So I found a site with abec 3 and 5 bearings cheap. Upgraded my buddies Stradic With all new bearings with single sided rubber shielded ones on each side of the main drive. Night and day difference! Grabbed a bunch of the small ones for reel handles at a buck each after I got ripped off by boca for $8 each. Anyhow put curado/Chronarch knobs on my citica (beefier than citicas tech L grips) and put 2 bearings under each knob and replaced bushings with bearings on both of my curados. Tiny amount of oil and these things spin great plus feel is just as solid as with the bushings. I did leave in the washers under the bearing on the screw ends. Helped eliminate wobble. Also want to give AvidRC a kudos. Shipping was real quick and bearing quality seems great. ... Do wanna note that the added weight of the knobs and bearings to the citica it does feel like the handle is heavier while palming. Not as balanced as the curados.

That little washer was there for a reason.