Bearings in Casters: Small Parts, Yet They Manage Three Major Issues
Time：Sep 04,2025
After work, going to the supermarket, gently pushing the shopping cart around corners, few people look down at the small wheels underfoot. In fact, whether the wheels can roll smoothly and last long depends on the bearing inside. It's small, even smaller than a fingernail, a ring of steel balls or rollers that determines how smoothly we operate daily and whether a piece of equipment in a factory can be delivered on time.
1. Effort-saving — Is it easy to push?
The basic function of a bearing is to convert sliding friction into rolling friction. Testing the same 5-inch caster wheel with a 100 kg load, the starting push force is about 45 N with a regular bushing, but drops to around 8 N when replaced with a ball bearing, almost 80% lighter. The feeling of effort-saving is roughly like pushing a cart with one hand versus lifting a box with two hands. Places like supermarkets, hospitals, and libraries that require frequent movement primarily look at this indicator.
2. Load-bearing — Is it stable under pressure?
The wider the wheel and the harder the material, the greater the weight it can bear, but the bearing is what truly distributes the weight across the entire wheel surface. The inner and outer rings of the bearing act like two plates, evenly spreading the equipment's weight over the balls or rollers. Airport luggage carts usually use double-row angular contact bearings with a rated dynamic load exceeding 500 kg, while ordinary single-row deep groove ball bearings of the same size only handle about 300 kg. The difference lies not in the wheel size but in the bearing structure.
3. Durability — How long does it last without breaking?
The lifespan of a bearing is measured by revolutions or mileage. A typical warehouse forklift's caster wheels run 6 km daily, totaling 2,000 km annually. Ordinary bearings start making noise and need replacement after 5,000 km; higher precision bearings remain smooth after 10,000 km. In terms of time, the latter allows a forklift to operate for over a year without stopping to change wheels. The savings are not just in wheel costs but also in downtime.
When choosing bearings, there's no need to blindly trust imports; just look at three factors:
1. Load rating (dynamic/static) ≥ actual usage value;
2. Sealing type (ZZ or 2RS) sufficient to block dust;
3. Clearance grade (C0 or C3) matching the operating temperature.
Ultimately, bearings are the most cost-effective investment in caster wheels. Spending a few extra bucks results in daily ease and yearly peace of mind. Next time you hear a wheel squeaking, it's probably not the wheel that's broken, but the bearing reminding you: it's time to replace me.
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