder. It shows the spool bearing sizes for your model.
When a swap is worth it
There are two reasons to change bearings.
Wear. The spool runs rough or jerky, your casts have become clearly shorter, or you hear and feel a scratching when you spin the spool.
Performance. Even a healthy stock bearing leaves distance on the table. Better spool bearings start easier and spin longer. You get longer casts and a reel that handles light lures better.
This also applies to DC reels. The electronic brake stays untouched. Better spool bearings still improve how freely the spool runs.
Which spool bearings to replace
Baitcasters come in two builds.
- Build 1: a bearing sits on the spool. Replace the bearing on the spool and the bearing in the side plate on the palm side.
- Build 2: no bearing on the spool. Replace the bearing in the side plate and the bearing under the spool tension cap on the handle side.
Always replace both. The spool only runs as freely as its slower bearing.
The pin remover
On many reels the bearing on the spool is held by a small pin through the spool shaft. A pin remover pushes that pin out and back in without damaging the spool. With pliers the risk of slipping is high. You find it under tools.
Apex, Edge or Core: which class fits you
| Class | Build | Our pick for reels built for | Made for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex | ABEC 9, ceramic balls | 2 to 60 g | Maximum performance: finesse, BFS, perch, trout |
| Edge | ABEC 9, hybrid ceramic, sealed or open | 5 to 100 g | The all-rounder between performance and durability |
| Core | ABEC 5, stainless steel | 8 to 200 g | Built to take a beating: big baits, pike |
The lure weights are what we recommend each class for, based on what your reel is built for. They are not a load limit of the bearings, and bearings do not raise what your reel can handle.
ABEC explained
ABEC describes how precisely a bearing is made. The higher the number, the tighter the tolerances.
| Rating | What it means |
|---|---|
| ABEC 1 | Basic precision |
| ABEC 3 | Average |
| ABEC 5 | Precise and robust. Right for heavy lures (Core) |
| ABEC 7 | Very high precision |
| ABEC 9 | Extremely precise. Shows its strength with tuning and light lures (Apex, Edge) |
Oil, seal and care
Apex and Edge run with or without oil. Without oil they spin longest and run a little louder. With one small drop of thin oil they run quieter and last longer. Edge comes sealed for more protection or open for maximum speed. Core bearings come greased.
You find the matching oils under reel oil.
Your reel has more bearings
Besides the two spool bearings a baitcaster carries bearings at the worm shaft, the pinion gear and in the handle knobs. The spool bearings have by far the biggest effect on casting distance. If you want to do the whole reel in one go, have a look at the full bearing kits.
In short
Size first, class second. Read or measure inner diameter, outer diameter and width, replace both spool bearings, and pick the class by what your reel is built for. Or type your reel into the bearing finder and get the exact pair.